Methods of using an equine fc epsilon receptor alpha chain protein

Abstract

The present invention relates to equine Fc epsilon receptor alpha chain nucleic acid molecules, proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, antibodies raised against such proteins, and inhibitors of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to detect IgE using such proteins and antibodies. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to mediate Fc epsilon receptor-mediated biological responses.

1 - 101 . (canceled)  
     
     
         102 . A method to detect IgE comprising: 
 (a) contacting an isolated equine FcεRα protein with a putative IgE-containing composition and an isolated IgE protein known to bind said isolated, equine FCεRα molecule protein; and    (b) detecting if said isolated IgE protein is bound to said FcεR molecule,    wherein the absence of binding of the FcεR molecule to the isolated IgE indicates the presence of IgE in the putative IgE-containing composition.    
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said putative IgE-containing composition is obtained from a felid, equid or a canid.  
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεRα protein comprises at least the portion of the equine FcεR alpha chain that binds IgE.  
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεRα protein is conjugated to a detectable marker.  
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein said detectable marker is selected from a group consisting of a radioactive label, a fluorescent label, a chemiluminescent label, a chromophoric label, phosphatase, biotin, avidin, peroxidase, a ligand and a latex bead.  
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said equine FcεR protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:8 under conditions comprising: 
 (a) hybridizing in a solution comprising 5×SSC, 5× Denharts, 0.5% SDS, and 100 ug/ml salmon sperm DNA, at a temperature of 52° C.; and    (b) washing in 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS at a temperature of 55° C.    
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said equine FcεRα protein is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence at least 90% identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:11.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said equine FcεR protein is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a protein comprising at least 30 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2; and    (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ IF NO:7.    
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said equine FcεR protein comprises at least 44 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said equine FcεR protein comprises SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:7.  
     
     
         112 . A kit for detecting IgE, said kit comprising: 
 (a) an isolated, equine FcεRα protein; and    (b) an isolated IgE molecule known to bind to said equine FcεRα protein.    
     
     
         113 . The kit of  claim 112 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεRα protein comprises at least the portion of the equine FcεR alpha chain that binds IgE.  
     
     
         114 . The kit of  claim 112 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεRα protein is conjugated to detectable marker.  
     
     
         115 . The kid of  claim 114 , wherein said detectable marker is selected from a group consisting of a radioactive label, a fluorescent label, a chemiluminescent label, a chromophoric label, phosphatase, biotin, avidin, peroxidase, a ligand and a latex bead.  
     
     
         116 . The kit of  claim 112 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεR protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:8 under conditions comprising: 
 (a) hybridizing in a solution comprising 5×SSC, 5× Denharts, 0.5% SDS, and 100 ug/ml salmon sperm DAN, at a temperature of 52° C.    
     
     
         117 . The kit of  claim 112 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεRα protein is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence at least 90% identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1: SEQ ID NO:4; SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:11.  
     
     
         118 . The kit of  claim 112 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεR protein is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a protein comprising at lest 30 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2; and    (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:7.    
     
     
         119 . The kit of  claim 112 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεR protein comprises at least 44 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         120 . The kit of  claim 112 , wherein said isolated, equine FcεR protein comprises SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:7.