Neurturin receptor

Abstract

NTNRα, NTNRα extracellular domain (ECD), NTNRα variants, chimeric NTNRα (e.g., NTNRα immunoadhesion), and antibodies which bind thereto (including agonist and neutralizing antibodies) are disclosed. Various uses for these molecules are described, including methods to modulate cell activity and survival by response to NTNRα-ligands, for example NTN, by providing NTNRα to the cell.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for identifying a molecule which activates Neurturin Receptor α (NTNRα), comprising exposing the NTNRα to a molecule suspected of being capable of activating NTNRα and measuring activation of NTNRα. 
     
     
         14 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for activating Neurturin Receptor α (NTNRα) in a cell, comprising exposing the NTNRα to an amount of an agonist antibody which is effective for activating NTNRα, wherein said agonist antibody specifically binds to NTNRα, and wherein said NTNRα comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a human NTNRα extracellular domain (ECD) amino acid sequence; 
 (b) an allelic variant or mammalian homolog of (a); 
 (c) a sequence encoded by nucleic acid which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid encoding (a) or (b); 
 (d) a sequence derived from (a) or (b) by substitution, deletion, or addition of one or several amino acids in the amino acid sequence of (a) or (b); and 
 (e) a sequence encoding at least 16 contiguous amino acids from (a), (b), or (c). 
 
     
     
         21 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said NTNRα comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a human NTNRα extracellular domain (ECD) amino acid sequence; 
 (b) an allelic variant or mammalian homolog of (a); 
 (c) a sequence encoded by nucleic acid which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid encoding (a) or (b); 
 (d) a sequence derived from (a) or (b) by substitution, deletion, or addition of one or several amino acids in the amino acid sequence of (a) or (b); and 
 (e) a sequence encoding at least 16 contiguous amino acids from (a), (b), or (c).