Drg11-responsive (dragon) gene family

Abstract

This invention features methods and compositions useful for treating and diagnosing diseases of the nervous system, retina, skin, muscle, joint, and cartilage using a Dragon family protein. Protein and nucleic acid sequences of human, murine, zebrafish, and C. elegans Dragon family members are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A method of treating a DRG11-Responsive Axonal Guidance and Outgrowth of Neurite (DRAGON)-related cancer in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a DRAGON protein. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the DRAGON-related cancer is selected from the group consisting of a glioma, a Schwanoma, and a neurofibromatosis. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the DRAGON protein is administered with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or salt. 
     
     
         57 . A method of diagnosing a subject as having, or having an increased risk of developing, a DRAGON-related cancer, the method comprising taking a biological sample from the subject and assessing whether the sample contains a mutated DRAGON nucleic acid, wherein the mutated DRAGON nucleic acid encodes a mutated DRAGON protein, wherein the mutated DRAGON protein exhibits increased biological activity relative to a wild-type DRAGON protein, wherein if the sample contains the mutated DRAGON nucleic acid, the subject has or is at risk of having a DRAGON-related cancer. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein assessing comprises polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein assessing comprises restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the DRAGON-related cancer is selected from the group consisting of a glioma, a Schwanoma, and a neurofibromatosis. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the sample is a blood sample or a tissue biopsy. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         63 . A method of diagnosing a subject as having, or having an increased risk of developing, a DRAGON-related cancer, the method comprising taking a biological sample from the subject; determining the expression level of a DRAGON nucleic acid and/or protein; comparing the expression level of the DRAGON nucleic acid and/or protein to a control sample; and determining whether the subject has, or has an increased risk of developing a DRAGON-related cancer based on the comparison. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the expression level of the DRAGON nucleic acid and/or protein is higher than the control sample, the subject has, or has an increased risk of developing a DRAGON-related cancer. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein determining the expression level of a nucleic acid comprises Northern blot analysis. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein determining the expression level of a nucleic acid comprises PCR analysis. 
     
     
         67 . The method of claim  10 , wherein determining the expression level of a protein comprises enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein determining the expression level of a protein comprises Western blot analysis. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein determining the expression level of a protein comprises radioimmunoassay (RIA) analysis.