G-protein coupled receptors

Abstract

The invention provides human G-protein coupled receptors (GCREC) and polynucleotides which identify and encode GCREC. The invention also provides expression vectors, host, cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disorders associated with aberrant expression of GCREC.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-39,    b) a naturally occurring amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-39,    c) a biologically active fragment of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-39, and    d) an immunogenic fragment of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-39.    
     
     
         2 . An isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-39.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         5 . An isolated polynucleotide of  claim 4  selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:40-78.  
     
     
         6 . A recombinant polynucleotide comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         7 . A cell transformed with a recombinant polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . A transgenic organism comprising a recombinant polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         9 . A method for producing a polypeptide of  claim 1 , the method comprising: 
 a) culturing a cell under conditions suitable for expression of the polypeptide, wherein said cell is transformed with a recombinant polynucleotide, and said recombinant polynucleotide comprises a promoter sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of  claim 1 , and    b) recovering the polypeptide so expressed.    
     
     
         10 . An isolated antibody which specifically binds to a polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:40-78,    b) a naturally occurring polynucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:40-78,    c) a polynucleotide sequence complementary to a),    d) a polynucleotide sequence complementary to b), and    e) an RNA equivalent of a)-d).    
     
     
         12 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising at least 60 contiguous nucleotides of a polynucleotide of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         13 . A method for detecting a target polynucleotide in a sample, said target polynucleotide having a sequence of a polynucleotide of  claim 11 , the method comprising: 
 a) hybridizing the sample with a probe comprising at least 20 contiguous nucleotides comprising a sequence complementary to said target polynucleotide in the sample, and which probe specifically hybridizes to said target polynucleotide, under conditions whereby a hybridization complex is formed between said probe and said target polynucleotide or fragments thereof, and    b) detecting the presence or absence of said hybridization complex, and, optionally, if present, the amount thereof.    
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 13 , wherein the probe comprises at least 60 contiguous nucleotides.  
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting a target polynucleotide in a sample, said target polynucleotide having a sequence of a polynucleotide of  claim 11 , the method comprising: 
 a) amplifying said target polynucleotide or fragment thereof using polymerase chain reaction amplification, and    b) detecting the presence or absence of said amplified target polynucleotide or fragment thereof, and, optionally, if present, the amount thereof.    
     
     
         16 . A composition comprising an effective amount of a polypeptide of  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.  
     
     
         17 . A composition of  claim 16 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-39.  
     
     
         18 . A method for treating a disease or condition associated with decreased expression of functional GCREC, comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment the composition of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         19 . A method for screening a compound for effectiveness as an agonist of a polypeptide of  claim 1 , the method comprising: 
 a) exposing a sample comprising a polypeptide of  claim 1  to a compound, and    b) detecting agonist activity in the sample.    
     
     
         20 . A composition comprising an agonist compound identified by a method of  claim 19  and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.  
     
     
         21 . A method for treating a disease or condition associated with decreased expression of functional GCREC, comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a composition of  claim 20 .  
     
     
         22 . A method for screening a compound for effectiveness as an antagonist of a polypeptide of  claim 1 , the method comprising: 
 a) exposing a sample comprising a polypeptide of  claim 1  to a compound, and    b) detecting antagonist activity in the sample.    
     
     
         23 . A composition comprising an antagonist compound identified by a method of  claim 22  and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.  
     
     
         24 . A method for treating a disease or condition associated with overexpression of functional GCREC, comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a composition of  claim 23 .  
     
     
         25 . A method of screening for a compound that specifically binds to the polypeptide of  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) combining the polypeptide of  claim 1  with at least one test compound under suitable conditions, and    b) detecting binding of the polypeptide of  claim 1  to the test compound, thereby identifying a compound that specifically binds to the polypeptide of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         26 . A method of screening for a compound that modulates the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1 , said method comprising: 
 a) combining the polypeptide of  claim 1  with at least one test compound under conditions permissive for the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1 ,    b) assessing the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1  in the presence of the test compound, and    c) comparing the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1  in the presence of the test compound with the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1  in the absence of the test compound, wherein a change in the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1  in the presence of the test compound is indicative of a compound that modulates the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         27 . A method for screening a compound for effectiveness in altering expression of a target polynucleotide, wherein said target polynucleotide comprises a sequence of  claim 5 , the method comprising: 
 a) exposing a sample comprising the target polynucleotide to a compound, under conditions suitable for the expression of the target polynucleotide,    b) detecting altered expression of the target polynucleotide, and    c) comparing the expression of the target polynucleotide in the presence of varying amounts of the compound and in the absence of the compound.    
     
     
         28 . A method for assessing toxicity of a test compound, said method comprising: 
 a) treating a biological sample containing nucleic acids with the test compound;    b) hybridizing the nucleic acids of the treated biological sample with a probe comprising at least 20 contiguous nucleotides of a polynucleotide of  claim 11  under conditions whereby a specific hybridization complex is formed between said probe and a target polynucleotide in the biological sample, said target polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence of a polynucleotide of  claim 11  or fragment thereof;    c) quantifying the amount of hybridization complex; and    d) comparing the amount of hybridization complex in the treated biological sample with the amount of hybridization complex in an untreated biological sample, wherein a difference in the amount of hybridization complex in the treated biological sample is indicative of toxicity of the test compound.