Novel gene and uses therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a protein associated with the modulation of obesity, diabetes and metabolic energy levels. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a nucleic and a recombinant and purified naturally occurring protein encoded thereby and their uses in therapeutic and diagnostic protocols for conditions such as obesity, diabetes and energy imbalance. The subject nucleic acid molecule and protein and their derivatives, homologues, analogues and mimetics are proposed as therapeutic and diagnostic agents for obesity, diabetes and energy imbalance.

1 . An isolated protein or a derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic thereof which is produced in a larger amount in hyperthalamus tissue of obese animals compared to lean animals. 
     
     
         2 . An isolated protein according to  claim 1  comprising an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:14 or an amino acid sequence having at least 30% similarity to all or part of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:14. 
     
     
         3 . An isolated protein according to  claim 2  wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:13 or a nucleotide sequence having at least 60% similarity to all or part of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:13 and/or is capable of hybridizing to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:13 under low stringency conditions at 42° C. 
     
     
         4 . A composition comprising a protein according to  claim 1  or a derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic thereof or an agonist or antagonist thereof together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents. 
     
     
         5 . A method for treating a subject comprising administering to said subject a treatment effective amount of a protein according to  claim 1  or a derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic thereof or a genetic sequence encoding same or an agonist or antagonist of said protein or genetic sequence for a time and under conditions sufficient to effect treatment. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the treatment is in respect of obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, energy imbalance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, hypertension and/or insulin resistance. 
     
     
         7 . An isolated protein which is produced in a larger amount in hypothalamus tissue of obese animals as compared to lean animals and stimulates weight gain comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:14 or an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence that is capable of hybridizing to a nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:14 under high stringency conditions of at least 31% v/v to at least about 50% v/v formamide, from at least 0.01 M to at least about 0.15 M salt for hybridization, and at least about 0.01 M to at least about 0.15 M salt for washing conditions at 42° C. 
     
     
         8 . An antibody to a protein according to  claim 1  or a derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic of said protein. 
     
     
         9 . An isolated protein which is produced in a larger amount in hypothalamus tissue of obese animals as compared to lean animals and stimulates weight gain, said protein being encoded by a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:13 or a nucleotide sequence that is capable of hybridizing to SEQ ID NO:13 under high stringency conditions of at least 31% v/v to at least about 50% v/v formamide, from at least 0.01 M to at least about 0.15 M salt for hybridization, and at least about 0.01 M to at least about 0.15 M salt for washing conditions at 42° C. 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising a protein according to  claim 7  or an agonist or antagonist thereof together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents. 
     
     
         11 . A method for treating a subject comprising administering to said subject a treatment effective amount of a protein according to  claim 7  or a derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic thereof or a genetic sequence encoding same or an agonist or antagonist of said protein or genetic sequence for a time and under conditions sufficient to effect treatment. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the treatment is in respect of obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, energy imbalance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, hypertension and/or insulin resistance. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treatment or preventing obesity in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an antagonist of beacon or beacon gene expression for a time and under conditions sufficient to reduce the levels of beacon in hypothalamus tissue in said subject. 
     
     
         14 . An antibody to a protein according to  claim 7  or a derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic of said protein. 
     
     
         15 . An antibody according to  claim 14  wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         16 . Use of a protein as defined by  claim 7  or a genetic sequence as defined by any one of  claims 1  to  6  in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of one or more of obesity, anorexia, energy imbalance or diabetes. 
     
     
         17 . A method of detecting beacon or a derivative or homologue thereof in a biological sample, said method comprising contacting said biological sample with an antibody specific for beacon or its antigenic derivatives or homologues for a time and under conditions sufficient for a complex to form and then detecting said complex. 
     
     
         18 . A method for detecting expression of beacon or its derivatives or homologues in a tissue sample from a subject, said method comprising detecting the presence or amount of beacon mRNA in said sample. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  for use in determining the risk of development of obesity, anorexia, energy imbalance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, hypertension and/or insulin resistance.