Diagnosis and treatment of ALP related disorders

Abstract

The present invention relates to Alp polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, cells, tissues and animals containing such nucleic acids, antibodies to such polypeptides, assays utilizing such polypeptides, and methods relating to all of the foregoing. Methods for treatment, diagnosis, and screening are provided for Alp related diseases or conditions characterized by an abnormal interaction between an Alp polypeptide and an Alp binding partner.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated, enriched or purified nucleic acid molecule encoding an ALP polypeptide.  
     
     
         2 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence that 
 (a) encodes a polypeptide having the full length amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) is the complement of the nucleotide sequence of (a);    (c) hybridizes under highly stringent conditions to the nucleotide molecule of (a) and encodes a naturally occurring ALP polypeptide;    (d) encodes an ALP polypeptide having the full length amino acid sequence of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, except that it lacks one or more of the following segments of amino acid residues: 1-857, 353-777, 858-1096, 1097-1274, 1101-1214 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (e) is the complement of the nucleotide sequence of (d);    (f) encodes a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid residues 1-857, 353-777, 858-1096, 1097-1274, 1101-1214 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (g) is the complement of the nucleotide sequence of (f);    (h) encodes a polypeptide having the full length amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, except that it lacks one or more of the domains selected from the group consisting of a an N-terminal domain, an N-terminal proline-rich domain, a catalytic domain, a C-terminal proline/serine-rich domain, and a C-terminal domain; or    (i) is the complement of the nucleotide sequence of (h).    
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule is isolated, enriched, or purified from a mammal.  
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 3 , wherein said mammal is a human.  
     
     
         5 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , further comprising a vector or promoter effective to initiate transcription in a host cell.  
     
     
         6 . A nucleic acid probe for the detection of nucleic acid encoding an ALP polypeptide in a sample.  
     
     
         7 . The probe of  claim 6  wherein said polypeptide comprises at least 6 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         8 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising one or more regions that encode an ALP polypeptide or an ALP domain polypeptide, wherein said ALP polypeptide or said ALP domain polypeptide is fused to a non-ALP polypeptide.  
     
     
         9 . A recombinant cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding either 
 (a) an ALP polypeptide;    (b) an ALP domain polypeptide; or    (c) an ALP polypeptide or ALP domain polypeptide fused to a non-ALP polypeptide.    
     
     
         10 . An isolated, enriched or purified ALP polypeptide.  
     
     
         11 . The polypeptide of  claim 10 , wherein said polypeptide is a fragment of the protein encoded by the full length amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         12 . The polypeptide of  claim 10 , wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having 
 (a) the full length amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) the full length amino acid sequence of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, except that it lacks one or more of the following segments of amino acid residues: 1-857, 353-777, 858-1096, 1097-1274, 1101-1214 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid residues 1-857, 353-777, 858-1096, 1097-1274, 1101-1214 of SEQ ID NO:2; or    (d) the full length amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 except that it lacks one or more of the domains selected from the group consisting of an N-terminal domain, an N-terminal proline-rich domain, a catalytic domain, a C-terminal proline/serine-rich domain, and a C-terminal domain.    
     
     
         13 . An antibody or antibody fragment having specific binding affinity to an ALP polypeptide or an ALP domain polypeptide.  
     
     
         14 . A hybridoma which produces an antibody having specific binding affinity to an ALP polypeptide.  
     
     
         15 . A method for identifying a substance capable of modulating ALP activity comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting an ALP polypeptide with a test substance, and    (b) determining whether said substance alters the activity of said polypeptide.    
     
     
         16 . A method for identifying a substance capable of modulating ALP activity in a cell comprising the steps of: 
 (a) expressing an ALP polypeptide in a cell,    (b) adding a test substance to said cells, and    (c) monitoring a change in cell phenotype, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, ALP catalytic activity, or the interaction between an ALP polypeptide and a natural binding partner.    
     
     
         17 . A method of preventing or treating an abnormal condition by administering to a patient in need of such treatment a compound that modulates the function of an ALP polypeptide.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said abnormal condition involves an abnormality in ALP signal transduction pathway.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said abnormal condition is cancer.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said compound modulates the function of an ALP polypeptide in vitro.  
     
     
         21 . A kit, comprising the compound of  claim 17  and a protocol for the use of said compound.  
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein said protocol is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.