Human Osteoclast Derived Cathepsin

Abstract

Disclosed is a human osteoclast-derived cathepsin (Cathepsin O) polypeptide and DNA(RNA) encoding such cathepsin O polypeptides. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques. The present invention also discloses antibodies, antagonists and inhibitors of such polypeptide which may be used to prevent the action of such polypeptide and therefore may be used therapeutically to treat bone diseases such as osteoporosis and cancers, such as tumor metastases.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding for Cathepsin O, said polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding for the Cathepsin O polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of  FIG. 1  or a fragment, analog or derivative of said polypeptide; and   (b) a polynucleotide encoding for the Cathepsin O polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 75671 or a fragment, analog or derivative of said polypeptide.   
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is DNA. 
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 2  having the coding sequence for Cathepsin O deposited as ATCC™ Deposit No. 75671. 
     
     
         4 . A vector containing the DNA of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         5 . A host cell genetically engineered with the vector of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         6 . A process for producing a polypeptide comprising: expressing from the host cell of  claim 5  the polypeptide encoded by said DNA. 
     
     
         7 . A process for producing cells capable of expressing a polypeptide comprising genetically engineering cells with the vector of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         8 . An isolated DNA hybridizable to the DNA of  claim 2  and encoding a polypeptide having Cathepsin O activity. 
     
     
         9 . A polypeptide selected from the group consisting of (i) a Cathepsin O polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of  FIG. 1  and fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof and (ii) a Cathepsin O polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of ATCC™ Deposit No. 75671 and fragments, analogs and derivatives of said polypeptide. 
     
     
         10 . The polypeptide of  claim 9  wherein the polypeptide is Cathepsin O having the deduced amino acid sequence of  FIG. 1 . 
     
     
         11 . An antibody against the polypeptide of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         12 . An antagonist/inhibitor against the polypeptide of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         13 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need to inhibit Cathepsin O comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist against the polypeptide of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of  claim 9  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         15 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need to inhibit Cathepsin O comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an antisense construct against the DNA or RNA which encodes for Cathepsin O such that transcription and translation into Cathepsin O is inhibited. 
     
     
         16 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need to inhibit Cathepsin O comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         17 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need to inhibit Cathepsin O comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the antagonist/inhibitor of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said patient has cancer. 
     
     
         19 . A method of detecting Cathepsin O protein in a biological sample comprising:
 (a) contacting the biological sample with the antibody of  claim 11 ; and   (b) detecting the Cathepsin O protein in the biological sample.