Nucleic Acids, Polypeptides, Compositions, and Methods for Modulating Apoptosis

Abstract

The present invention relates to isolated and/or purified rat apoptosis-specific eucaryotic initiation Factor-5A (eIF-5A) and deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) nucleic acids and polypeptides. The present invention also relates to methods of modulating apoptosis using apoptosis-specific eIF-5A and DHS, and antisense oligonucleotides and expression vectors of apoptosis-specific eIF-5A and DHS useful in such methods.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for modulating expression in vitro of a polypeptide associated with apoptosis comprising administering to the cell a polynucleotide encoding apoptosis-specific eIF-5A comprising SEQ ID NO:1 wherein said apoptosis-specific eIF-5A is expressed within the cell and thereby modulates expression of the polypeptide. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide is Bcl-2 and wherein Bcl-2 expression is decreased. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide is c-myc and wherein c-myc expression is increased. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide is p53 and wherein p53 expression is increased. 
     
     
         5 . An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding an apoptosis-specific eIF-5A and a promoter sequence operably linked to the poynucleotide. 
     
     
         6 . The expression vector of  claim 5  wherein the apoptosis-specific eIF-5A comprises SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         7 . The expression vector of  claim 5  wherein the promoter comprises the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter/enhancer.