Nf-at polypeptides and polynucleotides

Abstract

The invention provides novel polypeptides which are associated with the transcription complex NF-AT, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, antibodies which are reactive with such polypeptides, polynucleotide hybridization probes and PCR amplification probes for detecting polynucleotides which encode such polypeptides, transgenes which encode such polypeptides, homologous targeting constructs that encode such polypeptides and/or homologously integrate in or near endogenous genes encoding such polypeptides, nonhuman transgenic animals which comprise functionally disrupted endogenous genes that normally encode such polypeptides, and transgenic nonhuman animals which comprise transgenes encoding such polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for detecting T cells (including activated T cells) in a cellular sample, methods for treating hyperactive or hypoactive T cell conditions, methods for screening for immunomodulatory agents, methods for diagnostic staging of lymphocyte differentiation, methods for producing NF-AT proteins for use as research or diagnostic reagents, methods for producing antibodies reactive with the novel polypeptides, and methods for producing transgenic nonhuman animals.

1 . An isolated NF-AT c  polypeptide comprising a polypeptide sequence of at least 25 consecutive amino acids which is substantially identical to a polypeptide sequence shown in FIG. 1.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated NF-AT c  polypeptide of  claim 1  which is is substantially identical to the full-length NF-AT c  polypeptide sequence shown in FIG. 1.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated NF-AT c  polypeptide of  claim 1  which is a naturally-occurring polypeptide sequence in mammals.  
     
     
         4 . An isolated NF-AT c  polypeptide of  claim 3  which is a human NF-AT c  polypeptide.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated NF-AT c  polypeptide of  claim 4 , which comprises at least two of the amino acid sequences shown in Table II.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a NF-AT c  polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A polypeptide comprising the amino acids 1-418 of FIG. 1 and lacking an amino acid sequence consisting essentially of amino acids 419-716 of FIG. 1.