Apoptin-associating protein

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of apoptosis. The invention provides novel therapies, for example, novel combinatorial therapies or novel therapeutic compounds that can work alone, sequentially to, or jointly with Apoptin, especially in those cases wherein p53 is completely or partially non-functional.

1 .- 15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . An isolated or synthetic antibody that specifically recognizes a proteinaceous substance comprising at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 or SEQ ID NO:14.  
     
     
         17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . A method of inducing apoptosis in a cell, said method comprising: 
 providing a host cell with a nucleic acid that encodes a proteinaceous substance comprising at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 or SEQ ID NO:14 so that apoptosis is induced in the host cell.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said apoptosis is p53-independent.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 providing said host cell with a nucleic acid encoding Apoptin or a functional equivalent or fragment thereof.    
     
     
         21 . A method of inducing apoptosis, said method comprising: 
 providing a host cell with a proteinaceous substance that comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 or SEQ ID NO:14, whereby apoptosis is induced.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said apoptosis is p53-independent.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 providing said host cell with an Apoptin or a functional equivalent or fragment thereof.    
     
     
         24 .- 26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . A method of treating a disease wherein enhanced cell proliferation or decreased cell death is observed in an individual, said method comprising: 
 providing an individual in need thereof with a pharmaceutical composition comprising a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 60% homologous to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:13,    so that said disease is treated.    
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises a nucleic acid encoding Apoptin.  
     
     
         29 . A method of treating a disease where enhanced cell proliferation or decreased cell death is observed in an individual, said method comprising: 
 providing an individual in need thereof with a pharmaceutical composition comprising a proteinaceous substance that comprises at least part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 or SEQ ID NO:14,    so that said disease is treated.    
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises an Apoptin.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein said disease comprises a cancer or an autoimmune disease.  
     
     
         32 . An isolated or recombinant nucleic acid encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:14.  
     
     
         33 . A diagnostic assay for identifying a putative effector of the activity of a proteinaceous substance encoded by a nucleic acid as shown in  FIG. 5 , said assay comprising: 
 bringing into contact, with said putative effector, a proteinaceous substance comprising amino acids 185-304 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:14, and    determining the binding of said effector.