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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsMatthias H. Kraus, Stuart A. Aaronson
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A DNA fragment distinct from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and erbB-2 genes was detected by reduced stringency hybridization of v-erbB to normal genomic human DNA. Characterization of the cloned DNA fragment mapped the region of v-erbB homology to three exons with closest homology of 64% and 67% to a contiguous region within the tyrosine kinase domains of the EGFR and erbB-2 proteins, respectively. cDNA cloning revealed a predicted 148 kd transmembrane polypeptide with structural features identifying it as a member of the erbB family, prompting designation of the new gene as erbB-3. It was mapped to human chromosome 12q11-13 and was shown to be expressed as a 6.2 kb transcript in a variety of normal tissues of epithelial origin. Markedly elevated erbB-3 mRNA levels were demonstrated in certain human mammary tumor cell lines. These findings indicate that increased erbB-3 expression, as in the case of EGFR and erbB-2, plays a role in some human malignancies. Using erbB-3 specific antibodies (polyclonal or monoclonal), the erbB-3 protein was identified as a 180 kDa glycoprotein, gp180erbB-3.
An isolated nucleic acid which specifically hybridizes under high stringency conditions to an erbB-3 nucleic acid consisting of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 or to a fragment thereof, wherein the isolated nucleic acid does not hybridize under high stringency conditions to an erbB-2 nucleic acid or to an epidermal growth factor receptor nucleic acid.
An isolated nucleic acid which specifically hybridizes under high stringency conditions to an erbB-3 gene sequence consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or to a fragment thereof, wherein the isolated nucleic acid does not hybridize under high stringency conditions to an erbB-2 gene sequence or to an epidermal growth factor receptor gene sequence.
A cDNA that encodes SEQ ID NO:4.
An isolated nucleic acid which specifically hybridizes under high stringency conditions to a genomic fragment of the erbB-3 gene or to a fragment thereof, wherein the genomic fragment of the erbB-3 gene consists of a 9 kb SacI restriction fragment of genomic DNA comprising the restriction map shown in FIG. 2 and the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.