Genes displaying enhanced expression during cellular senescence and terminal cell differentiation and uses thereof

Abstract

This invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding an OLD-35 protein, OLD-64 protein, OLD-137 protein, OLD-139 protein, OLD-142 protein or OLD-175 protein. This invention further provides a purified OLD-35 protein, OLD-64, OLD-137, OLD-139, OLD-142 and OLD-175. Finally, this invention provides different uses of the nucleic acids and proteins.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an OLD-35 protein.  
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . An antisense nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence complementary to the nucleic acid of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . The antisense nucleic acid molecule of  claim 8 , capable of inhibiting the expression of the hybridized gene.  
     
     
         10 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  operatively linked to a promoter of RNA transcription.  
     
     
         11 . A vector which comprises the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A host vector system for the production of a protein having the biological activity of OLD-35 protein which comprises the vector of  claim 11  in a suitable host.  
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . A method of producing a protein having the biological activity of OLD-35, protein which comprises growing the host vector system of  claim 12  under conditions permitting production of the protein and recovering the protein so produced.  
     
     
         15 . A purified, OLD-35 protein.  
     
     
         16 - 84 . (canceled)  
     
     
         85 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 8 , operatively linked to a promoter of RNA transcription.  
     
     
         86 . A vector which comprises the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 8.