Mammalian cytokine-like factor-7

Abstract

Novel mammalian zcyto7 polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods including antibodies and anti-idiotypic antibodies.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide which encodes a mammalian Zcyto7 polypeptide wherein said polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide comprised of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NOs:14-25 and SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40 or a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to said polypeptides.  
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide is fused to a carrier polypeptide or other carrier molecule.  
     
     
         3 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: 
 a transcription promoter;    a DNA segment which encodes a polypeptide comprised of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NOs: 14-25 and SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40 or a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to said polypeptides; and    a transcription terminator.    
     
     
         4 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: 
 (a) a transcription promoter;    (b) a DNA segment encoding a chimeric polypeptide, wherein said chimeric polypeptide is comprised of a first portion and a second portion joined by a peptide bond, said first portion being comprised of a polypeptide comprised of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NOs:14-25 and SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40 or a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to said polypeptides and said second portion being a second polypeptide or protein.    (c) a transcription terminator.    
     
     
         5 . An isolated polypeptide comprised of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NOs: 14-25 and SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40 or a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to said polypeptides.  
     
     
         6 . An antibody, antibody fragment or single-chain antibody that specifically binds to a mammalian polypeptide, said polypeptide being comprised of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NOs: 14-25 and SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40 or a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to said polypeptides.  
     
     
         7 . An antibody of  claim 6  wherein said antibody is either monoclonal or polyclonal.  
     
     
         8 . The antibody, antibody fragment or single-chain antibody of  claim 6  wherein said antibody, antibody fragment or single-chain antibody is humanized.  
     
     
         9 . A method for producing an antibody which binds to a polypeptide comprised of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NOs: 14-25 and SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40 or a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to said polypeptides comprising inoculating an animal with said polypeptide or with a nucleic acid which encodes said peptide or polypeptide, wherein said animal produces antibodies to said or polypeptide; and isolating said antibody.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said antibody is either a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         11 . An anti-idiotypic antibody, anti-idiotypic antibody fragment or anti-idiotypic single-chain antibody which binds to an antibody, an antibody fragment or single-chain antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide comprised of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NOs: 14-25 and SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40 or a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to said polypeptides.