Methods to identify growth differentiation factor (GDF) binding proteins
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
InventorsSe-Jin Lee, Alexandra McPherron
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Abstract
The present invention provides receptors for the growth differentiation factor (GDF) family of growth factors and methods of identifying such receptors. Also included are methods of identifying antibodies which bind to the receptors, peptide fragments of the receptor which inhibit GDF binding, GDF receptor-binding agents capable of blocking GDF binding to the receptor. The receptors of the invention allow the identification of antagonists or agonists useful for agricultural and human therapeutic purposes.
Claims26
A method for identifying a growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) binding protein, which specifically binds to GDF-8, comprising:
- a) incubating components comprising GDF-8 and a cell or fraction of a cell under conditions sufficient to allow GDF-8 to specifically bind to a GDF-8 binding protein;
- and
- b) measuring specific binding of GDF-8 to a protein of the cell or fraction of a cell, thereby identifying the GDF-8 binding protein.
A method for identifying a cell expressing a recombinant growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) binding protein, comprising:
- a) incubating GDF-8 with a plurality of cells transfected with an expression library under conditions sufficient to allow GDF-8 to specifically bind to a GDF-8 binding protein, wherein the expression library comprises nucleic acid molecules obtained from cells expressing a GDF-8 binding protein;
- and
- b) identifying a cell from the plurality of cells that specifically binds to GDF-8 through a GDF-8 binding protein encoded by the expression library, thereby identifying a cell expressing a recombinant GDF-8 binding protein.
A method for identifying a growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) binding protein, which specifically binds to GDF-11, comprising:
- a) incubating components comprising GDF-8 and a cell or fraction of a cell under conditions sufficient to allow GDF-11 to specifically bind to a GDF-11 binding protein;
- and
- b) measuring specific binding of GDF-11 to a protein of the cell or fraction of a cell, thereby identifying the GDF-11 binding protein.
A method for identifying a cell expressing a recombinant growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) binding protein, comprising:
- a) incubating GDF-11 with a plurality of cells transfected with an expression library under conditions sufficient to allow GDF-11 to specifically bind to a GDF-11 binding protein, wherein the expression library comprises nucleic acid molecules obtained from cells expressing a GDF-11 binding protein;
- and
- b) identifying a cell from the plurality of cells that specifically binds to GDF-11 through a GDF-11 binding protein encoded by the expression library, thereby identifying a cell expressing a recombinant GDF-11 binding protein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.