Interferon-like protein zcyto21

Abstract

The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules for Zcyto21, an interferon-like protein, which is most closely related to interferon-α at the amino acid sequence level. The present invention also includes antibodies to the Zcyto21 polypeptides, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 20 to 200 of SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide comprises amino acid residues 1-200 of SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide has antiviral activity to hepatitis B.  
     
     
         4 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide has antiviral activity to hepatitis C.  
     
     
         5 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide is a recombinant polypeptide.  
     
     
         6 . The isolated poylpeptide of  claim 5  wherein the polypeptide is isolated from  Escherichia coli.    
     
     
         7 . The isolated poylpeptide of  claim 5  wherein the polypeptide is isolated from Chinese hamster ovary cells.  
     
     
         8 . An isolated polypeptide that has antiviral activity and wherein nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:4 under washing conditions of 0.1×-0.2×SSC with 0.1% SDS at 50-65° C.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising nucleotides 58 to 600 of SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         10 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 9  comprising nucleotides 1-600 of SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         11 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide wherein the encoded polypeptide comprises amino acid residues 20 to 200 of SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         12 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 11  wherein the encoded polypeptide comprises amino acid residues 1 to 200 of SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         13 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 11  wherein the encoded polypeptide has antiviral activity to hepatitis B.  
     
     
         14 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 11  wherein the encoded polypeptide has antiviral activity to hepatitis C.  
     
     
         15 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         16 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: 
 a transcription promoter;    a nucleic acid molecule of  claim 11;  and    a transcription terminator; and    wherein the promoter is operably linked with the nucleic acid molecule; and wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operably linked with the transcription terminator.    
     
     
         17 . A recombinant host cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 16 , wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of bacterium, yeast cell, fungal cell, insect cell, mammalian cell, and plant cell.  
     
     
         18 . The recombinant host cell of  claim 17  wherein the host cell is  Escherichia coli.    
     
     
         19 . The recombinant host cell of  claim 17  wherein the host cell is a Chinese hamster ovary cell.  
     
     
         20 . A method of producing Zcyto21 protein, the method comprising: 
 culturing recombinant host cells that comprise the expression vector of  claim 16 , and that produce the Zcyto21 protein.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising isolating the Zcyto21 protein from the cultured recombinant host cells.  
     
     
         22 . An antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds with the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         23 . A formulation comprising: 
 the polypeptide of  claim 1;  and    a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.