Repressor of skeletal muscle differentiation, nucleic acid coding therefor and the use thereof in diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

Polypeptide sequences which play a part in the regulation of skeletal muscle differentiation, and nucleic acids coding therefor, and the use thereof in diagnosis and therapy are disclosed. Possible uses are also indicated for antibodies which are directed against corresponding epitopes of the GRIM1 polypeptide.

1 . A polypeptide comprising at least 20 consecutive amino acids from the sequence of hsGRIM1 having the sequence ID No. 3.  
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least 40 consecutive amino acids.  
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least 80 consecutive amino acids.  
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least 120 consecutive amino acids.  
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least 200 consecutive amino acids.  
     
     
         6 . A polypeptide comprising at least 20 consecutive amino acids from the mmGRIM sequence having the sequence ID No. 4.  
     
     
         7 . The polypeptide comprising at least 40 consecutive amino acids.  
     
     
         8 . The polypeptide as claimed in  claim 6 , comprising at least 120 consecutive amino acids.  
     
     
         9 . The polypeptide as claimed in  claim 6 , comprising at least 200 consecutive amino acids.  
     
     
         10 . An antibody that binds specifically to an epitope of a polypeptide as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  9 .  
     
     
         11 . A medicament comprising a polypeptide as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  9 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.  
     
     
         12 . The medicament as claimed in  claim 11 , that is employed for the treatment of disturbances of skeletal muscle differentiation.  
     
     
         13 . The medicament as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized that is employed for the treatment of disturbances of fat cell differentiation.  
     
     
         14 . A method for identifying substances which influence the biological function of a polypeptide as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  9 , comprising contacting the substance to be identified with said polypeptide in a test system.  
     
     
         15 . A cDNA which codes for hsGRIM1, comprising at least 1200 consecutive nucleotides from the sequence ID No.1.  
     
     
         16 . A cDNA which codes for mmGRIM, comprising at least 1200 consecutive nucleotides from the sequence ID No.2.  
     
     
         17 . A transfection vector comprising a cDNA as claimed in  claim 15  or  16 .  
     
     
         18 . The transfection vector as claimed in  claim 17 , which is an adenoviral vector.  
     
     
         19 . A cell transfected with a vector as claimed in  claim 17 .  
     
     
         20 . The cell of  claim 19 , wherein said vector is an adenovector.  
     
     
         21 . A method of treating a disturbance of skeletal muscle differentiation comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the medicament of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         22 . A method of treating disturbances of fat cell differentiation comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the medicament of  claim 13.