Sodium-independent transporter carrying acidic amino acid and its gene

Abstract

It is intended to provide a sodium-independent transporter carrying an acidic amino acid and its gene. A protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and being capable of sodium-independently transporting an acidic amino acid and its analogs; a gene encoding this protein; a fused protein of the above protein with an auxiliary factor enabling the expression of its function; a gene encoding the same; a method of analyzing the function of a transporter using the same: and utilization thereof.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An antibody directed to a protein selected from the group consisting of the following (A) and (B):
 (A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; and   (B) a protein having the ability to transport acidic amino acids and their analogues in a sodium-independent manner which consists of an amino acid sequence where one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted or added in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.   
     
     
         19 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The antibody of  claim 18 , wherein the protein is derived from mouse. 
     
     
         30 . The antibody of  claim 18 , wherein the protein is derived from organ, tissue or cultured cell. 
     
     
         31 . An antibody directed to a protein selected from the group consisting of the following (C) and (D):
 (C) a fusion protein of a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 3; and,   (D) a protein having the ability to transport acidic amino acids and their analogues in a sodium-independent manner which consists of an amino acid sequence where one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted or added in the amino acid sequence of a fusion protein of a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 3.   
     
     
         32 . The antibody of  claim 31 , wherein the protein is derived from mouse. 
     
     
         33 . The antibody of  claim 31 , wherein the protein is derived from organ, tissue or cultured cell. 
     
     
         34 . An antibody directed to a protein selected from the group consisting of the following (E) and (F):
 (E) a fusion protein of a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5; and,   (F) a protein having the ability to transport acidic amino acids and their analogues in a sodium-independent manner which consists of an amino acid sequence where one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted or added and in the amino acid sequence of a fusion protein of a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5.   
     
     
         35 . The antibody of  claim 34 , wherein the protein is derived from mouse. 
     
     
         36 . The antibody of  claim 34 , wherein the protein is derived from organ, tissue or cultured cell.