Cytokine designated LERK-6

Abstract

The invention is directed to LERK-6 as a purified and isolated protein, the DNA encoding the LERK-6, host cells transfected with cDNAs encoding LERK-6.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An isolated and purified LERK-6 polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the sequence of amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 1 to 104 of SEQ ID NO:8 and 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO:10, wherein the isolated and purified LERK-6 polypeptide binds hek/elk and wherein the percent identity is calculated using the GAP program with a unary comparison matrix, a 3.0 gap penalty, an additional 0.10 penalty for each symbol in each gap, and no penalty for end gaps. 
     
     
       2. A LERK-6 polypeptide encoded by a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
       (a) SEQ ID NO:7;  
       (b) nucleotides 88 to 642 of SEQ ID NO:9;  
       (c) sequences that hybridize under highly stringent conditions to the sequences of (a) and (b); and which sequences bind hek/elk;  
       (d) sequences that, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, encode LERK-6 polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of the polypeptides encoded by the sequences of (a), (b), and (c).  
     
     
       3. An isolated and purified LERK-6 polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the sequence of amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 1 to 104 of SEQ ID NO:8 and 1 to 145 of SEQ ID NO: 10, wherein the isolated and purified LERK-6 polypeptide binds hek/elk and wherein the percent identity is calculated using the GAP program with a unary comparison matrix, a 3.0 gap penalty, an additional 0.10 penalty for each symbol in each gap, and no penalty for end gaps. 
     
     
       4. An isolated and purified LERK-6 polypeptide comprising the amino acid residues 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO: 10. 
     
     
       5. A polypeptide selected from the group consisting of polypeptides encoded by the cDNA insert of vector λ13MLERK-6λgt10 having accession number ATCC 75829 and polypeptides encoded by the cDNA insert of the vector having accession numbers ATCC 98515, ATCC 98516, and ATCC 98517. 
     
     
       6. An isolated LERK-6 polypeptide that comprises amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of; 
       (a) 1 to 104 of SEQ ID NO:8;  
       (b) 1 to 145 of SEQ ID NO: 10; and  
       (c) conservative amino acid residue substitutions of the residues of (a) and (b).  
     
     
       7. An isolated LERK-6 polypeptide that comprises amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of: 
       (a) 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO:2; and  
       (b) conservative amino acid residue substitutions of the residues of (a).  
     
     
       8. An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid residues 1 to 145 of SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
       9. An isolated polypeptide consisting of amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of: 
       (a) 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO:10; and  
       (b) 1 to 145 of SEQ ID NO:10.  
     
     
       10. A recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide that binds hek/elk, wherein said polypeptide comprises amino acids  1  to  104  of SEQ ID NO: 8 .    
     
     
       11. A recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide that binds hek/elk, wherein said polypeptide comprises amino acids  30  to  213  of SEQ ID NO: 10 .    
     
     
       12. A recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide that binds hek/elk, wherein said polypeptide comprises amino acids  30  to  174  of SEQ ID NO: 10 .    
     
     
       13. A recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide that binds hek/elk, wherein said polypeptide comprises amino acids  30  to  163  of SEQ ID NO: 10 .    
     
     
       14. The recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide of    claim 1   , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by a DNA molecule comprising nucleotides  2  to  313  of SEQ ID NO: 7 .    
     
     
       15. The recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide of    claim 2   , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by a DNA molecule comprising nucleotides  88  to  642  of SEQ ID NO: 9 .    
     
     
       16. The recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide of    claim 3   , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by a DNA molecule comprising nucleotides  88  to  522  of SEQ ID NO: 9 .    
     
     
       17. The recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide of    claim 4   , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by a DNA molecule comprising nucleotides  88  to  489  of SEQ ID NO: 9 .    
     
     
       18. A recombinant LERK-   6  polypeptide encoded by the cDNA insert of vectors having accession numbers ATCC  98515 , ATCC  98516 , and ATCC  98517 .