Androgen-regulated PMEPA1 gene and polypeptides

Abstract

This invention relates to the androgen-regulated gene, PMEPA1, and proteins encoded by this gene, including variants and analogs thereof. Also provided are other androgen-regulated nucleic acids, a polynucleotide array containing these androgen-regulated nucleic acids, and methods of using the polynucleotide array in the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer.

1 . A polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:3 and wherein the polypepide inhibits the growth of LNCaP cells in a colony-forming assay.  
     
     
         2 . A polypeptide variant of SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the variant comprises at least one mutation and/or deletion in at least one of the PY motifs of SEQ ID NO:3.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid hybridizes to a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 under conditions of high stringency, wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide that inhibits the growth of LNCaP cells in a colony-forming assay.  
     
     
         4 . An isolated antibody that binds to the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . An isolated antibody that binds to the polypeptide of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         6 . An isolated antibody that binds to the polypeptide of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         7 . A method of reducing the expression of an androgen receptor in a prostate cancer cell comprising administering a polypeptide according to  claim 1  to the prostate cancer cell in an amount effective to reduce expression of the androgen receptor in the cell.  
     
     
         8 . A method of inhibiting the growth of a prostate cancer cell, comprising administering a polypeptide according to  claim 1  to the prostate cancer cell in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of the cancer cell.  
     
     
         9 . A method of modulating the expression of a gene in a prostate cancer cell, wherein transcription of the gene is regulated by an androgen receptor, comprising administering a polypeptide according to  claim 1  to the prostate cancer cell in an amount effective to modulate the expression of the gene in the cell.