Growth arrest homeobox gene

Abstract

A novel growth arrest homeobox gene has been discovered and the nucleotide sequences have been determined in both the rat and the human. The expression of the novel homeobox gene inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell growth. The growth arrest homeobox gene hereinafter referred to as the “Gax gene” and its corresponding proteins are useful in the study of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and in the treatment of blood vessel diseases that result from excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation, particularly after balloon angioplasty.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . An isolated protein which inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell growth, wherein said protein comprises the amino acid sequence shown in  FIG. 1 , SEQ ID NO. ______ or the amino acid sequence shown in  FIG. 3 , SEQ ID NO. ______.  
     
     
         8 . The protein of  claim 7  having a molecular weight of from about 30 kDA to about 36 kDa.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated protein which inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, wherein said protein is encoded by a polynucleotide comprising the following fragments: 
 (a) a fragment of clone 6 comprising nucleotides 699 to 941 of said polynucleotide:    (b) a fragment of clone 23 comprising nucleotides 231 to 698 of said polynucleotide;    (c) a fragment of clone 117 comprising nucleotides 119 to 230 of said polynucleotide, and    (d) a fragment of clone 131 comprising nucleotides 1 to 118 of said polynucleotide.    
     
     
         10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . The protein of  claim 7 , comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
     
     
         12 . The protein of  claim 7 , further comprising glutathione S-transferase.  
     
     
         13 - 32 . (canceled)