Chinese hamster apoptosis-related genes

Abstract

Provided is an isolated polypeptide comprising a Cricetulus griseus sequence capable of mediating apoptosis of a cell, the sequence being selected from a FAIM sequence shown as SEQ ID NO: 1; a FADD sequence shown as SEQ ID NO: 2; a PDCD6 sequence shown as SEQ ID NO: 3; and a Requiem sequence shown as SEQ ID NO: 4.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A nucleic acid having a sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequence set out as SEQ ID NO: 15; the sequence set out as SEQ ID NO: 16; the sequence set out as SEQ ID NO: 40; and the sequence set out as SEQ ID NO: 48. 
     
     
         35 . A nucleic acid comprising a first oligonucleotide having SEQ ID NO: 15 and a second oligonucleotide having SEQ ID NO: 16, wherein the first oligonucleotide and the second oligonucleotide are annealed to form a double-stranded nucleic acid. 
     
     
         36 . A vector comprising at least 15 contiguous residues of a cgRequiem sequence having at least 93% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 8; or a sequence which is (i) complementary thereto, (ii) capable of hybridising under stringent conditions thereto, or (iii) degenerate thereto as a result of the genetic code, wherein the vector is capable of modulating expression in a cell of a cgRequiem polypeptide having at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         37 . The vector according to  claim 36 , the vector is capable of down-regulating expression in a cell of the cgRequiem polypeptide. 
     
     
         38 . The vector according to  claim 36 , wherein the vector comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequence set out as SEQ ID NO: 15; the sequence set out as SEQ ID NO: 16; the sequence set out as SEQ ID NO: 40; and the sequence set out as SEQ ID NO: 48. 
     
     
         39 . A cell comprising the vector according  claim 36 . 
     
     
         40 . A composition comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 34  and a carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         41 . A composition comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 35  and a carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         42 . A composition comprising the vector according to  claim 36  and a carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         43 . A composition comprising the cell according to  claim 39  and a carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         44 . A method for suppressing cgRequiem expression in a cell, the method comprising introducing into the cell the nucleic acid according to  claim 35 .