Methods and materials relating to novel stem cell growth factor-like polypeptides and polynucleotides

Abstract

The invention provides novel polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides and mutants or variants thereof that correspond to a novel human stem cell growth factor-like protein. These polynucleotides comprise nucleic acid sequences isolated from cDNA libraries from human testis cells (Hyseq clone identification numbers 2880984 and 2881695), from human fetal skin (Hyseq clone identification number 15375176), adult spleen (Hyseq clone identification number 14856094), and human endothelial cells (Hyseq clone identification numbers 13804756, 13687487, 13804756). Other aspects of the invention include vectors containing processes fro producing novel human stem cell growth factor-like polypeptides, and antibodies specific for such polypeptides.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide with stem cell growth factor activity, wherein said polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13, 16, 32 or 34, or the mature protein portion thereof, or a polypeptide with at least 98% sequence identity thereto. 
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide that does not consist of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:48. 
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide comprises of the mature protein portion of SEQ ID NO:13, 16, 32 or 34.
 The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide consists of the mature protein portion of SEQ ID NO:13, 16, 32 or 34.   
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, 12, 31 or 33. 
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide is DNA. 
     
     
         6 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide consists of the amino acid sequence of amino acid residues 22 to 279 of SEQ ID NO:32, or an amino acid sequence with at least 98% sequence identity thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide consists of the amino acid sequence of amino acid residues 22 to 272 of SEQ ID NO:34, or an amino acid sequence with at least 98% sequence identity thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide comprises at least 272 amino acids and has at least 98% identity with SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         9 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide with stem cell growth factor activity, wherein the polypeptide has at least 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:10, 13, or 16 and lacks the amino acid sequence GIEVTLAEGLTSVSQRTQPTPCRRRYL (SEQ ID NO: 29) wherein A=Alanine, C=Cysteine, D=Aspartic Acid, E=Glutamic Acid, F=Phenylalanine, G=Glycine, H=Histidine, I=Isoleucine, K=Lysine, L=Leucine, M=Methionine, N=Asparagine, P=Proline, Q=Glutamine, R=Arginine, S=Serine, T=Threonine, V=Valine, W=Tryptophan, Y=Tyrosine. 
     
     
         10 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide with stem cell growth factor activity, wherein the polypeptide has at least 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:10, 13, or 16 and lacks any 10 consecutive amino acids from an amino acid sequence GIEVTLAEGLTSVSQRTQPTPCRRRYL (SEQ ID NO: 29), wherein A=Alanine, C=Cysteine, D=Aspartic Acid, E=Glutamic Acid, F=Phenylalanine, G=Glycine, H=Histidine, I=Isoleucine, K=Lysine, L=Leucine, M=Methionine, N=Asparagine, P=Proline, Q=Glutamine, R=Arginine, S=Serine, T=Threonine, V=Valine, W=Tryptophan, Y=Tyrosine. 
     
     
         11 . An isolated polynucleotide which comprises the complement of the polynucleotide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . An expression vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1  in operative association with a regulatory sequence capable of effecting the expression of the polynucleotide in a host cell. 
     
     
         14 . A host cell genetically engineered to express the polynucleotide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A host cell genetically engineered to contain the polynucleotide of  claim 1  in operative association with a regulatory sequence capable of effecting the expression of the polynucleotide in the host cell. 
     
     
         16 . The host cell of  claim 15  which has been genetically engineered to contain a heterologous regulatory sequence that increases expression of an endogenous polynucleotide. 
     
     
         17 . A method of producing a polypeptide with stem cell growth factor activity comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 14  under conditions that permit expression of said polypeptide and isolating said polypeptide. 
     
     
         18 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising the protein coding cDNA insert of the plasmid deposited with the National Institute of Bioscience and Human-Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology Zip code 305-8566; Higashi 1-1-3, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan) on Jun. 26, 2000 under accession number FERM BP-7198. 
     
     
         19 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising the protein coding cDNA insert of the plasmid deposited with the National Institute of Bioscience and Human-Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology Zip code 305-8566; Higashi 1-1-3, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan) on Jun. 26, 2000 under accession number FERM BP-7197.