Growth factor homolog zvegf4

Abstract

Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 70% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide of up to approximately 4.4 kb in length, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 52-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises residues 19-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises residues 1-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide is DNA. 
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 4 , comprising nucleotides 1 through 1110 of SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         6 . The polynucleotide of  claim 4 , comprising nucleotides 226 through 1335 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         7 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements:
 a transcription promoter;   a DNA segment encoding a polypeptide comprising residues 52-370 of SEQ ID NO:2; and   a transcription terminator.   
     
     
         8 . The expression vector of  claim 7 , further comprising a secretory signal sequence operably linked to the DNA segment. 
     
     
         9 . The expression vector of  claim 7 , wherein the polypeptide comprises residues 19-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         10 . The expression vector of  claim 7 , wherein the polypeptide comprises residues 1-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         11 . A cultured cell into which has been introduced an expression vector according to  claim 7 , wherein the cell expresses the polypeptide encoded by the DNA segment. 
     
     
         12 . The cultured cell of  claim 11 , wherein the expression vector further comprises a secretory signal sequence operably linked to the DNA segment. 
     
     
         13 . The cultured cell of  claim 11 , wherein the polypeptide comprises residues 19-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         14 . The cultured cell of  claim 11 , wherein the polypeptide comprises residues 1-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a protein comprising:
 culturing a cell into which has been introduced an expression vector according to  claim 7 , whereby the cell expresses the polypeptide encoded by the DNA segment; and   recovering the expressed protein.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the expression vector further comprises a secretory signal sequence operably linked to the DNA segment and wherein the expressed protein is recovered from a medium in which the cell is cultured.