Antibodies that specifically bind hedgehog-derived polypeptides
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
InventorsPhilip A. Beachy, Jeffrey A. Porter
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Abstract
The present invention provides two novel polypeptides, referred to as the “N” and “C” fragments of hedgehog, or N-terminal and C-terminal fragments, respectively, which are derived after specific cleavage at a G′CF site recognized by the autoproteolytic domain in the native protein. Also included are sterol-modified hedgehog polypeptides and functional fragments thereof. Methods of identifying compositions which affect hedgehog activity based on inhibition of cholesterol modification of hedgehog protein are described.
Claims10
An isolated antibody which binds specifically to a C-terminal fragment of a vertebrate hedgehog polypeptide, wherein the C-terminal fragment has Cys Phe residues at its amino terminus, resulting from specific cleavage of a G↓CF cleavage site contained within the vertebrate hedgehog polypeptide.
A method of generating an antibody which binds specifically to a C-terminal fragment of a vertebrate hedgehog polypeptide, comprising immunizing a mammalian subject with the C-terminal fragment, wherein the fragment has Cys Phe residues at its amino terminus, resulting from specific cleavage of a G↓CF cleavage site contained within the vertebrate hedgehog polypeptide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.