Adiponectin receptor and gene encoding the same

Abstract

The object is to isolate and identify human and mouse adiponectin receptors, to provide a novel protein having adiponectin binding ability, and to provide a screening method and screening kit for a ligand, agonist and antagonist to an adiponectin receptor using such protein. To achieve this object, a protein is used, as novel protein having adiponectin binding ability, that is (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to Seq. No. 2, 4, 6 or 8, or (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to Seq. No. 2, 4, 6 or 8 with one or more amino acids deleted, replaced or added, and having adiponectin binding ability.

1 . A protein as set forth in (a) or (b) below: 
 (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to Seq. No. 2, 4, 6 or 8, or    (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to Seq. No. 2, 4, 6 or 8 with one or more amino acids deleted, replaced or added, and having adiponectin binding ability.    
     
     
         2 . A gene encoding the proteins according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . The gene according to  claim 2 , comprising DNA as set forth in (c) or (d) below: 
 (c) DNA comprising a base sequence according to Seq. No. 1, 3, 5 or 7;    (d) DNA which hybridizes under stringent conditions with DNA complementary to DNA comprising a base sequences according to Seq. No. 1, 3, 5 or 7, and which encodes a protein having adiponectin binding ability.    
     
     
         4 . A recombinant vector containing the gene according to  claim 2  or  3 .  
     
     
         5 . A transformant containing the recombinant vector according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         6 . An antibody or fragment thereof capable of reacting with the protein according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A screening method for a ligand, agonist or antagonist to an adiponectin receptor, comprising a step of bringing a test substance into contact with the protein according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . A screening kit for a ligand, agonist or antagonist to an adiponectin receptor, comprising the protein according to  claim 1 , the DNA according to  claim 2  or  3 , and the recombinant vector according to  claim 4  or the transformant according to  claim 5.