Asp2

Abstract

ASP2 polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing ASP2 polypeptides and polynucleotides in the design of protocols for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, and prohormone processing, among others, and diagnostic assays for such conditions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity over its entire length to a nucleotide sequence encoding the ASP2 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein said polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:1 encoding the ASP2 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO2.  
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein said polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence that is at least 80% identical to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 over its entire length.  
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 3  which is polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  which is DNA or RNA.  
     
     
         6 . A DNA or RNA molecule comprising an expression system, wherein said expression system is capable of producing a ASP2 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence, which has at least 80% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 when said expression system is present in a compatible host cell.  
     
     
         7 . A host cell comprising the expression system of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . A process for producing a ASP2 polypeptide comprising culturing a host of  claim 7  under conditions sufficient for the production of said polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide from the culture.  
     
     
         9 . A process for producing a cell which produces a ASP2 polypeptide thereof comprising transforming or transfecting a host cell with the expression system of  claim 6  such that the host cell, under appropriate culture conditions, produces a ASP2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         10 . A ASP2 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 over its entire length.  
     
     
         11 . The polypeptide of  claim 10  which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         12 . An antibody immunospecific for the ASP2 polypeptide of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         13 . A method for the treatment of a subject in need of enhanced activity or expression of ASP2 polypeptide of  claim 10  comprising: 
 (a) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agonist to said polypeptide; and/or  
 (b) providing to the subject an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the ASP2 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 over its entire length; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence in a form so as to effect production of said polypeptide activity in vivo.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method for the treatment of a subject having need to inhibit activity or expression of ASP2 polypeptide of  claim 10  comprising: 
 (a) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist to said polypeptide; and/or  
 (b) administering to the subject a nucleic acid molecule that inhibits the expression of the nucleotide sequence encoding said polypeptide; and/or  
 (c) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide that competes with said polypeptide for its ligand, substrate, or receptor.  
 
     
     
         15 . A process for diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease in a subject related to expression or activity of ASP2 polypeptide of  claim 10  in a subject comprising: 
 (a) determining the presence or absence of a mutation in the nucleotide sequence encoding said ASP2 polypeptide in the genome of said subject; and/or  
 (b) analyzing for the presence or amount of the ASP2 polypeptide expression in a sample derived from said subject.  
 
     
     
         16 . A method for identifying compounds which inhibit (antagonize) or agonize the ASP2 polypeptide of  claim 10  which comprises: 
 (a) contacting a candidate compound with cells which express the ASP2 polypeptide (or cell membrane expressing ASP2 polypeptide) or respond to ASP2 polypeptide; and  
 (b) observing the binding, or stimulation or inhibition of a functional response; or comparing the ability of the cells (or cell membrane) which were contacted with the candidate compounds with the same cells which were not contacted for ASP2 polypeptide activity.  
 
     
     
         17 . An agonist identified by the method of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         18 . An antagonist identified by the method of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         19 . A recombinant host cell produced by a method of  claim 9  or a membrane thereof expressing a ASP2 polypeptide.