Human polypeptide receptors for lysophospholipids and sphingolipids and nucleic acids encoding the same

Abstract

Human Edg4 and Edg5 polypeptides and their respective amino acid and nucleic acid sequences are provided for use in investigating cytoprotection, apoptosis, cellular proliferation, and other biological pathways in which phospholipid mediators are implicated.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . The monoclonal antibody of  claim 24  that reduces or eliminates a biological function of said Edg protein, wherein said biological function is selected from the group consisting of binding to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), binding to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), modulating apoptosis, modulating cell proliferation, modulating wound healing, modulating angiogenesis, modulating cytoprotection, modulating neuronal remyelination, modulating tissue regeneration, and modulating malignant transformation of cells.  
     
     
         18 - 23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . A monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to an Edg protein of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         25 . The monoclonal antibody of  claim 24  wherein said antibody binds with a binding constant of at least 10 −6  M −1 .  
     
     
         26 . The monoclonal antibody of  claim 25  wherein said antibody binds with a binding constant of at least 10 −7 - to 10 −9  M −1 .  
     
     
         27 . The monoclonal antibody of  claim 26  that reduces or eliminates the biological function of said Edg protein.  
     
     
         28 . The monoclonal antibody of  claim 17  wherein said biological function is the ability of the Edg protein of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3 to bind to LPA and S1P, respectively.  
     
     
         29 . The monoclonal antibody of  claim 27  wherein said biological function is the ability of the Edg protein of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3 to bind to LPA and S1P, respectively.