U.S. patent application number 11/859217 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for novel genes related to glutaminyl cyclase.
This patent application is currently assigned to PROBIODRUG AG. Invention is credited to Holger Cynis, Hans-Ulrich Demuth, Jens-Ulrich Rahfeld, Stephan Schilling.
Application Number | 20080249083 11/859217 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38779576 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080249083 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schilling; Stephan ; et
al. |
October 9, 2008 |
NOVEL GENES RELATED TO GLUTAMINYL CYCLASE
Abstract
Novel glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like proteins
(QPCTLs), which are isoenzymes of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC
2.3.2.5), and to isolated nucleic acids coding for these
isoenzymes, all of which are useful for the discovery of new
therapeutic agents, for measuring cyclase activity, and for
determining the inhibitory activity of compounds against these
glutaminyl cyclase isoenzymes.
Inventors: |
Schilling; Stephan;
(Halle/Saale, DE) ; Cynis; Holger; (Halle/Saale,
DE) ; Rahfeld; Jens-Ulrich; (Lieskau, DE) ;
Demuth; Hans-Ulrich; (Halle/Saale, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SONNENSCHEIN NATH & ROSENTHAL LLP
P.O. BOX 061080, WACKER DRIVE STATION, SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-1080
US
|
Assignee: |
PROBIODRUG AG
Halle/Saale
DE
|
Family ID: |
38779576 |
Appl. No.: |
11/859217 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60846244 |
Sep 21, 2006 |
|
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60947780 |
Jul 3, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
514/224.2 ;
435/183; 435/252.3; 435/29; 435/320.1; 435/325; 435/348; 435/4;
435/69.1; 530/350; 530/387.9; 536/23.2; 536/24.31; 536/24.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 17/04 20180101;
C12N 9/104 20130101; A61P 25/28 20180101; A61P 25/18 20180101; A61P
37/06 20180101; A61P 35/00 20180101; C07D 403/06 20130101; A61P
15/08 20180101; A61P 9/10 20180101; A61P 25/14 20180101; C07D
233/54 20130101; C07D 413/12 20130101; A61P 29/00 20180101; A61P
17/00 20180101; A61P 1/04 20180101; C07D 405/12 20130101; C07D
233/61 20130101; C07D 409/12 20130101; A61P 31/04 20180101; A61P
3/00 20180101; C07D 235/06 20130101; A61P 25/20 20180101; A61P
25/00 20180101; C07D 401/12 20130101; A61P 35/04 20180101; C07D
403/12 20130101; C07D 417/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/224.2 ;
536/23.2; 536/24.31; 536/24.5; 435/320.1; 435/325; 435/348;
435/252.3; 435/69.1; 530/350; 435/183; 530/387.9; 435/4;
435/29 |
International
Class: |
A61K 31/54 20060101
A61K031/54; C07H 21/04 20060101 C07H021/04; C12N 15/63 20060101
C12N015/63; C12N 5/10 20060101 C12N005/10; C12N 1/21 20060101
C12N001/21; C12P 21/00 20060101 C12P021/00; A61P 25/28 20060101
A61P025/28; A61P 35/00 20060101 A61P035/00; C07K 14/47 20060101
C07K014/47; C12N 9/00 20060101 C12N009/00; C12Q 1/00 20060101
C12Q001/00; C07K 16/40 20060101 C07K016/40; C12Q 1/02 20060101
C12Q001/02 |
Claims
1. An isolated nucleic acid comprising (a) a nucleic acid sequence
encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected
from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID
NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17,
SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 22, or an amino acid
sequence having at least about 90% sequence identity thereto and
having glutaminyl cyclase activity; (b) a nucleic acid sequence
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3,
SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO:
8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 20, or an
alternative splice variant thereof; (c) a probe comprising at least
14 contiguous nucleotides of said nucleic acid sequence of (a) or
(b); or (d) a nucleic acid sequence complementary to any one of
(a), (b), or (c).
2. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 wherein the nucleic acid is
DNA or RNA.
3. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid
sequence encodes a polypeptide having (i) at least about 95%
sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group
consisting of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID
NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO. 18,
SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 22 and (ii) glutaminyl cyclase
activity.
4. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the probe of (c)
comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group
consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID
NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60,
and SEQ ID NO: 61.
5. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 further comprising an
expression-control element operably linked with said nucleic acid,
wherein the expression-control element drives the expression of a
polypeptide encoded by said nucleic acid.
6. An antisense oligonucleotide directed against the isolated
nucleic acid of claim 1.
7. An expression vector comprising: a nucleic acid comprising (a) a
nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino
acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 11,
SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID
NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO:
22, oran amino acid sequence having at least about 90% sequence
identity thereto and having glutaminyl cyclase activity; or (b) a
nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID
NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ
ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO:
20, or an alternative splice variant thereof; and a promoter;
wherein the nucleic acid is operably linked to the promoter.
8. A transgenic host cell transformed with a nucleic acid
comprising (a) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide
comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group
consisting of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID
NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18,
SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 22, or an amino acid sequence having
at least about 90% sequence identity thereto and having glutaminyl
cyclase activity; or (b) a nucleic acid sequence selected from the
group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ
ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9,
SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 20, or an alternative splice variant
thereof; wherein the host cell is a mammalian, insect, or bacterial
host cell.
9. A process for producing a polypeptide comprising culturing the
host cell of claim 8 under conditions sufficient for the production
of said polypeptide; and recovering the polypeptide or a fragment
thereof from the culture; wherein said polypeptide is expressed at
the surface of said cell.
10. An isolated polypeptide comprising: (a) an amino acid sequence
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12,
SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID
NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 22, or an
amino acid sequence having at least about 90% sequence identity
thereto and having glutaminyl cyclase activity; (b) an amino acid
sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group
consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO:
5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID
NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 20, or an alternative splice variant
thereof; or (c) a fragment of (a) or (b) wherein said fragment is
immunologically reactive and has glutaminyl cyclase activity;
wherein the isolated polypeptide is optionally glycosylated.
11. The polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the polypeptide comprises
an amino acid sequence having at least about 95% sequence identity
to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ
ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO:
15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 21, or
SEQ ID NO: 22 and has glutaminyl cyclase activity.
12. An antibody directed to the polypeptide of claim 10.
13. A method of screening for a compound capable of inhibiting the
enzymatic activity of at least one polypeptide of claim 10,
comprising: incubating at least one polypeptide of claim 10 and a
suitable substrate for the at least one polypeptide of claim 10 in
the presence of at least one test compound or salt thereof;
measuring an enzymatic activity of the at least one polypeptide;
comparing said activity with enzymatic activity determined in the
absence of the at least one test compound or salt thereof; and
selecting a test compound that reduces the enzymatic activity of
the at least one polypeptide of claim 10.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the enzymatic activity is
glutaminyl cyclase activity.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: incubating a
polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 10 (wild type human glutaminyl
cyclase) and a suitable substrate for wild type human glutaminyl
cyclase in the presence of the at least one test compound or salt
thereof; measuring the glutaminyl cyclase activity of the
polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 10; and selecting a test compound
that reduces the glutaminyl cyclase activity of the at least one
polypeptide of claim 10 but does not reduce the glutaminyl cyclase
activity of the polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 10.
16. A QPCTL antagonist, which inhibits the glutaminyl cyclase
activity of at least one polypeptide of claim 10.
17. The QPCTL antagonist of claim 16, wherein the antagonist is (i)
a QPCTL competitive inhibitor or (ii) a QPCTL inhibitor that binds
to an active-site bound metal ion of the QPCTL.
18. The QPCTL antagonist of claim 16, which is a small molecule
inhibitor identified by the screening method of claim 14.
19. The QPCTL antagonist of claim 16, which is a small molecule
inhibitor identified by the screening method of claim 15.
20. A pharmaceutical composition for parenteral, enteral or oral
administration, comprising at least one QPCTL inhibitor of claim
16, or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof, optionally in
combination with customary carriers and/or excipients.
21. A method of prevention or treatment of a disease selected from
Alzheimer's disease, Familial British Dementia, Familial Danish
Dementia, Down Syndrome, Huntington's disease, Kennedy's disease,
ulcer disease, duodenal cancer with or w/o Helicobacter pylori
infections, colorectal cancer, Zolliger-Ellison syndrome, gastric
cancer with or without Helicobacter pylori infections, pathogenic
psychotic conditions, schizophrenia, infertility, neoplasia,
inflammatory host responses, cancer, malign metastasis, melanoma,
psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, impaired humoral
and cell-mediated immune responses, leukocyte adhesion and
migration processes in the endothelium, impaired food intake,
impaired sleep-wakefulness, impaired homeostatic regulation of
energy metabolism, impaired autonomic function, impaired hormonal
balance or impaired regulation of body fluids, multiple sclerosis,
the Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinizing
polyradiculoneuropathy, comprising administering to a subject in
need thereof a QPCTL inhibitor of claim 16, or a pharmaceutical
acceptable salt thereof.
22. A method of diagnosing any one of the diseases and/or
conditions as defined in claim 21 in a subject, comprising:
collecting a sample from a subject who is suspected to be afflicted
with said disease and/or condition, contacting said sample with an
inhibitor of a glutaminyl peptide cyclotransferase; and determining
whether said subject is afflicted by said disease and/or
condition.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said sample is selected from
the group consisting of a blood sample, a serum sample, a sample of
cerebrospinal liquor, and a urine sample.
24. A diagnostic kit for carrying out the method of claim 22
comprising a detection means and a determination means.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application contains subject matter related to
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/846,244 filed in the
U.S. Patent Office on Sep. 21, 2006, and 60/947,780, filed in the
U.S. Patent Office on Jul. 3, 2007, the entire contents both of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to novel glutaminyl-peptide
cyclotransferase-like proteins (QPCTLs), which are isoenzymes of
glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5), and to isolated nucleic acids
coding for these isoenzymes, all of which are useful for the
discovery of new therapeutic agents, for measuring cyclase
activity, and for determining the inhibitory activity of compounds
against these glutaminyl cyclase isoenzymes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5) catalyzes the
intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamine residues into
pyroglutamic acid (pGlu*) liberating ammonia. A QC was first
isolated by Messer from the latex of the tropical plant Carica
papaya in 1963 (Messer, M. 1963 Nature 4874, 1299). 24 years later,
a corresponding enzymatic activity was discovered in animal
pituitary (Busby, W. H. J. et al. 1987 J Biol Chem 262, 8532-8536;
Fischer, W. H. and Spiess, J. 1987 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84,
3628-3632). For the mammalian QC, the conversion of Gln into pGlu
by QC could be shown for the precursors of TRH and GnRH (Busby, W.
H. J. et al. 1987 J Biol Chem 262, 8532-8536; Fischer, W. H. and
Spiess, J. 1987 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84, 3628-3632). In addition,
initial localization experiments of QC revealed a co-localization
with its putative products of catalysis in bovine pituitary,
further improving the suggested function in peptide hormone
synthesis (Bockers, T. M. et al. 1995 J Neuroendocrinol 7,
445-453). In contrast, the physiological function of the plant QC
is less clear. In the case of the enzyme from C. papaya, a role in
the plant defense against pathogenic microorganisms was suggested
(El Moussaoui, A. et al. 2001 Cell Mol Life Sci 58, 556-570).
Putative QCs from other plants were identified by sequence
comparisons recently (Dahl, S. W. et al. 2000 Protein Expr Purif
20, 27-36). The physiological function of these enzymes, however,
is still ambiguous.
[0004] The QCs known from plants and animals show a strict
specificity for L-Glutamine in the N-terminal position of the
substrates and their kinetic behavior was found to obey the
Michaelis-Menten equation (Pohl, T. et al. 1991 Proc Natl Acad Sci
USA 88, 10059-10063; Consalvo, A. P. et al. 1988 Anal Biochem 175,
131-138; Gololobov, M. Y. et al. 1996 Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler 377,
395-398). A comparison of the primary structures of the QCs from C.
papaya and that of the highly conserved QC from mammals, however,
did not reveal any sequence homology (Dahl, S. W. et al. 2000
Protein Expr Purif 20, 27-36). Whereas the plant QCs appear to
belong to a new enzyme family (Dahl, S. W. et al. 2000 Protein Expr
Purif 20, 27-36), the mammalian QCs were found to have a pronounced
sequence homology to bacterial aminopeptidases (Bateman, R. C. et
al. 2001 Biochemistry 40, 11246-11250), leading to the conclusion
that the QCs from plants and animals have different evolutionary
origins.
[0005] Recently, it was shown that recombinant human QC as well as
QC-activity from brain extracts catalyze both, the N-terminal
glutaminyl as well as glutamate cyclization. Most striking is the
finding, that cyclase-catalyzed Glu.sub.1-conversion is favored
around pH 6.0 while Gln.sub.1-conversion to pGlu-derivatives occurs
with a pH-optimum of around 8.0. Since the formation of
pGlu-A-related peptides can be suppressed by inhibition of
recombinant human QC and QC-activity from pig pituitary extracts,
the enzyme QC is a target in drug development for treatment of
Alzheimer's disease.
[0006] EP 02 011 349.4 discloses polynucleotides encoding insect
glutaminyl cyclase, as well as polypeptides encoded thereby. This
application further provides host cells comprising expression
vectors comprising polynucleotides of the invention. Isolated
polypeptides and host cells comprising insect QC are useful in
methods of screening for agents that reduce glutaminyl cyclase
activity. Such agents are useful as pesticides.
[0007] Inhibitors of QC, which also could be useful as inhibitors
of QC isoenzymes, are described in WO 2004/098625, WO 2004/098591,
WO 2005/039548 and WO 2005/075436, which are incorporated herein in
their entirety, especially with regard to the structure of the
inhibitors, their use and their production.
DEFINITIONS
[0008] Enzyme Inhibitors
[0009] Reversible enzyme inhibitors: comprise competitive
inhibitors, non-competitive reversible inhibitors, slow-binding or
tight-binding inhibitors, transition state analogs and
multisubstrate analogs.
[0010] Competitive inhibitors show [0011] i) non-covalent
interactions with the enzyme, [0012] ii) compete with substrate for
the enzyme active site,
[0013] The principal mechanism of action of a reversible enzyme
inhibitor and the definition of the dissociation constant can be
visualized as follows:
##STR00001##
[0014] The formation of the enzyme-inhibitor [E-I] complex prevents
binding of substrates, therefore the reaction cannot proceed to the
normal physiological product, P. A larger inhibitor concentration
[I] leads to larger [E-I], leaving less free enzyme to which the
substrate can bind.
[0015] Non-Competitive Reversible Inhibitors [0016] i) bind at a
site other than active site (allosteric binding site) [0017] ii)
cause a conformational change in the enzyme which decreases or
stops catalytic activity.
[0018] Slow-Binding or Tight-Binding Inhibitors [0019] i) are
competitive inhibitors where the equilibrium between inhibitor and
enzyme is reached slowly, [0020] ii) (k.sub.on is slow), possibly
due to conformational changes that must occur in the enzyme or
inhibitor [0021] a) are often transition state analogs [0022] b)
are effective at concentrations similar to the enzyme conc.
(subnanomolar K.sub.D values) [0023] c) due to k.sub.off values
being so low these types of inhibitors are "almost"
irreversible
[0024] Transition State Analogs
[0025] are competitive inhibitors which mimic the transition state
of an enzyme catalyzed reaction. Enzyme catalysis occurs due to a
lowering of the energy of the transition state, therefore,
transition state binding is favored over substrate binding.
[0026] Multisubstrate Analogs
[0027] For a reaction involving two or more substrates, a
competitive inhibitor or transition state analog can be designed
which contains structural characteristics resembling two or more of
the substrates.
[0028] Irreversible enzyme inhibitors: drive the equilibrium
between the unbound enzyme and inhibitor and enzyme inhibitor
complex (E+I <- - - >E-I) all the way to the right with a
covalent bond (.about.100 kcal/mole), making the inhibition
irreversible.
[0029] Affinity Labeling Agents [0030] Active-site directed
irreversible inhibitors (competitive irreversible inhibitor) are
recognized by the enzyme (reversible, specific binding) followed by
covalent bond formation, and [0031] i) are structurally similar to
substrate, transition state or product allowing for specific
interaction between drug and target enzyme, [0032] ii) contain
reactive functional group (e.g. a nucleophile, --COCH.sub.2Br)
allowing for covalent bond formation [0033] The reaction scheme
below describes an active-site directed reagent with its target
enzyme where K.sub.D is the dissociation constant and
k.sub.inactivation is the rate of covalent bond formation.
[0033] ##STR00002## [0034] Mechanism-based enzyme inactivators
(also called suicide inhibitors) are active-site directed reagents
(unreactive) which binds to the enzyme active site where it is
transformed to a reactive form (activated) by the enzyme's
catalytic capabilities. Once activated, a covalent bond between the
inhibitor and the enzyme is formed. [0035] The reaction scheme
below shows the mechanism of action of a mechanism based enzyme
inactivator, where K.sub.D is the dissociation complex, k.sub.2 is
the rate of activation of the inhibitor once bound to the enzyme,
k.sub.3 is the rate of dissociation of the activated inhibitor, P,
from the enzyme (product can still be reactive) from the enzyme and
k.sub.4 is the rate of covalent bond formation between the
activated inhibitor and the enzyme.
[0035] ##STR00003## [0036] Inactivation (covalent bond formation,
k.sub.4) must occur prior to dissociation (k.sub.3) otherwise the
now reactive inhibitor is released into the environment. Partition
ratio, k.sub.3/k.sub.4: ratio of released product to inactivation
should be minimized for efficient inactivation of the system and
minimal undesirable side reactions. A large partition ratio (favors
dissocation) leads to nonspecific reactions.
[0037] Uncompetitive enzyme inhibitors: From the definition of
uncompetitive inhibitor (an inhibitor which binds only to ES
complexes) the following equilibria can be written:
##STR00004##
[0038] The ES complex dissociates the substrate with a dissociation
constant equal to Ks, whereas the ESI complex does not dissociate
it (i.e has a Ks value equal to zero). The K.sub.m's of
Michaelis-Menten type enzymes are expected to be reduced.
Increasing substrate concentration leads to increasing ESI
concentration (a complex incapable of progressing to reaction
products), therefore the inhibition can not be removed.
[0039] Preferred according to the present invention are competitive
enzyme inhibitors. Most preferred are competitive reversible enzyme
inhibitors.
[0040] The terms "k.sub.i" or "K.sub.I" and "K.sub.D" are binding
constants, which describe the binding of an inhibitor to and the
subsequent release from an enzyme. Another measure is the
"IC.sub.50" value, which reflects the inhibitor concentration,
which at a given substrate concentration results in 50% enzyme
activity.
[0041] The term "QC" as used herein comprises glutaminyl cyclase
(QC), which is synonymous to glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase
(QPCT); and QC-like enzymes, which are synonymous to
glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like proteins (QPCTLs). QC and
QC-like enzymes have identical or similar enzymatic activity,
further defined as QC activity. In this regard, QC-like enzymes can
fundamentally differ in their molecular structure from QC.
[0042] "QC-activity" is defined as the catalytic activity of
glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT) and QC-like enzymes (QPCTLs). These
enzymes are found in various tissues of the body of a mammal
including kidney, liver, intestine, brain and body fluids such as
CSF, where they cyclize glutamine or glutamate at the N-terminus of
biologically active peptides with a high specificity.
[0043] In particular, the term "QC activity" as used herein is
defined as intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamine
residues into pyroglutamic acid (pGlu*) or of N-terminal
L-homoglutamine or L-.beta.-homoglutamine to a cyclic
pyro-homoglutamine derivative under liberation of ammonia. See
therefore schemes 1 and 2.
##STR00005##
##STR00006##
[0044] The term "EC" as used herein comprises the side activity of
glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT) and QC-like enzymes (QPCTLs) as
glutamate cyclase (EC), further defined as EC activity.
[0045] The term "EC activity" as used herein is defined as
intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamate residues into
pyroglutamic acid (pGlu*) by glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT) and
QC-like enzymes (QPCTLs). See therefore scheme 3.
##STR00007##
[0046] The term "QC-inhibitor" or "glutaminyl cyclase inhibitor" is
generally known to a person skilled in the art and means enzyme
inhibitors, which inhibit the catalytic activity of glutaminyl
cyclase (QC, QPCT) or QC-like enzymes (QPCTLs) or their glutamyl
cyclase (EC) activity, preferably by direct interaction of the
inhibitor with the enzyme.
[0047] The term "selective QC-inhibitor" as defined herein means
enzyme inhibitors, which inhibit the catalytic activity of
glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT) but do not or with a lower potency
inhibit at least one QC-like enzymes (QPCTLs). Preferred are
selective QC-inhibitors, which inhibit glutaminyl cyclase (QC,
QPCT) with an ki-value, which is one order of magnitude lower than
its ki-value for the inhibition of at least one QC-like enzyme
(QPCTL). More preferably, the ki-value of said selective
QC-inhibitor for the inhibition of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT) is
two orders of magnitude lower than its ki-value for the inhibition
of at least one QC-like enzyme (QPCTL). Even more preferred are
selective QC-inhibitors, wherein their ki-value for the inhibition
of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT) is three orders of magnitude lower
than their ki-value for the inhibition of at least one QC-like
enzyme (QPCTL). Most preferred are selective QC-inhibitors, which
do not inhibit QC-like enzymes (QPCTLs).
[0048] Ther term "selective QPCTL-inhibitor" as defined herein
means enzyme inhibitors, which inhibit the catalytic activity of at
least one QC-like enzyme (QPCTL), but do not or with a lower
potency inhibit the activity of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT).
Preferred are selective QPCTL-inhibitors, which inhibit at least
one QC-like enzyme (QPCTL) with an ki-value, which is one order of
magnitude lower than its ki-value for the inhibition of glutaminyl
cyclase (QC, QPCT). More preferably, the ki-value of said selective
QPCTL-inhibitor for the inhibition of at least one QC-like enzyme
(QPCTL) is two orders of magnitude lower than its ki-value for the
inhibition of of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT). Even more preferred
are selective QPCTL-inhibitors, wherein their ki-value for the
inhibition of at least one QC-like enzyme (QPCTL) is three orders
of magnitude lower than their ki-value for the inhibition of
glutaminyl cyclase (QC, QPCT). Most preferred are selective
QPCTL-inhibitors, which do not inhibit the activity of glutaminyl
cyclase (QC, QPCT).
[0049] Potency of QC Inhibition
[0050] In light of the correlation with QC inhibition, in preferred
embodiments, the subject method and medical use utilize an agent
with a K.sub.i for QC inhibition of 10 .mu.M or less, more
preferably of 1 .mu.M or less, even more preferably of 0.1 .mu.M or
less or 0.01 .mu.M or less, or most preferably 0.01 .mu.M or less.
Indeed, inhibitors with K.sub.i values in the lower micromolar,
preferably the nanomolar and even more preferably the picomolar
range are contemplated. Thus, while the active agents are described
herein, for convience, as "QC inhibitors", it will be understood
that such nomenclature is not intending to limit the subject of the
invention to a particular mechanism of action.
[0051] Molecular Weight of QC Inhibitors
[0052] In general, the QC inhibitors of the subject method or
medical use will be small molecules, e.g., with molecular weights
of 1000 g/mole or less, 500 g/mole or less, preferably of 400
g/mole or less, and even more preferably of 350 g/mole or less and
even of 300 g/mole or less.
[0053] The term "subject" as used herein, refers to an animal,
preferably a mammal, most preferably a human, who has been the
object of treatment, observation or experiment.
[0054] The term "therapeutically effective amount" as used herein,
means that amount of active compound or pharmaceutical agent that
elicits the biological or medicinal response in a tissue system,
animal or human being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical
doctor or other clinician, which includes alleviation of the
symptoms of the disease or disorder being treated.
[0055] As used herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable"
embraces both human and veterinary use: for example the term
"pharmaceutically acceptable" embraces a veterinarily acceptable
compound or a compound acceptable in human medicine and health
care.
[0056] Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
[0057] Alternative names are Landry-Guillain-Barre syndrome, Acute
idiopathic polyneuritis, Infectious polyneuritis or Acute
inflammatory polyneuropathy.
[0058] Guillain-Barre syndrome is a serious disorder that occurs
when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of
the nervous system. This leads to nerve inflammation that causes
muscle weakness, which continues to get worse.
[0059] Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disorder. The exact
cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown. The syndrome may occur
at any age, but is most common in people of both sexes between the
ages 30 and 50. It often follows a minor infection, usually a
respiratory (lung) infection or gastrointestinal (gut) infection.
Usually, signs of the original infection have disappeared before
the symptoms of Guillain-Barre begin. Guillain-Barre syndrome
causes inflammation that damages parts of nerves. This nerve damage
causes tingling, muscle weakness, and paralysis. The inflammation
usually affects the nerve's covering (myelin sheath). Such damage
is called demyelination. Demyelination slows nerve signaling.
Damage to other parts of the nerve can cause the nerve to stop
working.
[0060] Symptoms of Guillain-Barre get worse very quickly. It may
take only a few hours to reach the most severe symptoms. Muscle
weakness or the loss of muscle function (paralysis) affects both
sides of the body. If the muscle weakness starts in the legs and
then spreads to the arms, it is called ascending paralysis.
[0061] Patients may notice tingling, foot or hand pain, and
clumsiness. As the loss of muscle function gets worse, the patient
may need breathing assistance.
[0062] There is no cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome. However, many
treatments are available to help reduce symptoms, treat
complications, and speed up recovery. When symptoms are severe, the
patient will need to go to the hospital for breathing help,
treatment, and physical therapy. A method called plasmaphoresis is
used to remove a person's blood and replace it with intravenous
fluids or donated blood that is free of antibodies. High-dose
immunoglobulin therapy is another procedure used to reduce the
severity and length of Guillain-Barre symptoms. Other treatments
are directed at preventing complications.
[0063] Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinizing Polyradiculoneuropathy
(CIDP)
[0064] A disease, which resembles GBS but is characterized by a
chronic course is called chronic inflammatory demyelinizing
polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). There is as yet no generally
applicable definition for CIDP with the exception of the
observation that in contrast to GBS, the progressive phase lasts
longer than four weeks, often longer than six months, and that
deficiencies often remain in the patient. The mechanism, which
causes the severe paresis with GBS and CIDP possibly includes an
immune reaction and inflammation mediated by T lymphocytes, which
follows demyelinization of peripheral neurons. This assumption is
confirmed by increased amounts of complement compounds and
cytokines observed in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of GBS
patients. The process of demyelinization, especially in the region
of the nerve roots, is currently regarded as the decisive mechanism
in the development of nerve conduction block. One theory is based
on a disorder of the blood/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier as a
relatively early important step in the development of the disease.
Another theory claims that leaks develop in the blood/CSF barrier
as a consequence of the disease and cause the increased protein
content in the CSF. At any rate, non-specific serum constituents
without direct reference to the immune system could penetrate into
the CSF from the blood, cause neuronal or glial dysfunctions and/or
modify neuronal activity. An alternative mechanism is a reduced
flow rate of the CSF, which could explain the increased protein
content of the CSF. This interpretation requires no impairment or
modified selectivity of the blood/CSF barrier. Although all the
effects mentioned could be of importance for the course of GBS and
CIDP, their actual contribution to the symptoms has not yet been
clarified. It has not been possible to establish a connection
between the increased protein concentrations in the CSF and
specific electrophysiological findings or the clinical picture.
Factors in the CSF of GBS patients and multiple sclerosis patients,
which interact with potential-dependent sodium channels have
recently been described (Wuz et al. 1995, Muscle and Nerve 18,
772-781). Brinkmeier (Brinkmeier et al. 1996, Muscle and Nerve 19,
54-62) report that the factors have a molecular weight of less than
three kDa, and under more stringent test conditions of less than
one kDa. On the basis of this observation and the fact that the
activity of the factors was not substantially reduced even after
incubation of CSF with proteases, the authors concluded that the
factors were neither antibodies nor cytokines.
[0065] Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
[0066] Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the
central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Multiple
sclerosis usually affects woman more than men. The disorder most
commonly begins between ages 20 and 40, but can strike at any age.
The exact cause is not known, but MS is believed to result from
damage to the myelin sheath, the protective material, which
surrounds nerve cells. It is a progressive disease, meaning the
damage gets worse over time. Inflammation destroys the myelin,
leaving multiple areas of scar tissue (sclerosis). The inflammation
occurs when the body's own immune cells attack the nervous system.
The inflammation causes nerve impulses to slow down or become
blocked, leading to the symptoms of MS. Repeated episodes, or flare
ups, of inflammation can occur along any area of the brain and
spinal cord. Symptoms vary because the location and extent of each
attack varies. Usually episodes that last days, weeks, or months
alternate with times of reduced or no symptoms (remission).
Recurrence (relapse) is common although non-stop progression
without periods of remission may also occur.
[0067] It is not clear what triggers an attack. Patients with MS
typically have a higher number of immune cells than a healthy
person, which suggests that an immune response might play a role.
The most common theories point to a virus or genetic defect, or a
combination of both. There also appears to be a genetic link to the
disease. MS is more likely to occur in northern Europe, the
northern United States, southern Australia, and New Zealand than in
other areas. Geographic studies indicate there may be an
environmental factor involved. People with a family history of MS
and those who live in a geographical area with a higher incidence
rate for MS have a higher risk of the disease.
[0068] There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis at this time.
However, there are a number of therapies that may slow the disease.
The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and maintain a normal
quality of life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0069] The present invention provides proteins with glutaminyl
cyclase activities that constitute novel members of a family of
proteins related to glutaminyl cyclase, including the full-length
proteins, alternative splice forms, subunits, and mutants, as well
as nucleotide sequences encoding the same. The present invention
also provides methods of screening for substrates, interacting
proteins, agonists, antagonists or inhibitors of the above
proteins, and furthermore to pharmaceutical compositions comprising
the proteins and/or mutants, derivatives and/or analogues thereof
and/or ligands thereto.
[0070] These novel proteins having significant sequence similarity
to glutaminyl cyclase (nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 1,
protein sequence of SEQ ID NO 10) are proteins (QPCTLs) from human
(further named as human isoQC) (GenBank accession no.
NM.sub.--017659), mouse (GenBank accession no. NM.sub.--027455),
Macaca fascicularis (GenBank accession no. AB168255), Macaca
mulatta (GenBank accession no. XM.sub.--001110995), cat (GenBank
accession no. XM.sub.--541552), rat (GenBank accession no.
XM.sub.--001066591), cow (GenBank accession no. BT026254) or an
analogue thereof having at least 50%/75% sequence
identity/similarity, preferably 70%/85% sequence
identity/similarity, more preferably 90%/95% sequence
identity/similarity, most preferably 99% sequence
identity/similarity.
[0071] The protein sequences are given in SEQ. ID NOS: 11 to 18.
Further disclosed are nucleic acid sequences coding for these
proteins (SEQ. ID NOS: 2 to 9). Table 1 illustrates the similarity
between the novel proteins and the known glutaminyl cyclase. Table
2 illustrates the identity between the novel proteins and the known
glutaminyl cyclase.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Similarity of the protein sequences of the
novel glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like proteins with
glutaminyl cyclase human isoQC human QC QPCTL source (SEQ ID NO 11)
(SEQ ID NO 10) human isoQC -- 71.98% (SEQ ID NO 11) M_fascicularis
99.48% 72.24% (SEQ ID NO 13) M_mulatta 99.48% 72.24% (SEQ ID NO 14)
C_familiaris 95.82% 72.31% (SEQ ID NO 15) R_norvegicus 95.30%
70.77% (SEQ ID NO 16) M_musculus 95.04% 70.77% (SEQ ID NO 17)
B_taurus 96.08% 72.31% (SEQ ID NO 18)
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Identity of the protein sequences of the
novel glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like proteins with
glutaminyl cyclase human isoQC human QC QPCTL source (SEQ ID NO 11)
(SEQ ID NO 10) human isoQC -- 45.24% (SEQ ID NO 11) M_fascicularis
98.17% 44.99% (SEQ ID NO 13) M_mulatta 98.17% 44.99% (SEQ ID NO 14)
C_familiaris 88.51% 45.13% (SEQ ID NO 15) R_norvegicus 84.33%
45.38% (SEQ ID NO 16) M_musculus 84.07% 44.62% (SEQ ID NO 17)
B_taurus 84.60% 45.64% (SEQ ID NO 18)
[0072] There is a high similarity of 95 to 99% and a high identity
of 84 to 98% between the QPCTLs from different sources (see FIG.
2). On the basis of sequence similarity with human and murine
glutaminyl cyclase (see FIG. 1), one might predict that these
QPCTLs would have functions that include, but are not limited to,
roles as enzymes. Cloning, expression, biochemical and molecular
characterization have confirmed this hypothesis.
[0073] The expression pattern of the QPCTLs in brain, prostate and
lung tissue is consistent with a role in the diseases described
below. The enzymatic activity as glutaminyl cyclase demonstrates
that QPCTLs-activating or inhibiting molecules will have numerous
therapeutic applications as described below.
[0074] QPCTL activities described herein and their expression
patterns are compatible with their functional roles as
physiological regulators of the immune and neuroendocrine systems
through the enzymatic modification of biochemical mediators like
hormones, peptides and chemokines. The numerous functions
previously described for QC based upon the use of inhibitors may be
due in part to its action and that of similar proteins, like the
QPCTLs. Therefore, the discovery of selective and potent inhibitors
of QC, of the QPCTLs and of other related enzymes is considered
central to achieving effective and safe pharmaceutical use of these
and any newly identified glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferases, as
well as other active compounds that modify the function(s) of such
proteins.
[0075] The invention thus provides novel proteins or polypeptides,
the nucleic acids coding therefore, cells which have been modified
with the nucleic acid so as to express these proteins, antibodies
to these proteins, a screening method for the discovery of new
therapeutic agents which are inhibitors of the activity of these
proteins (or which are inhibitors of QC and not of the proteins),
and therapeutic agents discovered by such screening methods. The
novel proteins and the nucleic acids coding therefore can be used
to discover new therapeutic agents for the treatment of certain
diseases, such as for example, neurodegenerative, reproductive,
inflammatory and metabolic disorders and also in the preparation of
antibodies with therapeutic or diagnostic value.
[0076] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there are provided novel, mature, biologically active proteins,
preferably of human origin. Such proteins may be isolated in small
quantities from suitable animal (including human) tissue or
biological fluids by standard techniques; however, larger
quantities are more conveniently prepared in cultures of cells
genetically modified so as to express the protein. In accordance
with another aspect of the present invention, there are provided
isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides of the
present invention including mRNAs, DNAs, cDNAs, genomic DNAs
thereof.
[0077] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, nucleic acid probes are also provided comprising nucleic
acid molecules of sufficient length to specifically hybridize to a
nucleic acid sequence of the present invention.
[0078] In accordance with a still further aspect of the present
invention, processes utilizing recombinant techniques are provided
for producing such polypeptides useful for in vitro scientific
research, for example, synthesis of DNA and manufacture of DNA
vectors. Processes for producing such polypeptides include
culturing recombinant prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic host cells that
have been transfected with DNA vectors containing a nucleic acid
sequence encoding such a polypeptide and/or the mature protein
under conditions promoting expression of such protein and
subsequent recovery of such protein or a fragment of the expressed
product.
[0079] In accordance with still another aspect, the invention
provides methods for using QPCTL polypeptides and polynucleotides
for the treatment of diseases.
[0080] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a process for utilizing such
polypeptides, or polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, for
the discovery of compounds that inhibit the biological activity of
the mature proteins, e.g. the QC activity or the EC activity, and
such inhibitors are thus also provided.
[0081] In accordance with a more specific aspect, the invention
provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes (a) a QPCTL
polypeptide, selected from SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18, or (b) having an
amino acid sequence that is at least about 75% similar thereto and
exhibits the same biological function, or which is an alternative
splice variant of one of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9, or which is a probe
comprising at least 14 contiguous nucleotides from said nucleic
acid encoding (a) or (b), or which is complementary to any one of
the foregoing.
[0082] In accordance with another specific aspect, the invention
provides a polypeptide which may be optionally glycosylated, and
which (a) has the amino acid sequence of a mature protein set forth
in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 10 to 18; preferably of a mature protein
set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18 (b) has the amino acid
sequence of a mature protein having at least about 75% similarity
to one of the mature proteins of (a) and which exhibits the same
biological function; (c) has the amino acid sequence of a mature
protein having at least about 50% identity with a mature protein of
any of SEQ ID NOS: 10 to 18; preferably of a mature protein set
forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18 or (d) is an
immunologically reactive fragment of (a).
[0083] In accordance with still another specific aspect, the
invention provides a method of screening for a compound capable of
inhibiting the enzymatic activity of at least one mature protein
according to the present invention, preferably selected from the
proteins of SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18, which method comprises incubating
said mature protein and a suitable substrate for said mature
protein in the presence of one or more test compounds or salts
thereof, measuring the enzymatic activity of said mature protein,
comparing said activity with comparable activity determined in the
absence of a test compound, and selecting the test compound or
compounds that reduce the enzymatic activity.
[0084] Further, the present invention pertains to diagnostic kits
and methods based on the use of a QC-inhibitor, selective
QC-inhibitor or selective QPCTL-inhibitor.
[0085] These and other aspects of the present invention should be
apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description,
which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0086] FIG. 1 shows the sequence alignment of human QC (hQC), human
isoQC (hisoQC), murine QC (mQC) and murine isoQC (misoQC). Multiple
sequence alignment was performed using ClustalW at PBIL (Pole
Bioinformatique Lyonnais) (http://npsa-pbil.ibcp.fr) with default
settings. The conservation of the zinc-ion ligating residues is
shown for human QC (hQC; GenBank X71125, SEQ ID NO: 10), human
isoQC (hisoQC, GenBank NM.sub.--017659, SEQ ID NO: 11), murine QC
(mQC, GenBank NM.sub.--027455, SEQ ID NO: 79) and murine isoQC
(misoQC, GenBank BC058181, SEQ ID NO: 17) in bold and
underlined.
[0087] FIG. 2 shows the sequence alignment of isoQC from Homo
sapiens (hisoQC, GenBank NM.sub.--017659, SEQ ID NO: 11), Macaca
fascicularis (M.sub.--fascicularis, GenBank AB168255, SEQ ID NO:
13), Macaca mulatta (M.sub.--mulatta, GenBank XM.sub.--001110995,
SEQ ID NO: 14), Canis familiaris (C.sub.--familiaris, GenBank
XM.sub.--541552, SEQ ID NO: 15), Rattus norvegicus
(R.sub.--norvegicus, GenBank XM.sub.--001066591, SEQ ID NO: 16),
Mus musculus (M.sub.--musculus, GenBank BC058181, SEQ ID NO: 17)
and Bos taurus (B.sub.--taurus, GenBank BT026254, SEQ ID NO: 18).
Multiple sequence alignment was performed using ClustalW at PBIL
(Pole Bioinformatique Lyonnais) (http://npsa-pbil.ibcp.fr) with
default settings. The amino acids of the conserved zinc-ion
ligating residues are underlined and typed in bold.
[0088] FIG. 3 shows the sequence alignment of human QC (hQC, SEQ ID
NO: 10) and human isoQC (hisoQC, SEQ ID NO: 12) and other M28
family members of the metallopeptidase Clan MH. Multiple sequence
alignment was performed using ClustalW at ch.EMBnet.org with
default settings. The conservation of the amino acid residues
ligating the single zinc-ion within the human QC (hQC; Swiss-Prot
Q16769, SEQ ID NO: 10), is shown for the human isoQC (isoQC;
Swiss-Prot Q53HE4, SEQ ID NO: 12) (residues 19-382), the
Zn-dependent aminopeptidase from Streptomyces griseus (SGAP;
Swiss-Prot P80561, SEQ ID NO: 80) and the mature Zn-dependent
leucyl-aminopeptidase from Vibrio proteolyticus (VPAP; Swiss-Prot
Q01693, SEQ ID NO: 81). The respective amino acid residues are
underlined and typed in bold.
[0089] FIG. 4 shows the sequence alignment of human QC (hQC, SEQ ID
NO: 10) and human isoQC (hisoQC, SEQ ID NO: 11), showing two
putative tranlational starts (methionine I--bold, underlined;
methionine II--bold). Multiple sequence alignment was performed
using ClustalW at PBIL (Pole Bioinformatique Lyonnais)
http://npsa-pbil.ibcp.fr with default settings. The transmembrane
domain, present in human isoQC, is indicated by the black bar.
[0090] FIG. 5 shows the sequence alignment of human QC (hQC, SEQ ID
NO: 10) and human isoQC (hisoQC, SEQ ID NO: 12), starting with
methionine II (bold). Multiple sequence alignment was performed
using ClustalW at ch.EMBnet.org with default settings. The amino
acids involved in metal binding are underlined and typed in bold.
The transmembrane domain, present in human isoQC, is indicated by
the black bar.
[0091] FIG. 6 shows the analysis of isoQC expression by RT-PCR.
Detection in SH-SY5Y, LN405, HaCaT and Hep-G2.
[0092] Lanes: bp, DNA standard; 1, amplified PCR product of human
isoQC from SH-SY5Y; 2, amplified PCR product of human isoQC from
LN405; 3, amplified PCR product of human isoQC from HaCaT; 4,
amplified PCR product of human isoQC from Hep-G2.
[0093] FIG. 7 shows the analysis of isoQC (Met I, SEQ ID NO: 11)
subcellular localization by immunhistochemistry. Human isoQC
starting at methionine I (see FIG. 5) was expressed as a fusion
protein with EGFP (isoQC (MetI) EGFP) in LN 405. Mannosidase II
counterstaining was performed using AB3712 (Chemicon). Merge
represents the overlay of isoQC (MetI)-EGFP and Mannosidase II
staining.
[0094] FIG. 8 shows the analysis of isoQC (Met I, SEQ ID NO: 11)
subcellular localization by immunhistochemistry. Human isoQC
starting at methionine I was expressed as a fusion protein with
EGFP (isoQC (MetI) EGFP) in LN 405. Mitochondrial counterstaining
was performed using MAB1273 (Chemicon). Merge represents the
overlay of isoQC (MetI)-EGFP and mitochondrial staining.
[0095] FIG. 9 shows the analysis of isoQC (Met II, SEQ ID NO: 12)
subcellular localization by immunhistochemistry. Human isoQC
starting at methionine Ii was expressed as a fusion protein with
EGFP (isoQC (MetII) EGFP) in LN 405. Mannosidase II counterstaining
was performed using AB3712 (Chemicon). Merge represents the overlay
of isoQC (MetII)-EGFP and Mannosidase II staining.
[0096] FIG. 10 shows the analysis of isoQC (Met II, SEQ ID NO: 12)
subcellular localization by immunhistochemistry. Human isoQC
starting at methionine II was expressed as a fusion protein with
EGFP (isoQC (MetII) EGFP) in LN 405. Mitochondrial counterstaining
was performed using MAB1273 (Chemicon). Merge represents the
overlay of isoQC (MetII)-EGFP and mitochondrial staining.
[0097] FIG. 11 shows the analysis of the subcellular localization
of isoQC (Met I, SEQ ID NO: 11) by immunhistochemistry. Human isoQC
starting at methionine I was expressed as a fusion protein with
EGFP (isoQC (MetI) EGFP) in COS-7. Mannosidase II counterstaining
was performed using AB3712 (Chemicon). Merge represents the overlay
of isoQC (MetI)-EGFP and Mannosidase II staining.
[0098] FIG. 12 shows the analysis of isoQC (Met I, SEQ ID NO: 11)
subcellular localization by immunhistochemistry. Human isoQC
starting at methionine I was expressed as a fusion protein with
EGFP (isoQC (MetI) EGFP) in COS-7. Mitochondrial counterstaining
was performed using MAB1273 (Chemicon). Merge represents the
overlay of isoQC (MetI)-EGFP and mitochondrial staining.
[0099] FIG. 13 shows the analysis of isoQC (Met II, SEQ ID NO: 12)
subcellular localization by immunhistochemistry. Human isoQC
starting at methionine II was expressed as a fusion protein with
EGFP (isoQC (MetII) EGFP) in COS-7. Mannosidase II counterstaining
was performed using AB3712 (Chemicon). Merge represents the overlay
of isoQC (MetII)-EGFP and Mannosidase II staining.
[0100] FIG. 14 shows the analysis of isoQC (Met II, SEQ ID NO: 12)
subcellular localization by immunhistochemistry. Expression of
human isoQC starting at methionine II as a fusion protein with EGFP
(isoQC (MetII) EGFP) in COS-7. Mitochondrial counterstaining was
performed using MAB1273 (Chemicon). Merge represents the overlay of
isoQC (MetII)-EGFP and mitochondrial staining.
[0101] FIG. 15 shows the inhibition of human isoQC-catalyzed
conversion of H-Gln-AMC into pGlu-AMC by the inhibitor P150/03. The
data were evaluated according to the Michaelis-Menten kinetic model
considering linear competitive inhibition. Inhibitor concentrations
were as follows:
TABLE-US-00003 0 .mu.M 0.3125 .mu.M 0.625 .mu.M 1.25 .mu.M 2.5
.mu.M 5 .mu.M The determined K.sub.i-value was 240 .+-. 8 nM.
[0102] FIG. 16 shows the human isoQC-catalyzed conversion of
H-Gln-Ala-OH into pGlu-Ala-OH determined using a spectrophotometric
assay. The data were evaluated according to Michaelis-Menten
kinetics. The kinetic parameters were 324.+-.28 .mu.M and
7.4.+-.0.2 nM/min for the K.sub.M and V.sub.max-value,
respectively.
[0103] FIG. 17 provides a schematic representation of the human
isoQC protein constructs that were expressed hetereologously in the
yeast P. pastoris. Two mutations were introduced in some proteins,
leading to a glycosylation site at position 55 (I55N) and a mutated
cystein residue at position 351 (C351A). For expression, the
N-terminus including the transmembrane domain was replaced by a
secretion signal of yeast (YSS). The constructs containing the
N-terminal secretion signal should be efficiently secreted into the
medium.
[0104] FIG. 18 shows the QC activity, which was determined in the
medium of expressing yeast cells. Due to the transmembrane domain,
the native constructs were not secreted into the medium (not
implemented). Caused by glycosylation (I55N), proteins are most
efficiently secreted. The mutation C351A resulted also in higher QC
activity detected in the medium. The constructs are described in
FIG. 17.
[0105] FIG. 19 shows the purification of the human isoQC, based on
construct YSShisoQCI55NC351A C-His, from the medium of a transgenic
P.pastoris strain. The QC was purified by a combination of IMAC
(immobilized metal affinity chromatography, lane 3), HIC
(hydrophobic interaction chromatography, lane 4) and desalting
(lane 5). The glycosylation of the enzyme was evidence by enzymatic
deglycosalytion, which results in a shift in migration of the
protein (lane 6). Lane 1, protein standard: Lane 2, medium prior to
purification.
[0106] FIG. 20 shows the purification of the human isoQC, based on
construct GST-hisoQC C-His, from the cell homogenate of transformed
E. coli. The isoQC was purified by a combination of IMAC
(immobilized metal affinity chromatography, lane 3), GST-affinity
(lane 4), desalting (lane 5) and ion exchange chromatography (lane
6). Lane 1, protein standard: Lane 2, cell homogenate prior to
purification. The difference in the molecular mass between the
hisoQC which was expressed in yeast and E. coli is caused by the
N-terminal GST-tag fusion. The expressed construct is provided
schematically in the upper part of the figure.
[0107] FIG. 21 shows the specificity constants for conversion of
dipeptide-surrogates, dipeptides and oligopeptides by human isoQC
(YSShisoQCI55NC351A C-His; compare FIG. 17), GST-hisoQC and human
QC. The specificity of GST-hisoQC was the lowest, followed by
YSShisoQCI55NC351A C-His. The highest specificity displayed human
QC, indicating a higher overall enzymatic activity.
[0108] FIG. 22 shows the pH-dependency of catalysis, investigated
with human isoQC (hisoQC), which was expressed in yeast, and human
QC (hQC). Both proteins display a pH-optimum between pH 7 and 8.
The fitted curve is based on three dissociating groups that
influence catalysis, one at acidic pH, two at basic pH.
[0109] FIG. 23 shows the analysis of conversion of glutamic acid,
which is present at the N-terminus of the amyloid-.beta. related
peptide AP(3-11). The analysis was performed using Maldi-Tof mass
spectrometry, the substrate and product differ in their molecular
mass/charge ratio of the single chared molecule by about 18 Da,
which is the mass of the released water. In both cases, the same
protein concentration was present in the samples, clearly
suggesting that human isoQC also converts N-terminal glutamic acid,
but slower than the human QC.
[0110] FIG. 24 shows the tissue distribution of murine QC (mQC, SEQ
ID NO: 79) and its isoenzyme misoQC (SEQ ID NO: 17), analyzed using
real-time PCR. Bothe enzymes are expressed in the tested organs.
However, the expression level of mQC was higher in the brain
compared with the peripheral organs. In contrats, misoQC was
expressed in all tested organs and tisssues at a more similar
level, indicating a ubiquitous, "house-keeping" protein.
[0111] FIG. 25 shows the time-dependent inhibition of human isoQC
(hisoQC) by metal-chelating compounds 1,10-phenanthroline (circles)
and EDTA (squares). Residual hisoQC activity was determined
directly after addition (closed symbols) or preincubation of hisoQC
with respective reagent for 15 min at 30.degree. C. (open
symbols).
[0112] FIG. 26 shows the biochemical analysis of the subcellular
localization of QC activity after expression of pcDNA and the
native enzymes hisoQC (Met I, SEQ ID NO: 11), hisoQC (Met II, SEQ
ID NO: 12) and hQC (SEQ ID NO: 10) in HEK293 cells. (A) specific
activity within the cell fractions in .mu.mole/min/g. (B) absolute
activity in nM/min. (C) Expression of h-isoQC (Met I, SEQ ID NO:
11), h-isoQC (Met II, SEQ ID NO: 12) and hQC (SEQ ID NO: 10)
possessing a C-terminal FLAG-tag in HEK293 in comparison to
vector-transfected control (pcDNA), followed by Western Blot
analysis applying specific antibodies detecting either the
FLAG-epitope (anti-DYKDDDDK-antibody, Cell Signaling), a 65 kDa
protein of human mitochondria (anti-human mitochondria, Chemicon)
or human Sialyltransferase ST1GAL3 (Abnova).
[0113] FIG. 27 shows the subcellular localization of human isoQC
(hisoQC) signal sequences (A) methionine I--serine 53 and (B)
methionine II--serine 53, fused to EGFP. Golgi complex was stained
using an anti-mannosidase II antibody and mitochondria were stained
using an antibody detecting a 65 kDA protein of human mitochondria.
Co-localization is shown by superimposition of EGFP fluorescence
and Red X fluorescence (Merge).
[0114] FIG. 28 shows the domain structure of human isoQC (hisoQC)
and murine isoQC (misoQC ) in comparison to published sequences of
human glycosyltransferases: alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide
alpha-2,6-sialyl transferase 1 (ST6GaINAC1; E.C. 2.4.99.3);
beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 1 (b4Gal-T1, E.C. 2.4.1.-);
Galactoside 3(4)-L-fucosyltransferase (FucT-III; E.C. 2.4.1.65) and
Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyl
transferase (NAGAT, E.C.2.4.1.40). The number of amino acids as
listed below the cloumns. The cytosolic part is shaded, the
transmembrane helix is black and luminal part is illustrated in
white.
[0115] FIG. 29 shows the quantification of human isoQC (QPCTL) mRNA
in different carcinoma cell lines. The QPCTL expression was
normalized to 50 ng total-RNA. The black bar within the boxes
represents the respective median.
[0116] FIG. 30 shows the quantification of human isoQC (QPCTL) mRNA
expression in different melanoma cell lines. The QPCTL expression
was normalized to 50 ng total-RNA.
[0117] FIG. 31 shows the quantification of human isoQC (QPCTL) mRNA
expression in samples from soft tissue carcinoma, gastric carcinoma
and thyroid carcinoma from different patients. The QPCTL expression
was normalized to 50 ng total-RNA. The black bar within the boxes
represents the respective median.
[0118] FIG. 32 shows the human isoQC (QPCTL) mRNA expression in
different gastric carcinomas against their stage of
differentiation. QPCTL expression was normalized to 50 ng
total-RNA. The black bar within the boxes represents the respective
median.
[0119] FIG. 33 shows a comparison of human QC (QPCT) mRNA
expression in different thyroid carcinomas. QPCT expression was
normalized to 50 ng total-RNA. The black bar within the boxes
represents the respective median. (FTC: folicular thyroid
carcinoma; PTC: papillary thyroid carcinoma; UTC: undifferentiated
thyroid carcinoma).
[0120] FIG. 34 shows a comparison of human isoQC (QPCTL) mRNA
expression in different thyroid carcinomas. QPCTL expression was
normalized to 50 ng total-RNA. The black bar within the boxes
represents the respective median. (FTC: folicular thyroid
carcinoma; PTC: papillary thyroid carcinoma; UTC: undifferentiated
thyroid carcinoma).
[0121] FIG. 35 shows the influence of different stimuli on mRNA
expression of human QC (QPCT), human isoQC (QPCTL) and CCL2 in
HEK293 cells. The amount of transcripts is depicted relating to
basal expression without stimulus. The used concentration of
stimulus is stated on the x-axis drawing.
[0122] FIG. 36 shows the influence of different stimuli on mRNA
expression of human QC (QPCT), human isoQC (QPCTL) and CCL2 in
FTC-133 cells. The amount of transcripts is depicted relating to
basal expression without stimulus. The used concentration of
stimulus is stated on the x-axis drawing.
[0123] FIG. 37 shows the influence of different stimuli on mRNA
expression of human QC (QPCT), human isoQC (QPCTL) and CCL2 in
THP-1 cells. The amount of transcripts is depicted relating to
basal expression without stimulus. The used concentration of
stimulus is stated on the x-axis drawing.
[0124] FIG. 38 shows the influence of different stimuli on mRNA
expression of human QC (QPCT), CCL2, CCL7, CCL8 and CCL13 in THP-1
cells. The amount of transcripts is depicted relating to basal
expression without stimulus. The used concentration of stimulus is
stated on the x-axis drawing.
[0125] FIG. 39 shows the influence of hypoxia on the mRNA level of
human QC (QPCT), human isoQC (QPCTL) and HIF1.alpha. in HEK293 (A),
FTC-133 (b) and THP-1 (C).
TABLE-US-00004 List of Sequences SEQ ID NO Description 1 human QC,
nucleic acid 2 human isoQC Met I, nucleic acid 3 human isoQC Met
II, nucleic acid 4 Macaca fascicularis QPCTL, nucleic acid 5 Macaca
mulatta QPCTL, nucleic acid 6 Canis familiaris QPCTL, nucleic acid
7 rat QPCTL, nucleic acid 8 mouse QPCTL, nucleic acid 9 bovine
QPCTL, nucleic acid 10 human QC, protein 11 human isoQC Met I,
protein 12 human isoQC Met II, protein 13 Macaca fascicularis
QPCTL, protein 14 Macaca mulatta QPCTL, protein 15 Canis familiaris
QPCTL, protein 16 rat QPCTL, protein 17 mouse QPCTL, protein 18
bovine QPCTL, protein 19 human isoQC splice form 1, nucleic acid 20
human isoQC splice form 2, nucleic acid 21 human isoQC splice form
1, protein 22 human isoQC splice form 2, protein 23 Amyloid beta
peptide (Abeta) (1-42) 24 Abeta (1-40) 25 Abeta (3-42) 26 Abeta
(3-40) 27 Abeta (11-42) 28 Abeta (11-40) 29 pGlu.sup.3-Abeta (3-42)
30 pGlu.sup.3-Abeta (3-40) 31 pGlu.sup.3-Abeta (11-42) 32
pGlu.sup.3-Abeta (11-40) 33 ABri 34 ADan 35 Gastrin 17 36 Gastrin
34 37 pGlu-Abri 38 pGlu-ADan 39 pGlu-Gastrin 17 40 pGlu-Gastrin 34
41 Neurotensin 42 GnRH 43 CCL16 44 CCL8 45 CCL2 46 CCL18 47
Fractalkine 48 CCL7 49 Orexin A 50 Substance P 51 QYNAD 52
pGlu-YNAD 53 human isoQC forward primer used for cell line
screening 54 human isoQC reverse primer used for cell line
screening 55 forward primer used for isolation of human isoQC 56
reverse primer used for isolation of human isoQC 57 forward primer
used for cloning of human isoQC (isoform Met I) into vector
pEGFP-N3 58 forward primer used for cloning of human isoQC (isoform
Met II) into vector pEGFP-N3 59 reverse primer used for cloning of
human isoQC (isoforms Met I and Met II) into vector pEGFP-N3 60
forward primer used for cloning of human isoQC into vector pET41a
61 reverse primer used for cloning of human isoQC into vector
pET41a 62 forward primer for cloning human isoQC into vector
pPICZ.alpha.A with a C-terminal histidine tag 63 forward primer for
cloning human isoQC into vector pPICZ.alpha.A with a N-terminal
histidine tag 64 reverse primer for cloning human isoQC into vector
pPICZ.alpha.A with a N-terminal histidine tag 65 forward primer for
real-time PCR analysis of isoQC 66 reverse primer for cloning human
isoQC into vector pPICZ.alpha.A with a C-terminal histidine tag 67
reverse primer for real-time PCR analysis of isoQC 68 Forward
primer for cloning of murine isoQC cDNA 69 Reverse primer for
cloning of murine isoQC cDNA 70 Forward primer for cloning of
murine isoQC cDNA 71 forward primer for real-time PCR analysis of
murine QC 72 reverse primer for real-time PCR analysis of murine QC
73 forward primer for real-time PCR analysis of murine QC 74
reverse primer for real-time PCR analysis of murine QC 75 forward
primer for site-directed mutagenesis hisoQC I55N 76 reverse primer
for site-directed mutagenesis hisoQC I55N 77 forward primer for
site-directed mutagenesis hisoQC C351A 78 reverse primer for
site-directed mutagenesis hisoQC C351A 79 Mouse glutaminyl cyclase
protein 80 Streptomyces griseus SGAP 81 Vibrio proteolyticus VpAP
82 forward primer for insertion of native hQC into pcDNA 3.1 83
reverse primer for insertion of native hQC into pcDNA 3.1 84
reverse primer for amplification of hisoQC including the stop codon
for insertion into pcDNA 3.1 85 forward primer for amplification
EGFP 86 reverse primer for amplification EGFP 87 Reverse primer for
amplification of hisoQC N-terminal sequence for fusion with EGFP 88
Reverse primer for amplification hQC C-FLAG for insertion into
pcDNA 3.1 89 Reverse primer for amplification hisoQC C-FLAG for
insertion into pcDNA 3.1
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0126] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
are provided isolated nucleic acid sequences (polynucleotides) of
SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9, 19 and 20, which encode the mature polypeptides
having the deduced amino acid sequences of the QPCTLs from
different sources (SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18, 21 and 22).
[0127] Preferred according to the present invention are isolated
nucleic acid sequences (polynucleotides) of SEQ ID NOS: 2 and 3, 19
and 20, which encode the mature polypeptides having the deduced
amino acid sequences of the QPCTLs from human (SEQ ID NOS: 11 and
12, 21 and 22).
[0128] More preferred according to the present invention are
isolated nucleic acid sequences (polynucleotides) of SEQ ID NOS: 2
and 3, which encode the mature polypeptides having the deduced
amino acid sequences of the human QPCTLs of SEQ ID NOS: 11 and
12.
[0129] Even preferred according to the present invention are
isolated nucleic acid sequences (polynucleotides) of SEQ ID NOS: 19
and 20, which encode the mature polypeptides having the deduced
amino acid sequences of alternative spliceforms of human QPCTLs of
SEQ ID NOS: 21 and 22.
[0130] Most preferred according to the present invention is the
isolated nucleic acid sequence (polynucleotide) of SEQ ID NO: 2,
which encodes the mature polypeptide having the deduced amino acid
sequence of the human QPCTL of SEQ ID NOS: 11.
[0131] Even most preferred according to the present invention is
the isolated nucleic acid sequence (polynucleotide) of SEQ ID NO:
3, which encodes the mature polypeptide having the deduced amino
acid sequence of the human QPCTL of SEQ ID NOS: 12.
[0132] The aforementioned embodiments and preferences apply to the
QPCTL nucleic acids as well as QPCTL proteins and any desired
method of use, diagnosing, treatment, screening, effectors,
inhibitors and other uses and methods according to the present
invention.
[0133] The polynucleotides of this invention were discovered by
similarity search using Nucleotide BLAST at NCBI
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/) applying human QC as template.
The search resulted in discovery of a putative QPCTL on chromosome
19, which is encoded in region 19q13.32. On basis of the search,
primers for a cell line screening of human isoQC were designed
(Table 4). The isolated cDNA for human QPCTL contains an open
reading frame encoding a protein of 382 amino acids in length,
which is related to human QC displaying 45.24% sequence identity,
and 71.98% similarity. Applying different bioinformatic algorithms
(www.expasy.ch) for prediction of the subcellular localization did
not result in a reliable result. The prognosis, depending on the
prediction program, was transfer to golgi-apparatus or
mitochondria.
[0134] Amino acid sequence alignments of human QPCTL with other
members of the M28 family members of the metallopeptidase Clan MH
shows that human QPCTL protein has overall sequence and structural
homology to human and murine QC (FIG. 1) and bacterial
aminopeptidases (FIG. 3). A database search for additional human
QPCTL-related genes revealed the presence of rodent, simian, cattle
and dog QPCTLs. Alignment of these sequences with the novel human
QPCTL shows that they display considerable homology with its human
counterpart. The zinc-complexing residues of human QC (Asp-Glu-His)
are conserved within QPCTLs from the different orgins (FIG. 2).
[0135] The human isoQC gene contains at least 8 exons. The sequence
coding for the human isoQC protein is located on exons 1 to 7.
Human isoQC maps to chromosome 19 at position 19q13.32. A cell line
screening for human isoQC revealed transcripts in cells origin from
liver (Hep-G2, hepatocellular carcinoma), skin (HaCaT,
keratinocyte) and neuronal tissues (LN405, astrocytoma; SH-SY5Y,
neuroblastoma) (FIG. 6).
[0136] The isolated QPCTL-cDNA was tested on functional expression
in several expression hosts. Expression in P. pastoris, which was
successfully applied for human QC, did not result in an
enzymatically active protein. Expression in mammalian cells
resulted in detection of activity, however, expression levels were
very low. Thus, the isolation of an enzymatically active protein
was not possible with the knowledge of the skilled artisan.
Enzymatically active protein was isolated only following expression
of a GST-QPCTL fusion protein in E. coli, applying very unusual
expression conditions: Expression for 4 h at 37.degree. C. in
presence of 1% Glucose, induction of expression using 20 .mu.M
IPTG. The expression conditions result in a low-level expression in
E. coli, which is necessary for functional folding of the peptide
chain.
[0137] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to
QPCTL knockout animals, preferably rats or mice. The use of
knockout mice in further analysis of the function of QPCTL genes is
a valuable tool.
[0138] The polynucleotides of the present invention may be in the
form of RNA or in the form of DNA; DNA should be understood to
include cDNA, genomic DNA, and synthetic DNA. The DNA may be
double-stranded or single-stranded and, if single stranded, may be
the coding strand or non-coding (antisense) strand. The coding
sequence, which encodes the mature polypeptide may be identical to
the coding sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS 2 to 9, or it may be a
different coding sequence encoding the same mature polypeptide, as
a result of the redundancy or degeneracy of the genetic code or a
single nucleotide polymorphism. For example, it may also be an RNA
transcript which includes the entire length of any one of SEQ ID
NOS 11 to 18.
[0139] The polynucleotides which encode the mature proteins of SEQ
ID NOS 2 to 9 may include but are not limited to the coding
sequence for the mature protein alone; the coding sequence for the
mature polypeptide plus additional coding sequence, such as a
leader or secretory sequence or a proprotein sequence; and the
coding sequence for the mature protein (and optionally additional
coding sequence) plus non-coding sequence, such as introns or a
non-coding sequence 5' and/or 3' of the coding sequence for the
mature protein.
[0140] Thus, the term "polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide" or
the term "nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide" should be understood
to encompass a polynucleotide or nucleic acid which includes only
coding sequence for the mature protein as well as one which
includes additional coding and/or non-coding sequence. The terms
polynucleotides and nucleic acid are used interchangeably.
[0141] The present invention also includes polynucleotides where
the coding sequence for the mature protein may be fused in the same
reading frame to a polynucleotide sequence which aids in expression
and secretion of a polypeptide from a host cell; for example, a
leader sequence which functions as a secretory sequence for
controlling transport of a polypeptide from the cell may be so
fused. The polypeptide having such a leader sequence is termed a
preprotein or a preproprotein and may have the leader sequence
cleaved, by the host cell to form the mature form of the protein.
These polynucleotides may have a 5' extended region so that it
encodes a proprotein, which is the mature protein plus additional
amino acid residues at the N-terminus. The expression product
having such a prosequence is termed a proprotein, which is an
inactive form of the mature protein; however, once the prosequence
is cleaved an active mature protein remains. Thus, for example, the
polynucleotides of the present invention may encode mature
proteins, or proteins having a prosequence, or proteins having both
a prosequence and a presequence (leader sequence).
[0142] The polynucleotides of the present invention may also have
the coding sequence fused in frame to a marker sequence which
allows for purification of the polypeptides of the present
invention. The marker sequence may be a polyhistidine tag, a
hemagglutinin (HA) tag, a c-myc tag or a V5 tag when a mammalian
host, e.g. COS-1 cells, is used.
[0143] The HA tag would correspond to an epitope derived from the
influenza hemagglutinin protein (Wilson, I., etal., Cell, 37: 767
(1984)), and the c-myc tag may be an epitope from human Myc protein
(Evans, G. I. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 5: 3610-3616(1985)).
[0144] The term "gene" means the segment of DNA involved in
producing a polypeptide chain; it includes regions preceding and
following the coding region (leader and trailer) as well as
intervening sequences (introns) between individual coding segments
(exons).
[0145] The term "significant sequence homology" is intended to
denote that at least 25%, preferably at least 40%, of the amino
acid residues are conserved, and that, of the nonconserved
residues, at least 40% are conservative substitutions.
[0146] Fragments of the full-length genes of the present invention
may be used as a hybridization probe for a cDNA library to isolate
full-length cDNA as well as to isolate other cDNAs, which have
significant sequence homology to the gene and will encode proteins
or polypeptides having similar biological activity or function. By
similar biological activity or function, for purposes of this
application, is meant the ability to form pyroglutamate from a
N-terminal glutamine or glutamic acid of peptides, proteins,
hormones or other substrates, defined as QC- and EC-activity,
respectively. Such a probe of this type has at least 14 bases (at
least 14 contiguous nucleotides from one of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9),
preferably at least 30 bases, and such may contain, for example, 50
or more bases. Preferred are the probes of SEQ ID NOS 53 to 61.
Such probe may also be used to identify a cDNA clone corresponding
to a full-length transcript and/or a genomic clone or clones that
contains the complete gene, including regulatory and promoter
regions, exons, and introns. Labelled oligonucleotides having a
sequence complementary to that of the gene of the present invention
are useful to screen a library of human cDNA, genomic DNA or mRNA
or similar libraries from other sources or animals to locate
members of the library to which the probe hybridizes. As an
example, a known DNA sequence may be used to synthesize an
oligonucleotide probe, which is then used in screening a library to
isolate the coding region of a gene of interest.
[0147] The present invention is considered to further provide
polynucleotides which hybridize to the hereinabove-described
sequences wherein there is at least about 70%, preferably at least
about 90%, more preferably at least about 95%, and most preferably
at least about 99% identity or similarity between the sequences,
and thus encode proteins having similar biological activity.
Moreover, as known in the art, there is "similarity" between two
polypeptides when the amino acid sequences contain the same or
conserved amino acid substitutes for each individual residue in the
sequence. Identity and similarity may be measured using sequence
analysis software (e.g., ClustalW at PBIL (Pole Bioinformatique
Lyonnais) http://npsa-pbil.ibcp.fr). The present invention
particularly provides such polynucleotides, which hybridize under
stringent conditions to the hereinabove-described polynucleotides.
As herein used, the term "stringent conditions" means conditions
which permit hybridization between polynucleotides sequences and
the polynucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 where there is
at least about 70% identity.
[0148] Suitably stringent conditions can be defined by, e.g., the
concentrations of salt or formamide in the prehybridization and
hybridization solutions, or by the hybridization temperature, and
are well known in the art. In particular, stringency can be
increased by reducing the concentration of salt, by increasing the
concentration of formamide, and/or by raising the hybridization
temperature.
[0149] For example, hybridization under high stringency conditions
may employ about 50% formamide at about 37.degree. C. to 42.degree.
C., whereas hybridization under reduced stringency conditions might
employ about 35% to 25% formamide at about 30.degree. C. to
35.degree. C. One particular set of conditions for hybridization
under high stringency conditions employs 42.degree. C., 50%
formamide, 5.times.SSPE, 0.3% SDS, and 200 .mu.g/ml sheared and
denatured salmon sperm DNA. For hybridization under reduced
stringency, similar conditions as described above may be used in
35% formamide at a reduced temperature of 35.degree. C. The
temperature range corresponding to a particular level of stringency
can be further narrowed by calculating the purine to pyrimidine
ratio of the nucleic acid of interest and adjusting the temperature
accordingly. Variations on the above ranges and conditions are well
known in the art. Preferably, hybridization should occur only if
there is at least 95%, and more preferably at least 97%, identity
between the sequences. The polynucleotides which hybridize to the
hereinabove described polynucleotides in a preferred embodiment
encode polypeptides which exhibit substantially the same biological
function or activity as the mature protein encoded by one of the
cDNAs of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9.
[0150] As mentioned, a suitable polynucleotide probe may have at
least 14 bases, preferably 30 bases, and more preferably at least
50 bases, and will hybridize to a polynucleotide of the present
invention, which has an identity thereto, as hereinabove described,
and which may or may not retain activity. For example, such
polynucleotides may be employed as a probe for hybridizing to the
polynucleotides of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 respectively, for example,
for recovery of such a polynucleotide, or as a diagnostic probe, or
as a PCR primer. Thus, the present invention includes
polynucleotides having at least about a 70% identity, preferably at
least about a 90% identity, and more preferably at least about a
95% identity, and most preferably at least about a 99% identity to
a polynucleotide which encodes the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 11
to 18 respectively, as well as fragments thereof, which fragments
preferably have at least 30 bases and more preferably at least 50
bases, and to polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides.
[0151] As is well known in the art, the genetic code is redundant
in that certain amino acids are coded for by more than one
nucleotide triplet (codon), and the invention includes those
polynucleotide sequences which encode the same amino acids using a
different codon from that specifically exemplified in the sequences
herein. Such a polynucleotide sequence is referred to herein as an
"equivalent" polynucleotide sequence. The present invention further
includes variants of the hereinabove described polynucleotides
which encode for fragments, such as part or all of the mature
protein, analogs and derivatives of one of the polypeptides having
the deduced amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18.
The variant forms of the polynucleotides may be a naturally
occurring allelic variant of the polynucleotides or a non-naturally
occurring variant of the polynucleotides. For example, the variant
in the nucleic acid may simply be a difference in codon sequence
for the amino acid resulting from the degeneracy of the genetic
code, or there may be deletion variants, substitution variants and
addition or insertion variants. As known in the art, an allelic
variant is an alternative form of a polynucleotide sequence, which
may have a substitution, deletion or addition of one or more
nucleotides that does not substantially alter the biological
function of the encoded polypeptide.
[0152] The present invention further includes polypeptides, which
have the deduced amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18, as
well as fragments, analogs and derivatives of such polypeptides.
The terms "fragment", "derivative" and "analog", when referring to
the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18, means polypeptides that
retain essentially the same biological function or activity as such
polypeptides. An analog might, for example, include a proprotein,
which can be activated by cleavage of the proprotein portion to
produce an active mature protein. The polypeptides of the present
invention may be recombinant polypeptides, natural polypeptides or
synthetic polypeptide; however, they are preferably recombinant
polypeptides, glycosylated or unglycosylated.
[0153] The fragment, derivative or analog of a polypeptide of any
one of SEQ ID NOS 11 to 18, may be (i) one in which one or more of
the amino acid residues is substituted with a conserved or
non-conserved amino acid residue (preferably a conserved amino acid
residue) and such substituted amino acid residue may or may not be
one encoded by the genetic code, or (ii) one in which one or more
of the amino acid residues includes a substituent group, or (iii)
one in which additional amino acids are fused to the mature
protein, such as a leader or secretory sequence or a sequence which
is employed for purification of the mature polypeptide or a
proprotein sequence. Such fragments, derivatives and analogs are
deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art to
provide upon the basis of the teachings herein.
[0154] The polypeptides and polynucleotides of the present
invention should be in an isolated form, and preferably they are
purified to substantial homogeneity or purity. By substantial
homogeneity is meant a purity of at least about 85%.
[0155] The term "isolated" is used to mean that the material has
been removed from its original environment (e.g., the natural
environment if it is naturally occurring). For example, a naturally
occurring polynucleotide or polypeptide present in a living animal
is not considered to be isolated, but the same polynucleotide or
polypeptide, when separated from substantially all of the
coexisting materials in the natural system, is considered isolated.
For DNA, the term includes, for example, a recombinant DNA which is
incorporated into a vector, into an autonomously replicating
plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or
eukaryote; or which exists as a separate molecule (e.g., a cDNA or
a genomic or cDNA fragment produced by polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) or restriction endonuclease digestion) independent of other
sequences. It also includes a recombinant DNA, which is part of a
hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide sequence, e.g., a
fusion protein. Further included is recombinant DNA which includes
a portion of the nucleotides shown in one of SEQ ID NOS 2 to 9
which encodes an alternative splice variant of the QPCTLs. Various
alternative splice variants are exemplified in SEQ ID NOS:
19-22.
[0156] The polypeptides of the present invention include any one of
the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS 11 to 18 (in particular the mature
proteins), as well as polypeptides which have at least 75%
similarity (e.g. preferably at least 50% and more preferably at
least 70% identity) to one of the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS 11 to
18, more preferably at least 85% similarity (e.g. preferably at
least 70% identity) to one of the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS 11 to
18, and most preferably at least 95% similarity (e.g. preferably at
least 90% identity) to any one of the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS 11
to 18. Certain preferred embodiments can have at least about 95%
sequence identity or more, including, for example, at least about
96% sequence identity, at least about 97% sequence identity, at
least about 98% sequence identity, or at least about 99% sequence
identity. Moreover, they should preferably include exact portions
of such polypeptides containing a sequence of at least 30 amino
acids, and more preferably at least 50 amino acids.
[0157] Fragments or portions of the polypeptides of the present
invention may be employed as intermediates for producing the
corresponding full-length polypeptides by peptide synthesis.
Fragments or portions of the polynucleotides of the present
invention may also be used to synthesize full-length
polynucleotides of the present invention.
[0158] The present invention also includes vectors, which include
such polynucleotides, host cells which are genetically engineered
with such vectors and the production of polypeptides by recombinant
techniques using the foregoing. Host cells are genetically
engineered (transduced or transformed or transfected) with such
vectors, which may be, for example, a cloning vector or an
expression vector. The vector may be, for example, in the form of a
plasmid, a viral particle, a phage, etc. The engineered host cells
can be cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as
appropriate for activating promoters, selecting transformants or
amplifying the genes of the present invention. The culture
conditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are those
commonly used with the host cell selected for expression, as well
known to the ordinarily skilled artisan.
[0159] The polynucleotides of the present invention may be employed
for producing polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Thus, for
example, the polynucleotides may be included in any one of a
variety of expression vectors for expressing polypeptides. Such
vectors include chromosomal, nonchromosomal and synthetic DNA
sequences, e.g., derivatives of SV40; bacterial plasmids; phage
DNA; baculovirus; yeast plasmids; vectors derived from combinations
of plasmids and phage DNA, viral DNA such as vaccinia, adenovirus,
fowl pox virus, and pseudorabies. However, any other vector may be
used as long as it is replicable and viable in the host.
[0160] The appropriate DNA sequence may be inserted into the vector
by any of a variety of procedures. In general, the DNA sequence is
inserted into an appropriate restriction endonuclease site (s) by
procedures well known in the art, which procedures are deemed to be
within the scope of those skilled in this art.
[0161] The DNA sequence in the expression vector is operatively
linked to an appropriate expression control sequence (s) (promoter)
to direct mRNA synthesis. As representative examples of such
promoters, there may be mentioned: LTR or SV40 promoter, the E.
coli lac or trp, the phage lambda P.sub.L promoter and other
promoters known to control expression of genes in prokaryotic or
eukaryotic cells or their viruses.
[0162] The expression vector should also contain a ribosome binding
site for translation initiation and a transcription terminator. The
vector may also include appropriate sequences for amplifying
expression. In addition, the expression vectors preferably contain
one or more selectable marker genes to provide a phenotypic trait
for selection of transformed host cells, such as dihydrofolate
reductase or neomycin-resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, or
such as tetracycline-or ampicillin-resistance in E. coli.
[0163] The vector containing the appropriate DNA sequence as
hereinabove described, as well as an appropriate promoter or
control sequence, may be employed to transform an appropriate host
to permit the host to express the protein. As representative
examples of appropriate hosts, there may be mentioned: bacterial
cells, such as E. coli, Streptomyces, Salmonella typhimurium;
fungal cells, such as yeast; insect cells, such as Drosophila S2
and Spodoptera Sf9; animal cells, such as CHO, COS or Bowes
melanoma; adenoviruses; plant cells, etc. The selection of an
appropriate host is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled
in the art from the teachings herein.
[0164] Synthetic production of nucleic acid sequences is well known
in the art as is apparent from CLONTECH 95/96 Catalogue, pages
215-216, CLONTECH, 1020 East Meadow Circle, Palo Alto, Calif.
94303. Thus, the present invention also includes expression vectors
useful for the production of the proteins of the present invention.
The present invention further includes recombinant constructs
comprising one or more of the sequences as broadly described above.
The constructs may comprise a vector, such as a plasmid or viral
vector, into which a sequence of the invention has been inserted,
in a forward or reverse orientation. In a preferred aspect of this
embodiment, the construct further comprises regulatory sequences,
including, for example, a promoter, operably linked to the
sequence. Large numbers of suitable vectors and promoters are known
to those of skill in the art, and are commercially available. The
following vectors are provided by way of example: Bacterial: pQE70,
pQE60, pQE-9 (Qiagen), pBS, pD10, phagescript, psiX174, pbluescript
SK, pbsks, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNHI8A, pNH46A (Stratagene), ptrc99a,
pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540 and pRIT5 (Pharmacia); and Eukaryotic:
pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXTI, pSG (Stratagene), pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG,
and pSVL (Pharmacia). However, any other suitable plasmid or vector
may be used as long as it is replicable and viable in the host.
[0165] Promoter regions can be selected from any desired gene using
CAT (chloramphenicol acetyl transferase) vectors or other vectors
with selectable markers.
[0166] Two appropriate vectors are pKK232-8 and pCM7. Particular
named bacterial promoters include lacl, lacZ, T3, T7, gpt, lambda
P.sub.R, P.sub.L and trp. Eukaryotic promoters include CMV
immediate early, HSV thymidine kinase, early and late SV40, LTRs
from retrovirus, and mouse metallothionein-I. Selection of the
appropriate vector and promoter is well within the level of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0167] Components of the expression vector may generally include:
1) a neomycin phosphotransferase (G418), or hygromycin B
phosphotransferase (hyg) gene as a selection marker, 2) an E. coli
origin of replication, 3) a T7 and SP6 phage promoter sequence, 4)
lac operator sequences, 5) the lactose operon repressor gene
(lacIq) and 6) a multiple cloning site linker region. Such an
origin of replication (oriC) may be derived from pUC19 (LTI,
Gaithersburg, Md.).
[0168] A nucleotide sequence encoding one of the polypeptides of
SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 having the appropriate restriction sites is
generated, for example, according to the PCR protocol described in
Examples 1 and 2 hereinafter, using PCR primers having restriction
sites for EcoR I (as the 5' primer) and Sal I (as the 3'primer) for
cloning of isoQC Met I and Met II into vector EGFP-N3, or sites for
Spe I (as the 5' primer) and EcoR I (as the 3' primer) for cloning
of isoQC into vector pET41a. The PCR inserts are gel-purified and
digested with compatible restriction enzymes. The insert and vector
are ligated according to standard protocols.
[0169] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides host
cells containing the above-described constructs. The host cell can
be a higher eukaryotic cell, such as a mammalian cell, or a lower
eukaryotic cell, such as a yeast cell, or the host cell can be a
prokaryotic cell, such as a bacterial cell. Introduction of the
construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate
transfection, DEAE-Dextran mediated transfection, lipofection or
electroporation (Davis, L., Dibner, M., Battey, I., Basic Methods
in Molecular Biology, (1986)).
[0170] Such constructs in host cells are preferably used in a
conventional manner to produce the gene product encoded by the
recombinant sequence. Alternatively, the polypeptides of the
invention can be synthetically produced by conventional peptide
synthesizers or by chemical ligation of suitable fragments thus
prepared.
[0171] Mature proteins can be expressed in mammalian cells, yeast,
bacteria, or other cells under the control of appropriate
promoters. Cell-free translation systems can also be employed to
produce such proteins using RNAs derived from the DNA constructs of
the present invention. Appropriate cloning and expression vectors
for use with prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts are described by
Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second
Edition, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y., (1989).
[0172] Transcription of the DNA encoding the polypeptides of the
present invention by higher eukaryotes is increased by inserting an
enhancer sequence into the vector. Enhancers include cis-acting
elements of DNA, usually about from 10 to 300 bp, that act on a
promoter to increase its transcription. Examples include the SV40
enhancer on the late side of the replication origin bp 100 to 270,
acytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on
the late side of the replication origin, and adenovirus
enhancers.
[0173] Generally, recombinant expression vectors will include
origins of replication and selectable markers permitting
transformation of the host cell, e.g., the ampicillin resistance
gene of E. coli and S. cerevisiae TRP1 gene, and a promoter derived
from a highly expressed gene to direct transcription of a
downstream structural sequence. Such promoters can be derived from
operons encoding glycolytic enzymes, such as 3-phosphoglycerate
kinase (PGK), alpha-factor, acid phosphatase, or heat shock
proteins, among others. The heterologous structural sequence is
assembled in appropriate phase with translation initiation and
termination sequences, and preferably, a leader sequence capable of
directing secretion of translated protein into the periplasmic
space or extracellular medium. Optionally, the heterologous
sequence can encode a fusion protein including an N-terminal
identification peptide imparting desired characteristics, e.g.,
stabilization or simplified purification of expressed recombinant
product.
[0174] Useful expression vectors for bacterial use are constructed
by inserting a structural DNA sequence encoding a desired protein
together with suitable translation initiation and termination
signals in operable reading phase with a functional promoter.
[0175] The vector will comprise one or more phenotypic selectable
markers and an origin of replication to ensure maintenance of the
vector and to, if desired, provide amplification within the host.
Suitable prokaryotic hosts for transformation include E. coli,
Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium and various species
within the genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces and Staphylococcus,
although others may also be employed as a matter of choice.
[0176] As a representative but non-limiting example, useful
expression vectors for bacterial use can comprise a selectable
marker and bacterial origin of replication derived from
commercially available plasmids comprising genetic elements of the
well known cloning vector pBR322 (ATCC 37017). Such commercial
vectors include, for example, pKK223-3 (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals,
Uppsala, Sweden) and GEM1 (Promega Biotec, Madison, Wis., U.S.A.).
These pBR322 "backbone" sections are combined with an appropriate
promoter and the structural sequence to be expressed.
[0177] Following transformation of a suitable host strain and
growth of the host strain to an appropriate cell density, the
selected promoter is induced by appropriate means (e.g.,
temperature shift or chemical induction), and cells are cultured
for an additional period.
[0178] Cells are typically harvested by centrifugation and then
disrupted by physical or chemical means, with the resulting crude
extract being retained for further purification.
[0179] Microbial cells employed in expression of proteins can be
disrupted by any convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling,
sonication, mechanical disruption and use of cell-lysing agents;
such methods are well known to those skilled in the art.
[0180] Various mammalian cell culture systems can also be employed
to express a recombinant protein. Examples of mammalian expression
systems include the COS-7 lines of monkey kidney fibroblasts,
described by Gluzman, Cell, 23: 175 (1981). Other cell lines
capable of expressing a compatible vector include, for example, the
C127, 3T3, CHO, HeLa and BHK cell lines. Mammalian expression
vectors will generally comprise an origin of replication, a
suitable promoter and enhancer, and also any necessary ribosome
binding sites, polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor
sites, transcriptional termination sequences, and 5' flanking
nontranscribed sequences. DNA sequences derived from the SV40
splice, and polyadenylation sites may be used to provide required
nontranscribed genetic elements.
[0181] The polypeptides can be recovered and purified from
recombinant cell cultures by methods including ammonium sulfate or
ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange
chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic
interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography,
hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Recovery
can be facilitated if the polypeptide is expressed at the surface
of the cells, but such is not a prerequisite. Recovery may also be
desirable of cleavage products that are cleaved following
expression of a longer form of the polypeptide. Protein refolding
steps as known in this art can be used, as necessary, to complete
configuration of the mature protein. High performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) can be employed for final purification
steps.
[0182] The polypeptides of the present invention may be purified
natural products, or produced by recombinant techniques from a
prokaryotic or eukaryotic host (for example, by bacterial, yeast,
higher plant, insect or mammalian cells in culture). Depending upon
the host employed in a recombinant production procedure, the
polypeptides of the present invention may be glycosylated or may be
non-glycosylated. Polypeptides of the invention may also include an
initial methionine amino acid residue.
[0183] In a preferred embodiment, the proteins of the invention are
isolated and purified so as to be substantially free of
contamination from other proteins. For example, the proteins of the
invention should constitute at least 80% by weight of the total
protein present in a sample, more preferably at least 90%, even
more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% by
weight of the total protein.
[0184] These proteins may be in the form of a solution in water,
another suitable solvent, such as dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) or
ethanol, or a mixture of suitable solvents.
[0185] Examples of mixtures of solvents include 10% (by weight)
ethanol in water and 2% (by weight) DMSO in water. A solution may
further comprise salts, buffering agents, chaotropic agents,
detergents, preservatives and the like. Alternatively, the proteins
may be in the form of a solid, such as a lyophilised powder or a
crystalline solid, which may also comprise a residual solvent, a
salt or the like.
[0186] As used herein, the term "antibodies" includes polyclonal
antibodies, affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal
antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments, such as F (ab')2 and
Fab' proteolytic fragments. Genetically engineered intact
antibodies or fragments, such as chimeric antibodies, Fv fragments,
single chain antibodies and the like, as well as synthetic
antigen-binding peptides and polypeptides, are also included.
Non-human antibodies may be humanized by grafting non-human CDRs
onto human framework and constant regions, or by incorporating the
entire non-human variable domains (optionally "cloaking" them with
a human-like surface by replacement of exposed residues, wherein
the result is a "veneered" antibody). In some instances, humanized
antibodies may retain non-human residues within the human variable
region framework domains to enhance proper binding characteristics.
Through humanizing antibodies, biological half-life may be
increased, and the potential for adverse immune reactions upon
administration to humans should be reduced.
[0187] Alternative techniques for generating or selecting
antibodies useful herein include in vitro exposure of lymphocytes
to human isoQC protein or a peptide therefrom, and selection of
antibody display libraries in phage or similar vectors (for
instance, through use of immobilized or labeled human isoQC protein
or peptide).
[0188] Genes encoding polypeptides having potential human isoQC
polypeptide binding domains can be obtained by screening random
peptide libraries displayed on phage (phage display) or on
bacteria, such as E. coli. Nucleotide sequences encoding such
polypeptides can be obtained in a number of ways well known in the
art.
[0189] As would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art,
polyclonal antibodies can be generated from inoculating a variety
of warm-blooded animals, such as horses, cows, goats, sheep, dogs,
chickens, rabbits, mice and rats, with a human isoQC polypeptide or
a fragment thereof. The immunogenicity of a human isoQC polypeptide
may be increased through the use of an adjuvant, such as alum
(aluminum hydroxide) or Freund's complete or incomplete adjuvant,
or surface active substances, such as lysolecithin, pluronic
polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, KLH or dinitrophenol.
Among adjuvants used in humans, BCG (bacilli Calmette-Guerin) and
Corynebacterium parvum are especially preferable. Polypeptides
useful for immunization also include fusion polypeptides, such as
fusions of isoQC or a portion thereof with an immunoglobulin
polypeptide or with maltose binding protein. The polypeptide
immunogen may be a full-length molecule or a portion thereof. If
the polypeptide portion is "hapten-like", such portion may be
advantageously joined or linked to a macromolecular carrier, such
as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin (BSA) or
tetanus toxoid, for immunization. Antibodies to isoQC may also be
generated using methods that are well known in the art. Such
antibodies may include, but are not limited to, polyclonal,
monoclonal, chimeric, and single chain antibodies, Fab fragments,
and fragments produced by a Fab expression library.
[0190] Neutralizing antibodies (i.e., those which block or modify
interactions at the active sites) are especially preferred for
therapeutic use.
[0191] For the production of antibodies, binding proteins, or
peptides which bind specifically to QPCTL, libraries of single
chain antibodies, Fab fragments, other antibody fragments,
non-antibody protein domains, or peptides may be screened. The
libraries could be generated using phage display, other recombinant
DNA methods, or peptide synthesis (Vaughan, T. J. et al. Nature
Biotechnology 14: 309-314 (1966)). Such libraries would commonly be
screened using methods, which are well known in the art to identify
sequences which demonstrate specific binding to QPCTL.
[0192] It is preferred that the oligopeptides, peptides, or
fragments used to induce antibodies to QPCTL have an amino acid
sequence consisting of at least about 5 amino acids and, more
preferably, of at least about 10 amino acids. It is also preferable
that these oligopeptides, peptides, or fragments are identical to a
portion of the amino acid sequence of the natural protein. Short
stretches of QPCTL amino acids may also be fused with those of
another protein, such as KLH, and antibodies to the chimeric
molecule may be produced.
[0193] Monoclonal antibodies to QPCTL may be prepared using any
well known technique which provides for the production of antibody
molecules by continuous cell lines in culture. These include, but
are not limited to, the hybridoma technique, the human B-cell
hybridoma technique, and the EBV-hybridoma technique, although
monoclonal antibodies produced by hybridoma cells may be
preferred.
[0194] In addition, techniques developed for the production of
"chimeric antibodies", such as the splicing of mouse antibody genes
to human antibody genes to obtain a molecule with appropriate
antigen specificity and biological activity, can be used, see
Neuberger, M. S. et al. Nature 312: 604-608 (1984). Alternatively,
techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies
may be adapted, using methods known in the art, to produce
QPCTL-specific single chain antibodies. Antibodies with related
specificity, but of distinct idiotypic composition, may be
generated by chain shuffling from random combinatorial
immunoglobulin libraries. (Burton D. R. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88:
11120-11123 (1991)).
[0195] Antibodies may also be produced by inducing in vivo
production in the lymphocyte population or by screening
immunoglobulin libraries or panels of highly specific binding
reagents as disclosed in the literature. (Orlandi, R. et al. Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. 86: 3833-3837 (1989)).
[0196] Antibody fragments, which contain specific binding sites for
QPCTL may also be generated. For example, such fragments include,
but are not limited to, F(ab').sub.2 fragments produced by pepsin
digestion of the antibody molecule and Fab fragments generated by
reducing the disulfide bridges of the F(ab').sub.2 fragments.
Alternatively, Fab expression libraries may be constructed to allow
rapid and easy identification of monoclonal Fab fragments with the
desired specificity. (Huse, W. D. et al. Science 254:
1275-1281(1989)).
[0197] Various immunoassays may be used to identify antibodies
having the desired specificity. Numerous protocols for competitive
binding or immunoradiometric assays using either polyclonal or
monoclonal antibodies with established specificities are well known
in the art. Such immunoassays typically involve the measurement of
complex formation between QPCTL and its specific antibody. A
two-site, monoclonal-based immunoassay utilizing monoclonal
antibodies reactive to two non-interfering QPCTL epitopes is
preferred, but a competitive binding assay may also be
employed.
[0198] As earlier mentioned, the QPCTLs can be used in treatment of
the Diseases.
[0199] Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in this aspect
of the invention include compositions wherein the active
ingredients are contained in an effective amount to achieve the
intended purpose relating to one of the Diseases. The determination
of a therapeutically effective dose is well within the capability
of those skilled in the art and can be estimated initially either
in cell culture assays, e.g. of neoplastic cells, or in animal
models, usually mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, or pigs. An animal model
may also be used to determine the appropriate concentration range
and route of administration, which information is then commonly
used to determine useful doses and routes for administration in
humans.
[0200] A therapeutically effective dose refers to that amount of
active ingredient, e.g. a QPCTL or fragment thereof, antibodies of
DPRP, or an agonist, antagonist or inhibitor of QPCTL, which
ameliorates particular symptoms or conditions of the disease. For
example, the amount to be administered may be effective to cyclise
N-terminal Glu or Gln of a desired target substrate upon contact
therewith. Therapeutic efficacy and toxicity may likewise be
determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures
or with experimental animals, such as by calculating the ED50 (the
dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population) or LD50
(the dose lethal to 50% of the population) statistics. The dose
ratio of toxic to therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index, and
it can be expressed as the LD50/ED50 ratio. Pharmaceutical
compositions, which exhibit large therapeutic indices, are
preferred. The data obtained from cell culture assays and animal
studies is used in formulating a range of dosage for human use. The
dosage contained in such compositions is preferably within a range
of circulating concentrations that include the ED50 with little or
no toxicity. The dosage varies within this range depending upon the
dosage form employed, the sensitivity of the patient, and the route
of administration.
[0201] An exact dosage will normally be determined by the medical
practitioner in light of factors related to the subject requiring
treatment, with dosage and administration being adjusted to provide
a sufficient level of the active moiety or to maintain a desired
effect. Factors to be taken into account include the severity of
the disease state, the general health of the subject, the age,
weight, and gender of the subject, diet, time and frequency of
administration, drug combination (s), reaction sensitivities, and
tolerance/response to therapy. Long-acting pharmaceutical
compositions may be administered every 3 to 4 days, every week, or
even once every two weeks, depending on the half-life and clearance
rate of the particular formulation.
[0202] Yet another aspect of the invention provides polynucleotide
molecules having sequences that are antisense to mRNA transcripts
of a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NOS 2 to 9. Administration of an
antisense polynucleotide molecule can block the production of the
protein encoded by the QPCTL genes of SEQ ID NOS 2 to 9. The
techniques for preparing antisense polynucleotide molecules and
administering such molecules are known in the art. For example,
antisense polynucleotide molecules can be encapsulated into
liposomes for fusion with cells.
[0203] In particular, the expression of the QPCTL genes of SEQ ID
NOS 2 to 9 in brain, prostate, lung, heart, liver, spleen and
kidney tissue provides evidence for a potential role in the
pathophysiology of the diseases described below. Therefore in a
further aspect, the invention relates to diagnostic assays for
detecting diseases associated with inappropriate QPCTL activity or
expression levels. Antibodies that specifically bind QPCTL may be
used for the diagnosis of disorders characterized by expression of
QPCTL, or in assays to monitor patients being treated with QPCTL or
with agonists or antagonists (inhibitors) of QPCTL. Antibodies
useful for diagnostic purposes may be prepared in the same manner
as those described above for therapeutics. Diagnostic assays for
QPCTL include methods that utilize the antibody and a label to
detect QPCTL in human body fluids or in extracts of cells or
tissues. The antibodies may be used with or without modification,
and they may be labeled by covalent or non-covalent joining with a
reporter molecule. A wide variety of reporter molecules are known
in the art. Recombinant QPCTL proteins that have been modified so
as to be catalytically inactive can also be used as dominant
negative inhibitors. Such modifications include, for example,
mutation of the active site.
[0204] A variety of protocols for measuring QPCTL, including
ELISAs, RIAs and FACS, are known in the art and provide a basis for
diagnosing altered or abnormal levels of QPCTL expression. Normal
or standard values for QPCTL expression are established by
combining body fluids or cell extracts taken from normal mammalian
subjects, preferably human, with antibody to QPCTL under conditions
suitable for complex formation. The method for detecting QPCTL in a
biological sample would comprise the steps of a) providing a
biological sample; b) combining the biological sample and an
anti-QPCTL antibody under conditions which are suitable for complex
formation to occur between QPCTL and the antibody; and c) detecting
complex formation between QPCTL and the antibody, thereby
establishing the presence of QPCTL in the biological sample.
[0205] The amount of complex formation then may be quantified by
various methods, preferably by photometric means. Quantities of
QPCTL expressed in a subject, control, and disease samples from
biopsied tissues are compared with the standard values. Deviation
between standard and subject values establishes the parameters for
diagnosing disease.
[0206] In another embodiment of the invention, the polynucleotides
encoding QPCTL are used for diagnostic purposes, which
polynucleotides may include oligonucleotide sequences,
complementary RNA and DNA molecules, and PNAs. These
polynucleotides may be used to detect and quantitate gene
expression in biopsied tissues in which expression of QPCTL may be
correlated with one of the diseases. The diagnostic assay may be
used to distinguish between absence, presence, and excess
expression of QPCTL and to monitor regulation of QPCTL levels
during therapeutic intervention. Moreover, pharmacogenomic, single
nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) analysis of the QPCTL genes can be
used as a method to screen for mutations that indicate
predisposition to disease or modified response to drugs.
[0207] QPCTL polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences, fragments
thereof, antibodies of QPCTLs, and agonists, antagonists or
inhibitors of QPCTLs can be used as discovery tools to identify
molecular recognition events and therefore proteins, polypeptides
and peptides that interact with QPCTL proteins. A specific example
is phage display peptide libraries where greater than 108 peptide
sequences can be screened in a single round of panning. Such
methods as well as others are known within the art and can be
utilized to identify compounds that inhibit or enhance the activity
of any one of the QPCTLs of SEQ ID NOS 11-18.
[0208] Coupled links represent functional interactions such as
complexes or pathways, and proteins that interact with QPCTLs can
be identified by a yeast two-hybrid system, proteomics
(differential 2D gel analysis and mass spectrometry) and genomics
(differential gene expression by microarray or serial analysis of
gene expression SAGE).
[0209] Proteins identified as functionally linked to QPCTLs and the
process of interaction form the basis of methods of screening for
inhibitors, agonists and antagonists and modulators of these
QPCTL-protein interactions.
[0210] The term "antagonist", as it is used herein, refers to an
inhibitor molecule which, when bound to QPCTL, decreases the amount
or the duration of the effect of the biological or immunological
activity of QPCTL, e.g. decreasing the enzymatic activity of the
peptidase to cyclise Glu- or Gln-residues at the N-termini of the
QPCTL substrates. Antagonists may include proteins, nucleic acids,
carbohydrates, antibodies, or any other molecules which decrease
the effect of QPCTL; for example, they may include small molecules
and organic compounds that bind to and inactivate QPCTLs by a
competitive or non-competitive type mechanism. Preferred are small
molecule inhibitors of QPCTL. Most preferred are competitive small
molecule inhibitors of QPCTL.
[0211] Specific examples of QPCTL enzyme activity inhibitors are
described in Example 4. Inhibitors can be, for example, inhibitors
of the QPCTL cyclase activity, or alternatively inhibitors of the
binding activity of the QPCTL to proteins with which they interact.
Specific examples of such inhibitors can include, for example,
anti-QPCTL antibodies, peptides, protein fragments, or small
peptidyl protease inhibitors, or small non-peptide, organic
molecule inhibitors which are formulated in a medium that allows
introduction into the desired cell type. Alternatively, such
inhibitors can be attached to targeting ligands for introduction by
cell-mediated endocytosis and other receptor mediated events. Such
methods are described further below and can be practiced by those
skilled in the art given the QPCTL nucleotide and amino acid
sequences described herein.
[0212] A further use of QPCTLs is for the screening of potential
antagonists for use as therapeutic agents, for example, for
inhibiting binding to QPCTL, as well as for screening for agonists.
QPCTL, its immunogenic fragments, or oligopeptides thereof can be
used for screening libraries of compoundswhich are prospective
agonists or antagonists in any of a variety of drug screening
techniques. The fragment employed in such screening may be free in
solution, affixed to a solid support, borne on a cell surface, or
located intracellularly. The formation of binding complexes between
QPCTL and the agent being tested is then measured. Other assays to
discover antagonists that will inhibit QPCTL are apparent from the
disclosures of Patents Nos. WO 2004/098625, WO 2004/098591 and WO
2005/075436, which describe inhibitors of QC and which are
incorporated herein in their entirety. Another worthwhile use of
these QPCTLs is the screening of inhibitors of QC to show that they
will not have undesired side effects by also inhibiting one or more
of the QPCTLs.
[0213] A method provided for screening a library of small molecules
to identify a molecule which binds QPCTL generally comprises: a)
providing a library of small molecules; b) combining the library of
small molecules with the polypeptide of either SEQ ID NOS 11 to 18,
or with a fragment thereof, under conditions which are suitable for
complex formation; and c) detecting complex formation, wherein the
presence of such a complex identifies a small molecule, which binds
to the QPCTL.
[0214] One method for identifying an antagonist comprises
delivering a small molecule which binds QPCTL into extracts from
cells transformed with a vector expressing QPCTL along with a
chromogenic substrate (e.g. Ala-Pro-AFC or Ala-Pro-AMC) under
conditions where cleavage would normally occur, and then assaying
for inhibition of cleavage by the enzyme by monitoring changes in
fluorescence, or UV light absorption, by spectrophotometry to
identify molecules that inhibit cleavage. A reduced rate of
reaction or total amount of fluorescence or UV light absorption, in
the presence of the molecule, establishes that the small molecule
is an antagonist, which reduces QPCTL catalytic/enzymatic activity.
Once such molecules are identified, they may be administered to
reduce or inhibit cyclisation of N-terminal Glu- or Gln-residues by
a QPCTL.
[0215] In accordance with still another specific aspect, the
invention provides a method of screening for a compound capable of
inhibiting the enzymatic activity of at least one mature protein
according to the present invention, preferably selected from the
proteins of SEQ ID NOS: 11 to 18, which method comprises incubating
said mature protein and a suitable substrate for said mature
protein in the presence of one or more test compounds or salts
thereof, measuring the enzymatic activity of said mature protein,
comparing said activity with comparable activity determined in the
absence of a test compound, and selecting the test compound or
compounds that reduce the enzymatic activity.
[0216] Furthermore, the invention also provides a method of
screening for a selective QC-inhibitor, i.e. a compound capable of
inhibiting the enzymatic activity of QC, wherein said QC is
preferably the protein of SQ ID NO: 10, that does not inhibit the
enzymatic activity of at least one mature protein according to the
present invention, preferably selected from the proteins of SEQ ID
NOS: 11 to 18, which method comprises incubating said mature
protein and a suitable substrate in the presence of one or more
inhibitors or salts thereof of QC, measuring the enzymatic activity
of said mature protein, comparing said activity with comparable
activity determined in the absence of the QC inhibitor, and
selecting a compound that does not reduce the enzymatic activity of
said mature protein.
[0217] Furthermore, the invention also provides a method of
screening for a selective QPCTL-inhibitor, i.e. a compound capable
of inhibiting the enzymatic activity of at least one QPCTL protein,
which is preferably selected from the proteins of SEQ ID NOS: 11 to
18; that does not inhibit the enzymatic activity of QC, wherein
said QC is preferably the protein of SQ ID NO: 10, which method
comprises incubating said QC in the presence of one or more
inhibitors or salts thereof of a QPCTL, measuring the enzymatic
activity of QC, comparing said activity with comparable activity
determined in the absence of the QPCTL inhibitor, and selecting a
compound that does not reduce the enzymatic activity of said QPCTL
protein.
[0218] Useful inhibitors of QC, which also could be useful as
inhibitors of QPCTLs, are described in WO 2004/098625, WO
2004/098591, WO 2005/039548 and WO 2005/075436, which are
incorporated herein in their entirety, especially with regard to
the structure of the inhibitors and their production.
[0219] Examples of QPCTL-Inhibitors
[0220] Potential QPCTL-inhibitors, which are suitable for uses and
methods according to the present invention are disclosed in WO
2005/075436, which is incorporated herein in its entirety with
regard to the structure, synthesis and methods of use of the
QC-inhibitors.
[0221] In particular:
[0222] A suitable compound is that of formula 1*:
##STR00008##
[0223] In a further embodiment, the inhibitors of QPCTL may be
those of formula 1a,
##STR00009##
[0224] wherein R is defined in examples 1 to 53.
TABLE-US-00005 ESI-MS Example R (M + H) 1 Methyl 199.3 2 tert-Butyl
241.4 3 Benzyl 275.4 4 Phenyl 261.4 5 4-(fluoro)-phenyl 279.35 6
4-(chloro)-phenyl 295.80 7 4-(ethyl)-phenyl 289.41 8
4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl 329.4 9 4-(methoxy-carbonyl)- 319.4
Phenyl 10 4-(acetyl)-phenyl 303.4 11 4-(methoxy)-phenyl 291.4 12
bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl 277.5 13 3,4-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 321.5
14 2,4-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 321.5 15 3,5-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 321.5 16
2-(methoxy-carbonyl)- 319.4 Phenyl 17 4-(oxazol-5-y)-phenyl 328.5
18 4-(pyrazol-1-yl)-phenyl 327.4 19 4-(isopropyl)-phenyl 303.5 20
4-(piperidine-1-sulfonyl)- 408.6 Phenyl 21
4-(morpholin-4-yl)-phenyl 346.5 22 4-(cyano)-phenyl 286.4 23
2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4] 319.4 dioxin-6-yl 24 benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl
305.4 25 3,4,5(trimethoxy)-phenyl 351.5 26 3-(methoxy)-phenyl 291.4
27 4-(ethoxy)-phenyl 305.5 28 4-(benzyloxy)-phenyl 367.5 29
4-(methoxy)-benzyl 305.5 30 3,4-(dimethoxy)-benzyl 335.5 31
2-(methoxy-carbonyl)- 325.5 thiophene-3-yl 32 3-(ethoxy-carbonyl)-
392.6 4,5,6,7- tetrahydrobenzo[b]thio- phene2-yl 33
2-(methoxy-carbonyl)-4- 339.5 (methyl)-thiophene-3-yl 34
Benzo[c][1,2,5]thiazol- 319.5 4-yl 35 Benzo[c][1,2,5]thiazol- 319.5
5-yl 36 5-(methyl)-3-(phenyl)- 342.5 isooxazol-4-yl 37
3,5-(dimethyl)-isooxazol- 280.4 4-yl 38 4-(iodo)-phenyl 387.3 39
4-(bromo)-phenyl 340.3 40 4-(methyl)-phenyl 275.4 41
Naphthalen-1-yl 311.5 42 4-(nitro)-phenyl 306.4 43 Butyl 241.4 44
Cyclooctyl 295.5 45 Furan-2-ylmethyl 265.4 46
Tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethyl 269.4 47 Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5- 319.4
ylmethyl 48 2-(morpholin-4-yl)-ethyl 298.5 49
4-(methylsulfanyl)-phenyl 307.5 50 4-(dimethylamino)-phenyl 304.5
51 4-(trifluoromethoxy)-phenyl 345.4 52 Benzoyl 288.3 53
Pyridin-4-yl 261.1
[0225] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be those of formula
1b,
##STR00010##
[0226] wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are defined in examples 54 to
95.
TABLE-US-00006 Example R.sup.1 R.sup.2 54 Cyano Methyl 55 Cyano
3,4-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 56 Cyano 2,4-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 57 Cyano
3,5-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 58 Cyano 2,3- dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-
7-yl 59 Cyano Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-6-yl 60 Cyano
3,4,5-(trimethoxy)-phenyl 61 Cyano 3-(methoxy)-phenyl 62 Cyano
4-(ethoxy)-phenyl 63 Cyano 4-(benzyloxy)-phenyl 64 Cyano Phenyl 65
Cyano 4-(methoxy)-phenyl 66 Cyano 4-(acetyl)-phenyl 67 Cyano
4-(nitro)-phenyl 68 Cyano Benzyl 69 Cyano Naphthalen-1-yl 70 Cyano
4-(fluoro)-phenyl 71 Cyano 4-(iodo)-phenyl 72 Cyano
4-(bromo)-phenyl 73 Cyano Cyclooctyl 74 Cyano tert-butyl 75 Cyano
4-(methyl)-phenyl 76 Cyano 4-(methylthio)-phenyl 77 Cyano
4-(ethyl)-phenyl 78 Cyano 4-(dimethylamino)-phenyl 79 Cyano Butyl
80 Cyano Trityl 81 Cyano (Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol- 6yl)methyl 82 Cyano
(tetrahydrofuran-2yl)methyl 83 Cyano 4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl 84
Cyano (furan-2-yl)methyl 85 Cyano 2-(morpholin-4-yl)-ethyl 86 Cyano
4-(oxazol-5yl)-phenyl 87 Cyano Pyridin-3-yl 88 Cyano
4-(cyano)-phenyl 89 Cyano 4-(trifluoromethoxy)-phenyl 90 Cyano
4-(piperidinosulfonyl)-phenyl 91 Cyano 4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl 92
H 3,4-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 93 Methyl 3,4-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 94 Cyano
2,3,4-(trimethoxy)-phenyl 95 Cyano Cycloheptyl
[0227] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be those of formula
1c,
##STR00011##
[0228] wherein R.sup.3 is defined in examples 96 to 102.
TABLE-US-00007 ESI-MS Example R.sup.3 (M + H) 96 Ethyl 197.3 97
6-fluoro-4H-benzo[d] 321.4 [1,3]dioxin-8-yl 98 3-(cylopentyloxy)-4-
359.4 (methoxy)-phenyl 99 4-(heptyloxy)-phenyl 359.5 100
3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b] 317.4 [1,4]dioxepin-7-yl 101
4-(butoxy)-phenyl 317.4 102 3,4-(dimethoxy)-phenyl 305.4
[0229] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be those of formula
1d,
##STR00012##
[0230] wherein the position on the ring is defined in examples 103
to 105.
TABLE-US-00008 Position of the ESI-MS Example Benzyl-substitution
(M + H) 103 2 383.5 104 3 383.5 105 4 383.5
[0231] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be those of formula
1e,
##STR00013##
[0232] wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are defined in examples 106 to
109.
TABLE-US-00009 ESI-MS Example R.sup.4 R.sup.5 (M + H) 106(S) H
Methyl 335.5 107(R) Methyl H 335.5 108 Methyl Methyl 349.5 109
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 347.5
[0233] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be those of formula
1f,
##STR00014##
[0234] wherein R.sup.6 is defined in examples 110 to 112.
TABLE-US-00010 ESI-MS Example R.sup.6 (M + H) 110 H 259.4 111
Chloro 293.8 112 Methoxy 289.4
[0235] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be those of formula
1g,
##STR00015##
[0236] wherein R.sup.7, R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are defined in examples
113 to 132.
TABLE-US-00011 ESI-MS Example R.sup.7 R.sup.8 R.sup.9 (M + H) 113
Phenyl H H 260.4 114 Thiophen-2-yl H H 266.5 115(R) Phenyl Methyl H
274.5 116(S) Phenyl H Methyl 274.5 117 Phenyl H Ethyl 288.5 118
Phenyl H Phenyl 336.5 119 3,4-(dimethoxy)- H H 320.5 Phenyl 120
3,4-(dimethoxy)- Methyl Methyl 347.2 Phenyl 121 4-(chloro)-phenyl
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 334.9 122 4-(chloro)-phenyl
--CH.sub.2--C.sub.2H.sub.4--CH.sub.2-- 349.0 123 4-(methoxy)-phenyl
--CH.sub.2--C.sub.3H.sub.6--CH.sub.2-- 358.6 124 4-(methoxy)-phenyl
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 316.5 125 3,4-(dimethoxy)-
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 346.5 Phenyl 126 3,4,5-(trimethoxy)-
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 376.6 Phenyl 127 2,3,4-(trimethoxy)-
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 376.6 Phenyl 128 2-(methoxy)-phenyl
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 316.5 129 3-(methoxy)-phenyl
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 316.5 130 2,3-(dimethoxy)-
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 346.5 Phenyl 131 3,5-(dimethoxy)-
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 346.5 Phenyl 132 2,5-(dimethoxy)-
--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2-- 346.5 Phenyl
[0237] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be are those of
formula 1h,
##STR00016##
[0238] wherein n is defined in examples 133 to 135.
TABLE-US-00012 ESI-MS Example N (M + H) 133 3 306.4 134 4 320.5 135
5 334.5
[0239] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be those of formula
1i,
##STR00017##
[0240] wherein m is defined in examples 136 and 137.
TABLE-US-00013 ESI-MS Example m (M + H) 136 2 307.4 137 4 335.5
[0241] Further suitable inhibitors of QPCTL may be those of formula
138 to 141.
TABLE-US-00014 ESI--MS Example Structure (M + H) 138 ##STR00018##
347.5 139 ##STR00019## 347.2 140 ##STR00020## 226.3 141
##STR00021## 370.4
[0242] The term "agonist", as used herein, refers to a molecule
which, when bound to QPCTL, increases or prolongs the duration of
the effect of QPCTL. Agonists may include proteins, nucleic acids,
carbohydrates, or any other molecules that bind to and modulate the
effect of QPCTL. Although it is less likely that small molecules
will prove to be effective QPCTL agonists, a method for identifying
such a small molecule, which binds QPCTL as an agonist, comprises
delivering a chromogenic form of a small molecule that binds QPCTL
into cells transformed with a vector expressing QPCTL and assaying
for fluorescence or UV light absorption changes by
spectrophotometry. An increased amount of UV absorption or
fluorescence would establish that the small molecule is an agonist
that increases QPCTL activity.
[0243] Another technique for drug screening which may be used
provides for high throughput screening of compounds having suitable
binding affinity to the protein of interest as described in
published PCT application WO 84/03564. In this method, large
numbers of different small test compounds are synthesized on a
solid substrate, such as plastic pins or some other surface. The
test compounds are reacted with QPCTL, or with fragments thereof,
and then washed. Bound QPCTL is then detected by methods well known
in the art. Purified QPCTL can also be coated directly onto plates
for use in the aforementioned drug screening techniques.
Alternatively, non-neutralizing antibodies can be used to capture
the peptide and immobilize it on a solid support.
[0244] In another embodiment, one may use competitive drug
screening assays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of
binding QPCTL specifically compete with a test compound for binding
QPCTL. In this manner, antibodies can be used to detect the
presence of any peptide that shares one or more antigenic
determinants with QPCTL.
[0245] As indicated above, by investigating the binding sites,
ligands may be designed that, for example, have more interactions
with QPCTL than do its natural ligands. Such antagonist ligands
will bind to QPCTL with higher affinity and so function as
competitive ligands. Alternatively, synthetic or recombinant
proteins homologous or analogous to the ligand binding site of
native QPCTL may be designed, as may other molecules having high
affinity for QPCTL. Such molecules should also be capable of
displacing QPCTL and provide a protective effect.
[0246] As indicated above, the knowledge of the structures of QPCTL
enables synthetic binding site homologues and analogues to be
designed. Such molecules will facilitate greatly the use of the
binding properties to target potential therapeutic agents, and they
may also be used to screen potential therapeutic agents.
Furthermore, they may be used as immunogens in the production of
monoclonal antibodies, which antibodies may themselves be used in
diagnosis and/or therapy as described hereinbefore.
[0247] Therapeutic Applications
[0248] It is known in the art that amyloid peptides, e.g. Abeta
1-42 (SEQ ID NO 23) and Abeta 1-40 (SEQ ID NO 24) become
N-terminally truncated by proteolytic enzymes such as for example
aminopeptidases or dipeptidyl aminopeptidases, resulting in the
Abeta-peptides 3-42 (SEQ ID NO 25), 3-40 (SEQ ID NO 26), 11-42 (SEQ
ID NO 27) and 11-40 (SEQ ID NO 28). These truncated Abeta peptides
start with a glutamate residue at the N-terminus and are thus
substrates for QC (see also WO 2004/09862) and possibly also for
the QPCTLs of SEQ ID NOS 11-18, 21 and 22, preferably the human
isoQCs of SEQ ID NOS 11, 12, 21 and 22, most preferably the human
isoQCs of SEQ ID NOS 11 and 12. The resulting pGlu-Abeta peptides
of SED ID NOS 29-32 are much more hydrophobic than the
non-pyroglutamted peptides, are much more prone to form A-beta
peptide aggregates, such as oligomers and fibrills, and were shown
to by highly neurotoxic. Finally, the Abeta-peptides of SEQ ID NOS
29-32 play a crucial role in the development of Alzheimer's disease
and Down Syndrome.
[0249] Accordingly, inhibitors of the QPCTLs of SEQ ID NOS 11-18,
21 and 22, preferably the human isoQCs of SEQ ID NOS 11, 12, 21 and
22, most preferably the human isoQCs of SEQ ID NOS 11 and 12, may
be used for the treatment of amyloid peptide related diseases,
especially neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's
disease and Down Syndrome.
[0250] Other potential physiological substrates of QPTCLs in
mammals are selected from the group consisting of Glu.sup.1-ABri
(SEQ ID NO 33), Glu.sup.1-ADan (SEQ ID NO 34), and
Gln.sup.1-Gastrins (17 and 34) (SEQ ID NOS 35 and 36). Their
pyroglutamated forms (SEQ ID NOS 37-40) cause pathologies such as
those selected from the group consisting of duodenal cancer with or
w/o Helicobacter pylori infections, colorectal cancer,
Zolliger-Ellison syndrome, Familial British Dementia (FBD) and
Familial Danish Dementia (FDD). Accordingly, inhibitors of QPCTLs
can be used to treat these pathologies.
[0251] Further potential physiological substrates of QPCTLs are
shown in table 3.
TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 3 Amino acid sequences of physiological active
peptides with an N- terminal glutamine residue Peptide Amino acid
sequence Function Gastrin 17 QGPWL EEEEEAYGWM DF Gastrin stimulates
the (SEQ ID NO 35) (amide) stomach mucosa to produce Swiss-Prot:
P01350 and secrete hydrochloric acid and the pancreas to secrete
its digestive enzymes. It also stimulates smooth muscle contraction
and increases blood circulation and water secretion in the stomach
and intestine. Neurotensin QLYENKPRRP YIL Neurotensin plays an (SEQ
ID NO 41) endocrine or paracrine role Swiss-Prot: P30990 in the
regulation of fat metabolism. It causes contraction of smooth
muscle. FPP QEP amide A tripeptide related to thyrotrophin
releasing hormone (TRH), is found in seminal plasma. Recent
evidence obtained in vitro and in vivo showed that FPP plays an
important role in regulating sperm fertility. TRH QHP amide TRH
functions as a regulator Swiss-Prot: P20396 of the biosynthesis of
TSH in the anterior pituitary gland and as a neurotransmitter/
neuromodulator in the central and peripheral nervous systems. GnRH
QHWSYGL RP(G) amide Stimulates the secretion of (SEQ ID NO 42)
gonadotropins; it stimulates Swiss-Prot: P01148 the secretion of
both luteinizing and follicle- stimulating hormones. CCL16 (small
QPKVPEW VNTPSTCCLK Shows chemotactic activity inducible cytokine
YYEKVLPRRL VVGYRKALNC for lymphocytes and A16) HLPAIIFVTK
RNREVCTNPN monocytes but not (SEQ ID NO 43) DDWVQEYIKD PNLPLLPTRN
neutrophils. Also shows Swiss-Prot: LSTVKIITAK NGQPQLLNSQ potent
myelosuppressive O15467 activity, suppresses proliferation of
myeloid progenitor cells. Recombinant SCYA16 shows chemotactic
activity for monocytes and THP-1 monocytes, but not for resting
lymphocytes and neutrophils. Induces a calcium flux in THP-1 cells
that were desensitized by prior expression to RANTES. CCL8 (small
QPDSVSI PITCCFNVIN Chemotactic factor that inducible cytokine
RKIPIQRLES YTRITNIQCP attracts monocytes, A8) KEAVIFKTKR GKEVCADPKE
lymphocytes, basophils and (SEQ ID NO 44) RWVRDSMKHL DQIFQNLKP
eosinophils. May play a role Swiss-Prot: P80075 in neoplasia and
inflammatory host responses. This protein can bind heparin. CCL2
(small QPDAINA PVTCCYNFTN Chemotactic factor that inducible
cytokine RKISVQRLAS YRRITSSKCP attracts monocytes and A2)
KEAVIFKTIV AKEICADPKQ basophils but not neutrophils (SEQ ID NO 45)
KWVQDSMDHL DKQTQTPKT or eosinophils. Augments Swiss-Prot: P13500
monocyte anti-tumor activity. Has been implicated in the
pathogenesis of diseases characterized by monocytic infiltrates,
like psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or atherosclerosis. May be
involved in the recruitment of monocytes into the arterial wall
during the disease process of atherosclerosis. Binds to CCR2 and
CCR4. CCL18 (small QVGTNKELC CLVYTSWQIP Chemotactic factor that
inducible cytokine QKFIVDYSET SPQCPKPGVI attracts lymphocytes but
not A18) LLTKRGRQIC ADPNKKWVQK monocytes or granulocytes. (SEQ ID
NO 46) YISDLKLNA May be involved in B cell Swiss-Prot: P55774
migration into B cell follicles in lymph nodes. Attracts naive T
lymphocytes toward dendritic cells and activated macrophages in
lymph nodes, has chemotactic activity for naive T cells, CD4+ and
CD8+ T cells and thus may play a role in both humoral and
cell-mediated immunity responses. Fractalkine QHHGVT KCNITCSKMT The
soluble form is (neurotactin) SKIPVALLIH YQQNQASCGK chemotactic for
T cells and (SEQ ID NO 47) RAIILETRQH RLFCADPKEQ monocytes, but not
for Swiss-Prot: P78423 WVKDAMQHLD RQAAALTRNG neutrophils. The
membrane- GTFEKQIGEV KPRTTPAAGG bound form promotes MDESVVLEPE
ATGESSSLEP adhesion of those leukocytes TPSSQEAQRA LGTSPELPTG to
endothelial cells. May play VTGSSGTRLP PTPKAQDGGP a role in
regulating leukocyte VGTELFRVPP VSTAATWQSS adhesion and migration
APHQPGPSLW AEAKTSEAPS processes at the TQDPSTQAST ASSPAPEENA
endothelium. Binds to PSEGQRVWGQ GQSPRPENSL cx3cr1. EREEMGPVPA
HTDAFQDWGP GSMAHVSVVP VSSEGTPSRE PVASGSWTPK AEEPIHATMD PQRLGVLITP
VPDAQAATRR QAVGLLAFLG LLFCLGVAMF TYQSLQGCPR KMAGEMAEGL RYIPRSCGSN
SYVLVPV CCL7 (small QPVGINT STTCCYRFIN Chemotactic factor that
inducible cytokine KKIPKQRLES YRRTTSSHCP attracts monocytes and A7)
REAVIFKTKL DKEICADPTQ eosinophils, but not (SEQ ID NO 48)
KWVQDFMKHL DKKTQTPKL neutrophils. Augments Swiss-Prot: P80098
monocyte anti-tumor activity. Also induces the release of
gelatinase B. This protein can bind heparin. Binds to CCR1, CCR2
and CCR3. Orexin A QPLPDCCRQK TCSCRLYELL Neuropeptide that plays a
(Hypocretin-1) HGAGNHAAGI LTL significant role in the (SEQ ID NO
49) regulation of food intake and Swiss-Prot O43612
sleep-wakefulness, possibly by coordinating the complex behavioral
and physiologic responses of these complementary homeostatic
functions. It plays also a broader role in the homeostatic
regulation of energy metabolism, autonomic function, hormonal
balance and the regulation of body fluids. Orexin-A binds to both
OX1R and OX2R with a high 7affinity. Substance P RPK PQQFFGLM
Belongs to the tachykinins. (SEQ ID NO 50) Tachykinins are active
peptides which excite neurons, evoke behavioral responses, are
potent vasodilators and secretagogues, and contract (directly or
indirectly) many smooth muscles.
[0252] The peptides Gln.sup.1-Gastrin (17 and 34 amino acids in
length), Gln.sup.1-Neurotensin and Gln.sup.1-FPP were identified as
new physiological substrates of QPCTLs. Gastrin, Neurotensin and
FPP comprise a pGlu residue in their N-terminal position. This
N-terminal pGlu residue may be formed from N-terminal glutamine by
QPCTL catalysis for all peptides. As a result, these peptides are
activated in terms of their biological function upon conversion of
the N-terminal glutamine residue to pGlu.
[0253] Transepithelial transducing cells, particularly the gastrin
(G) cell, co-ordinate gastric acid secretion with the arrival of
food in the stomach. Recent work showed that multiple active
products are generated from the gastrin precursor, and that there
are multiple control points in gastrin biosynthesis. Biosynthetic
precursors and intermediates (progastrin and Gly-gastrins) are
putative growth factors; their products, the amidated gastrins,
regulate epithelial cell proliferation, the differentiation of
acid-producing parietal cells and histamine-secreting
enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells, and the expression of genes
associated with histamine synthesis and storage in ECL cells, as
well as acutely stimulating acid secretion. Gastrin also stimulates
the production of members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)
family, which in turn inhibit parietal cell function but stimulate
the growth of surface epithelial cells. Plasma gastrin
concentrations are elevated in subjects with Helicobacter pylori,
who are known to have increased risk of duodenal ulcer disease and
gastric cancer (Dockray, G. J. 1999 J Physiol 15 315-324).
[0254] The peptide hormone gastrin, released from antral G cells,
is known to stimulate the synthesis and release of histamine from
ECL cells in the oxyntic mucosa via CCK-2 receptors. The mobilized
histamine induces acid secretion by binding to the H(2) receptors
located on parietal cells. Recent studies suggest that gastrin, in
both its fully amidated and less processed forms (progastrin and
glycine-extended gastrin), is also a growth factor for the
gastrointestinal tract. It has been established that the major
trophic effect of amidated gastrin is for the oxyntic mucosa of
stomach, where it causes increased proliferation of gastric stem
cells and ECL cells, resulting in increased parietal and ECL cell
mass. On the other hand, the major trophic target of the less
processed gastrin (e.g. glycine-extended gastrin) appears to be the
colonic mucosa (Koh, T. J. and Chen, D. 2000 Regul Pept
9337-44).
[0255] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides the
use of activity increasing effectors of QPCTLs for the stimulation
of gastrointestinal tract cell proliferation, especially gastric
mucosal cell proliferation, epithelial cell proliferation, the
differentiation of acid-producing parietal cells and
histamine-secreting enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells, and the
expression of genes associated with histamine synthesis and storage
in ECL cells, as well as for the stimulation of acute acid
secretion in mammals by maintaining or increasing the concentration
of active pGlu.sup.1-Gastrin (SEQ ID NOS 39 and 40).
[0256] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides the
use of inhibitors of QPCTLs for the treatment of duodenal ulcer
disease and gastric cancer with or w/o Helicobacter pylori
infections in mammals by decreasing the conversion rate of inactive
Gln.sup.1-Gastrin (SEQ ID NOS 35 and 36) to active
pGlu.sup.1-Gastrin (SEQ ID NOS 39 and 40).
[0257] Neurotensin (NT) (SEQ ID NO 41) is a neuropeptide implicated
in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia that specifically modulates
neurotransmitter systems previously demonstrated to be misregulated
in this disorder. Clinical studies in which cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) NT concentrations have been measured revealed a subset of
schizophrenic patients with decreased CSF NT concentrations that
are restored by effective antipsychotic drug treatment.
Considerable evidence also exists concordant with the involvement
of NT systems in the mechanism of action of antipsychotic drugs.
The behavioral and biochemical effects of centrally administered NT
remarkably resemble those of systemically administered
antipsychotic drugs, and antipsychotic drugs increase NT
neurotransmission. This concatenation of findings led to the
hypothesis that NT functions as an endogenous antipsychotic.
Moreover, typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs differentially
alter NT neurotransmission in nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopamine
terminal regions, and these effects are predictive of side effect
liability and efficacy, respectively (Binder, E. B. et al. 2001
Biol Psychiatry 50 856-872).
[0258] Accordingly, the present invention provides the use of
activity increasing effectors of QPCTLs for the preparation of
antipsychotic drugs and/or for the treatment of schizophrenia in
mammals. The effectors of QPCTLs either maintain or increase the
concentration of active pGlu.sup.1-neurotensin.
[0259] Fertilization promoting peptide (FPP), a tripeptide related
to thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH), is found in seminal
plasma. Recent evidence obtained in vitro and in vivo showed that
FPP plays an important role in regulating sperm fertility.
Specifically, FPP initially stimulates nonfertilizing
(uncapacitated) spermatozoa to "switch on" and become fertile more
quickly, but then arrests capacitation so that spermatozoa do not
undergo spontaneous acrosome loss and therefore do not lose
fertilizing potential. These responses are mimicked, and indeed
augmented, by adenosine, known to regulate the adenylyl cyclase
(AC)/cAMP signal transduction pathway. Both FPP and adenosine have
been shown to stimulate cAMP production in uncapacitated cells but
inhibit it in capacitated cells, with FPP receptors somehow
interacting with adenosine receptors and G proteins to achieve
regulation of AC. These events affect the tyrosine phosphorylation
state of various proteins, some being important in the initial
"switching on," others possibly being involved in the acrosome
reaction itself. Calcitonin and angiotensin II, also found in
seminal plasma, have similar effects in vitro on uncapacitated
spermatozoa and can augment responses to FPP. These molecules have
similar effects in vivo, affecting fertility by stimulating and
then maintaining fertilizing potential. Either reductions in the
availability of FPP, adenosine, calcitonin, and angiotensin II or
defects in their receptors contribute to male infertility (Fraser,
L. R. and Adeoya-Osiguwa, S. A. 2001 Vitam Horm 63, 1-28).
[0260] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides the
use of inhibitors of QPCTLs for the preparation of fertilization
prohibitive drugs and/or to reduce the fertility in mammals. The
inhibitors of QPCTLs decrease the concentration of active
pGlu.sup.1-FPP, leading to a prevention of sperm capacitation and
deactivation of sperm cells. In contrast it could be shown that
activity increasing effectors of QC are able to stimulate fertility
in males and to treat infertility.
[0261] In a further embodiment, further physiological substrates of
QPCTLs were identified within the present invention. These are
Gln.sup.1-CCL2 (SEQ ID NO 45), Gln.sup.1-CCL7 (SEQ ID NO 48),
Gln.sup.1-CCL8 (SEQ ID NO 44), Gln.sup.1-CCL16 (SEQ ID NO 43),
Gln.sup.1-CCL18 (SEQ ID NO 46) and Gln.sup.1-fractalkine (SEQ ID NO
47). For details see Table 3. These polypeptides play an important
role in pathophysiological conditions, such as suppression of
proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells, neoplasia, inflammatory
host responses, cancer, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis,
atherosclerosis, humoral and cell-mediated immunity responses,
leukocyte adhesion and migration processes at the endothelium.
[0262] Several cytotoxic T lymphocyte peptide-based vaccines
against hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus and melanoma were
recently studied in clinical trials. One interesting melanoma
vaccine candidate alone or in combination with other tumor
antigens, is the decapeptide ELA. This peptide is a Melan-A/MART-1
antigen immunodominant peptide analog, with an N-terminal glutamic
acid. It has been reported that the amino group and
gamma-carboxylic group of glutamic acids, as well as the amino
group and gamma-carboxamide group of glutamines, condense easily to
form pyroglutamic derivatives. To overcome this stability problem,
several peptides of pharmaceutical interest have been developed
with a pyroglutamic acid instead of N-terminal glutamine or
glutamic acid, without loss of pharmacological properties.
Unfortunately compared with ELA, the pyroglutamic acid derivative
(PyrELA) and also the N-terminal acetyl-capped derivative (AcELA)
failed to elicit cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Despite the
apparent minor modifications introduced in PyrELA and AcELA, these
two derivatives probably have lower affinity than ELA for the
specific class I major histocompatibility complex. Consequently, in
order to conserve full activity of ELA, the formation of PyrELA
must be avoided (Beck A. et al. 2001, J Pept Res 57(6):528-38.).
Recently, it was found that also the enzyme glutaminyl cyclase (QC)
is overexpressed in melanomas (Ross D. T et al., 2000, Nat Genet
24:227-35.).
[0263] Accordingly, the present invention provides the use of
inhibitors of QPCTLs for the preparation of a medicament for the
treatment of pathophysiological conditions, such as suppression of
proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells, neoplasia, inflammatory
host responses, cancer, malign metastasis, melanoma, psoriasis,
rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, impaired humoral and
cell-mediated immunity responses, leukocyte adhesion and migration
processes at the endothelium.
[0264] Furthermore, Gln.sup.1-orexin A (SEQ ID NO 49) was
identified as a physiological substrate of QPCTLs within the
present invention. Orexin A is a neuropeptide that plays a
significant role in the regulation of food intake and
sleep-wakefulness, possibly by coordinating the complex behavioral
and physiologic responses of these complementary homeostatic
functions. It plays also a role in the homeostatic regulation of
energy metabolism, autonomic function, hormonal balance and the
regulation of body fluids.
[0265] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides the
use of inhibitors of QPCTLs for the preparation of a medicament for
the treatment of impaired food intake and sleep-wakefulness,
impaired homeostatic regulation of energy metabolism, impaired
autonomic function, impaired hormonal balance and impaired
regulation of body fluids.
[0266] Polyglutamine expansions in several proteins lead to
neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson disease and
Kennedy's disease. The mechanism therefore remains largely unknown.
The biochemical properties of polyglutamine repeats suggest one
possible explanation: endolytic cleavage at a glutaminyl-glutaminyl
bond followed by pyroglutamate formation may contribute to the
pathogenesis through augmenting the catabolic stability,
hydrophobicity, amyloidogenicity, and neurotoxicity of the
polyglutaminyl proteins (Saido, T; Med Hypotheses (2000)
March;54(3):427-9). Accordingly, the present invention provides
therefore the use of inhibitors of QPCTLs for the preparation of a
medicament for the treatment of Parkinson disease and Huntington's
disease.
[0267] A further substrate of QPTCLs is the peptide QYNAD (SEQ ID
NO 51). Its pyroglutamated form pGlu-Tyr-Asn-Ala-Asp (PEYNAD) (SEQ
ID NO 52) is the effective agent with blocking activity of
voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium channels are expressed at
high density in myelinated axons and play an obligatory role in
conducting action potentials along axons within the mammalian brain
and spinal cord. Therefore, it is speculated that they are involved
in several aspects of the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis
(MS), the Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic inflammatory
demyelinizing polyradiculoneuropathy.
[0268] In a further embodyment, the present invention provides the
use of inhibitors of QPCTLs for the preparation of a medicament for
the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune diseases, especially for
multiple sclerosis, the Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic
inflammatory demyelinizing polyradiculoneuropathy, wherein the
formation of the voltage-gated sodium channel blocking peptide
pEYNAD is inhibited.
[0269] Furthermore, the present invention provides a diagnostic
assay, comprising a QC-inhibitor.
[0270] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of diagnosing any one of the aforementioned diseases and/or
conditions, comprising the steps of [0271] collecting a sample from
a subject who is suspected to be afflicted with said disease and/or
condition, [0272] contacting said sample with a QC-inhibitor, and
[0273] determining whether or not said subject is afflicted by said
disease and/or condition.
[0274] Preferably, the sample in said diagnosing method is a blood
sample, a serum sample, a sample of cerebrospinal liquor or a urine
sample.
[0275] Preferably, the subject in said diagnosing method is a human
being.
[0276] Preferably, the QC inhibitor in said diagnosing method is a
selective QC inhibitor.
[0277] Further preferred for the use in said diganostic assay are
selective QPCTL inhibitors.
[0278] The present invention further pertains to a diagnostic kit
for carrying out the dignosing method comprising as detection means
the aforementioned diagnostic assay and a determination means.
EXAMPLE 1
Preparation of Human isoQC
[0279] Cell Lines and Media
[0280] African green monkey kidney cell line COS-7, human
neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y, human asatrocytoma cell line
LN405, human keratinocytoma cell line HaCaT and human
hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep-G2 were cultured in
appropriate cell culture media (DMEM, 10% FBS for Cos-7, SH-SY5Y,
LN405, HaCaT), (RPM11640, 10% FBS for Hep-G2), in a humidified
atmosphere of 5% CO.sub.2 (HaCaT, Hep-G2, COS-7) or 10% CO.sub.2
(SH-SY5Y, LN405) at 37.degree. C.
[0281] Analysis of Human isoQC Expression Using RT-PCR
[0282] Total RNA was isolated from SH-SY5Y, LN405, HaCaT and Hep-G2
cells using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) and reversely transcribed
by SuperScript II (Invitrogen). Subsequently, human isoQC was
amplified on a 1:12,5 dilution of generated cDNA product in a 25
.mu.l reaction with Herculase Enhanced DNA-Polymerase (Stratagene)
using primers isoQCh-1 (sense, SEQ ID NO: 53) and isoQCh-2
(antisense, SEQ ID NO: 54). The PCR product of Hep-G2 was purified
utilizing the Strataprep PCR Purification Kit (Stratagene) and
confirmed by sequencing.
[0283] Results
[0284] Analysis of Human isoQC Expression Using RT-PCR
[0285] Transcripts of human isoQC were found to be present in cell
lines SH-SY5Y (FIG. 6, lane 1), LN405 (FIG. 6, lane 2), HaCaT (FIG.
6, lane 3) and Hep-G2 (FIG. 6, lane 4). The PCR product of Hep-G2
was confirmed by sequencing.
[0286] Isolation of Human isoQC
[0287] Full-length cDNA of human isoQC was isolated from Hep-G2
cells using RT-PCR. Briefly, total RNA of Hep-G2 cells was
reversely transcribed by SuperScript II (Invitrogen). Subsequently,
human isoQC was amplified on a 1:12,5 dilution of generated cDNA
product in a 25 .mu.l reaction with Herculase Enhanced
DNA-Polymerase (Stratagene) using primers isoQChu-1 (sense, SEQ ID
NO: 55) and isoQChu-2 (antisense, SEQ ID NO: 56). The resulting
PCR-product was subcloned into vector pPCRScript CAM SK (+)
(Stratagene) and confirmed by sequencing.
EXAMPLE 2
Preparation and Expression of Human isoQC in Mammalian Cell
Culture
[0288] Molecular Cloning of Plasmid Vectors Encoding a Human
isoQC-EGFP Fusion Protein
[0289] All cloning procedures were done applying standard molecular
biology techniques. For expression of human isoQC-EGFP fusion
protein in human cells, the vector pEGFP-N3 (Invitrogen) was used.
The cDNA of the native human isoQC starting either at methionine I
or at methionine II was fused N-terminally in frame with the
plasmid encoded enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The
primers isoQC EGFP-1 Met I (SEQ ID NO: 57) and isoQC EGFP-3 (SEQ ID
NO: 59) were used for amplification of human isoQC starting with
methionine I and primers isoQC EGFP-2 Met II (SEQ ID NO: 58) and
isoQC EGFP-3 (SEQ ID NO: 59) were used for amplification of human
isoQC starting with methionine II. The fragments were inserted into
vector pEGFP-N3 (Invitrogen) employing the restriction sites of
EcoRI and Sall and the correct insertion was confirmed by
sequencing. Subsequently, the vectors were isolated for cell
culture purposes using the EndoFree Maxi Kit (Qiagen).
[0290] Cloning Procedure of the N-Terminal Sequences of hisoQC
[0291] In addition, the EGFP sequence of vector pEGFP-N3
(Invitrogen) was introduced into vector pcDNA 3.1 (Invitrogen)
using EGFP-1 (sense) (SEQ ID NO: 85) and EGFP-2 (antisense) (SEQ ID
NO: 86) for amplification. The fragment was introduced into XhoI
site of pcDNA 3.1. The N-terminal sequences of hisoQC beginning
with methionine I and II each ending at serine 53 were fused
C-terminally with EGFP in vector pcDNA 3.1 using isoQC EGFP-1 Met I
(sense, SEQ ID NO: 57) and hisoQC SS EGFP pcDNA as (antisense) (SEQ
ID NO: 87) for the N-terminal fragment of hisoQC beginning with
methionine I and isoQC EGFP-2 Met II (sense, SEQ ID NO: 58) and
hisoQC SS EGFP pcDNA as (antisense) (SEQ ID NO: 87) for the
N-terminal fragment of hisoQC beginning with methionine II.
Fragments were inserted into EcoRI and NotI restrictione sites of
vector pcDNA 3.1. Subsequently, the vectors were isolated for cell
culture purposes using the EndoFree Maxi Kit (Qiagen).
[0292] Cloning Procedure for Native Expression of hisoQC and
hQC
[0293] Native hQC was inserted into HindIII and NotI restriction
sites and native hisoQC was inserted into EcoRI and NotI
restriction sites of vector pcDNA 3.1 (+) (Invitrogen) after
amplification utilizing primers hQC-1 (sense) (SEQ ID NO: 82) and
hQC-2 (antisense) (SEQ ID NO: 83) for hQC, isoQC EGFP-1 Met I
(sense) (SEQ ID NO: 57) and hisoQC pcDNA as (antisense) (SEQ ID NO:
84) for hisoQC starting with methionine I and isoQC EGFP-2 Met II
(sense) (SEQ ID NO: 58) and hisoQC pcDNA as (antisense) (SEQ ID NO:
84) for hisoQC starting with methionine II.
[0294] Cloning Procedure for FLAG-Tagged hisoQC and hQC
[0295] Human QC was cloned with a C-terminal FLAG-tag after
amplification applying primers hQC-1 (sense) (SEQ ID NO: 82) and
hQC C-FLAG pcDNA as (antisense) (SEQ ID NO: 88) into HindIII and
NotI restriction sits of vector pcDNA 3.1. Human isoQC was inserted
with a C-terminal FLAG-tag into pcDNA 3.1 after amplification using
primers isoQC EGFP-1 Met I (sense) (SEQ ID NO: 57) and hisoQC
C-FLAG pcDNA as (antisense) (SEQ ID NO: 89) for hisoQC starting
with methionine I and primers isoQC EGFP-2 Met II (sense) (SEQ ID
NO: 58) and hisoQC C-FLAG pcDNA as (antisense) (SEQ ID NO: 89) for
hisoQC starting with methionine 2.
EXAMPLE 3
Immunhistochemical Staining of Human isoQC in Mammalian Cells
[0296] Transfection and Histochemical Staining of COS-7 and
LN405
[0297] For expression of human isoQC-EGFP fusion proteins starting
either with methionine I or methionine II, COS-7 and LN405 were
cultured in 6-well dishes containing a cover slip. Cells were grown
until 80% confluency, transfected using Lipofectamin2000
(Invitrogen) according to manufacturer's manual and incubated in
the transfection solution for 5 hours. Afterwards, the solution was
replaced by appropriate growth media and cells were grown over
night.
[0298] The next day, cells were washed twice with D-PBS
(Invitrogen) and fixed using ice-cold methanol for 10 min at
-20.degree. C., followed by 3 washing steps using D-PBS for 10 min
at room temperature. For staining of the golgi-zone, COS-7 and
LN405 were incubated with rabbit anti-mannosidase II polyclonal
antibody (Chemicon) in a 1:50 dilution of antibody in D-PBS for 3
h. For staining of mitochondria in COS-7 and LN405, cells were
incubated with mouse anti-human mitochondria monoclonal antibody
(Chemicon) in a 1:100 dilution of antibody in D-PBS for 3 h at room
temperature. Subsequently, the cells were washed 3 times with D-PBS
for 10 min. Cells stained for golgi-zone were incubated with goat
anti-rabbit IgG secondary antibody conjugated with Rhodamin-RedX
(Dianova) for 45 min at room temperature in the dark. Cells stained
for mitochondria were incubated with goat anti-mouse IgG secondary
antibody conjugated with Rhodamin-RedX (Dianova) for 45 min at room
temperature in the dark. Afterwards, cells were washed 3 times with
D-PBS for 5 min at room temperature and at least, the cover slips
were mounted on a microscope slide with citiflour. Cells were
observed under a fluorescence microscope (Carl-Zeiss).
[0299] Results
[0300] 1. Transfection and Histochemical Staining of LN405
[0301] The expression of human isoQC-EGFP fusion protein starting
with methionine I and methionine II in cell line LN405 (green
fluorescence) leads to a compartmentalization of the resulting
protein. Counterstaining of the golgi-zone of LN405 using
mannosidase II antibody (red fluorescence) and subsequent
superimposition of human isoQC-EGFP with mannosidase II suggests a
localization of human isoQC-EGFP fusion protein within the
golgi-compartment (yellow coloration of the merged images) (FIG.
7,9). Thereby, it is evident that human isoQC starting at
methionine 11 is sufficient to generate a golgi-localization of the
human isoQC fusion protein.
[0302] The expression of human isoQC-EGFP fusion protein starting
with methionine I and II (green fluorescence) and counterstaining
for mitochondria (red fluorescence) did not reveal a localization
of human isoQC-EGFP fusion protein starting with methionine I or II
within the mitochondria due to the absence of a yellow coloration
of the merged images after superimposition (FIG. 8, 10).
[0303] 2. Transfection and Histochemical Staining of COS-7
[0304] In analogy to the expression of human isoQC-EGFP fusion
protein starting with methionine I and methionine II in cell line
LN405, leads the expression of human isoQC-EGFP fusion protein
starting with methionine I and methionine II in COS-7 to a
compartmentalization of the resulting protein (green fluorescence).
Counterstaining of the golgi-zone of COS-7 cells using mannosidase
II antibody (red fluorescence) and subsequent superimposition of
human isoQC-EGFP with mannosidase II suggests a localization of
human isoQC-EGFP fusion protein within the golgi-compartment of
COS-7 (yellow coloration of the merged images) (FIG. 11,13). Again,
in COS-7 cells the expression of human isoQC-EGFP fusion protein
starting at methionine 11 is sufficient to cause a
golgi-localization.
[0305] As expected, the expression of human isoQC-EGFP fusion
protein starting with methionine I and II in COS-7 (green
fluorescence) and counterstaining for mitochondria (red
fluorescence) did not result in a localization of human isoQC-EGFP
fusion protein starting with methionine I or II within the
mitochondria due to the absence of a yellow coloration of the
merged images after superimposition (FIG. 12,14).
EXAMPLE 4
Expression and Purification of Human isoQC in E. coli
[0306] Host Strains and Media
[0307] Escherichia coli strain DH5.alpha. was used for propagation
of plasmids and E. coli strain BL21 was used for the expression of
human isoQC. E. coli strains were grown, transformed and analyzed
according to the manufacturer's instructions (Qiagen(DH5.alpha.)
Stratagene (BL21)). The media required for E. coli, i.e.
Luria-Bertani (LB) medium, was prepared according to the
manufacturer's recommendations.
[0308] Molecular Cloning of Plasmid Vectors Encoding the Human
QC
[0309] All cloning procedures were done applying standard molecular
biology techniques. For expression in E. coli BL21, the vector
pET41a (Novagen) was used. The cDNA of the mature human isoQC
starting with codon 30 (counting from methionine II) was fused in
frame with the plasmid encoded GST-tag. After amplification
utilizing the primers hisoQC pET41a-1 (SEQ ID NO: 60) and hisoQC
pET41a-2 (SEQ ID NO: 61) (Table 4) a N-terminal protease cleavage
site for Enterokinase and a C-terminal (His).sub.6-tag was
introduced. After subcloning, the fragment was inserted into the
expression vector employing the restriction sites of Spe I and EcoR
I.
[0310] Expression and Purification in E. coli BL21
[0311] The construct encoding the human isoQC was transformed into
BL21 cells (Stratagene) and grown on selective LB agar plates at
37.degree. C. Protein expression was carried out in LB medium
containing 1% glucose at 37.degree. C. After reaching an OD.sub.600
of approximately 0.8, isoQC expression was induced with 20 .mu.M
IPTG for 4 h at 37.degree. C. Cells were separated from the medium
by centrigugation (4000.times.g, 20 min), resuspended in PBS (140
mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 10 mM Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, 1.8 mM
KH.sub.2PO.sub.4, pH 7.3) and lysed by one cycle of freezing and
thawing followed by one cycle of French Press. The cell lysate was
diluted to a final volume of 1.5 l using phosphate-containing
buffer (50 mM Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, 500 mM NaCl. pH 7.3) and
centrifuged at 13.400.times.g at 4.degree. C. for 1 h. After
centrifugation, the protein concentration of the resulting
supernatant was determined using the mothod of Bradford. If
necessary, the solution was diluted again to obtain a final total
protein concentration of 0.6 mg/ml. The GST-isoQC fusion protein
was purified utilizing a 4-step protocol (Table 5). The purfication
is illustrated by SDS-PAGE analysis in FIG. 20.
EXAMPLE 5
Assays for Glutaminyl Cyclase Activity
[0312] Fluorometric Assays
[0313] All measurements were performed with a NovoStar reader for
microplates (BMG Labtechnologies) at 30.degree. C. QC activity was
evaluated fluorometrically using H-Gln-.beta.NA. The samples
consisted of 0.2 mM fluorogenic substrate, 0.25 U pyroglutamyl
aminopeptidase (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) in 0.05 M Tris/HCl, pH 8.0
and an appropriately diluted aliquot of QC in a final volume of 250
.mu.l. Excitation/emission wavelengths were 320/410 nm. The assay
reactions were initiated by addition of glutaminyl cyclase. QC
activity was determined from a standard curve of
.beta.-naphthylamine under assay conditions. One unit is defined as
the amount of QC catalyzing the formation of 1 .mu.mol
pGlu-.beta.NA from H-Gln-.beta.NA per minute under the described
conditions.
[0314] In a second fluorometric assay, QC was activity was
determined using H-Gln-AMC as substrate. Reactions were carried out
at 30.degree. C. utilizing the NOVOStar reader for microplates (BMG
Labtechnologies). The samples consisted of varying concentrations
of the fluorogenic substrate, 0.1 U pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase
(Qiagen) in 0.05 M Tris/HCl, pH 8.0 and an appropriately diluted
aliquot of QC in a final volume of 250 .mu.l. Excitation/emission
wavelengths were 380/460 nm. The assay reactions were initiated by
addition of glutaminyl cyclase. QC activity was determined from a
standard curve of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin under assay conditions.
The kinetic data were evaluated using GraFit sofware.
[0315] Spectrophotometric Assay of isoQC
[0316] This assay was used to determine the kinetic parameters for
most of the QC substrates. QC activity was analyzed
spectrophotometrically using a continuous method (Schilling, S. et
al., 2003 Biol Chem 384, 1583-1592) utilizing glutamic
dehydrogenase as auxiliary enzyme. Samples consisted of the
respective QC substrate, 0.3 mM NADH, 14 mM .alpha.-Ketoglutaric
acid and 30 U/ml glutamic dehydrogenase in a final volume of 250
.mu.l. Reactions were started by addition of QC and pursued by
monitoring of the decrease in absorbance at 340 nm for 8-15 min.
The initial velocities were evaluated and the enzymatic activity
was determined from a standard curve of ammonia under assay
conditions. All samples were measured at 30.degree. C., using the
Sunrise reader for microplates. Kinetic data were evaluated using
GraFit software.
[0317] Inhibitor Assay
[0318] For inhibitor testing, the sample composition was the same
as described above, except of the putative inhibitory compound
added. For a rapid test of QC-inhibition, samples contained 4 mM of
the respective inhibitor and a substrate concentration at 1
K.sub.M. For detailed investigations of the inhibition and
determination of K.sub.i-values, influence of the inhibitor on the
auxiliary enzymes was investigated first. In every case, there was
no influence on either enzyme detected, thus enabling the reliable
determination of the QC inhibition. The inhibitory constant was
evaluated by fitting the set of progress curves to the general
equation for competitive inhibition using GraFit software.
[0319] Results
[0320] A variety of different substrates was evaluated on
conversion by human isoQC (Table 3). All analyzed substrates were
converted by isoQC, indicating a relatively relaxed overall
specificity similar to human QC (Schilling, S. et al., 2003 Biol
Chem 384, 1583-1592). As observed previously for human QC
(Schilling, S. et al., 2003 Biol Chem 384, 1583-1592), highest
specificity constants (k.sub.cat/K.sub.M) were observed for
substrates carrying large hydrophobic amino acids adjacent to the
N-terminal glutaminyl residue, e.g. Gln-AMC. In contrast,
negatively charged residues in that very position led to a drastic
drop in specificity, as observed for Gln-Glu, indicating a
negatively charged active site of isoQC. Compared to human QC, both
recombinant iosQCs exerted a lower enzymatic activity (FIG. 21).
The difference was up to one order of magnitude. According to the
specificity of isoQC, it reasonable to assume that the enzyme is
responsible for conversion of different substrates in vivo, i.e.
isoQC is involved in the generation of many different physiological
substrates.
[0321] Human isoQC activity was competitively inhibited by
imidazole derivatives (table 6, FIG. 15). The inhibition constants
Ki for imidazole and benzimidazole was very similar to the value
which was obtained for human QC previously. A 10-fold drop in
K.sub.i, however, was observed for the potent QC inhibitor P150/03.
Thus, the binding mode of the chelating part, i.e. the imidazole
ring, appears to be very similar. Presumably, this results from
complexation of the active site zinc ion of QC and isoQC by the
imidazole basic nitrogen. The differences in the K.sub.i-values for
P150/03 clearly demonstrates that the active sites of both enzymes
display subtle differences. Therefore, it is possible to generate
inhibitors that exert selectivity for one enzymic isoform.
Selective inhibitors are beneficial for the treatment of the
diseases.
TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 3 Kinetic evaluation of peptide substrates of
human QC and human isoQC. Human isoQC was expressed in E. coli BL21
(hisoQCdt) or P. pastoris (YSShisoQC). The substrates are displayed
in the one-letter code of amino acids. k.sub.cat/K.sub.M
k.sub.cat/K.sub.M K.sub.M (mM) K.sub.M (mM) k.sub.cat (s.sup.-1)
k.sub.cat (s.sup.-1) (mM.sup.-1 * s.sup.-1) (mM.sup.-1 * s.sup.-1)
Substrate hisoQCdt YSShisoQC hisoQCdt YSShisoQC hisoQCdt YSShisoQC
Q-.beta.NA 0.03 .+-. 0.002 0.035 .+-. 0.0005 3.37 .+-. 0.12 8.16
.+-. 0.87 93.26 .+-. 6.68 228.70 .+-. 22.22 QAMC 0.01 .+-. 0.0009
0.03 .+-. 0.0064 1.07 .+-. 0.03 3.72 .+-. 0.44 62.57 .+-. 5.68
102.87 .+-. 29.22 QQ 0.11 .+-. 0.027 0.11 .+-. 0.007 2.72 .+-. 0.25
6.08 .+-. 0.17 24.50 .+-. 4.009 54.32 .+-. 4.61 QE 0.7 .+-. 0.13
0.61 .+-. 0.064 2.64 .+-. 0.21 5.33 .+-. 0.43 3.85 .+-. 0.56 8.75
.+-. 0.87 QG 0.42 .+-. 0.04 0.36 .+-. 0.047 1.65 .+-. 0.04 3.24
.+-. 0.18 3.93 .+-. 0.31 9.01 .+-. 1.75 QGP 0.21 .+-. 0.016 0.23
.+-. 0.02 4.01 .+-. 0.14 8.98 .+-. 0.07 18.82 .+-. 1.26 38.42 .+-.
3.55 QYA 0.22 .+-. 0.01 0.08 .+-. 0.022 7.7 .+-. 0.4 16.47 .+-.
0.72 66.48 .+-. 13.07 206.9 .+-. 57.54 QFA 0.11 .+-. 0.016 0.104
.+-. 0.025 7.49 .+-. 0.28 11.68 .+-. 2.39 33.03 .+-. 2.38 116.99
.+-. 34.37 QEYF 0.03 .+-. 0.004 0.04 .+-. 0.004 3.34 .+-. 0.15 5.64
.+-. 0.39 109.57 .+-. 21.03 122.56 .+-. 5.6 QEDL 0.63 .+-. 0.052
0.16 .+-. 0.01 6.41 .+-. 0.15 9.24 .+-. 0.65 10.2 .+-. 0.84 55.04
.+-. 5.14
TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 4 Utilized primers Primer Sequence 5' .fwdarw.
3' Application IsoQCh-1 GGTCTACACCATTTGGAGCGGCTGGC Cell Line (SEQ
ID NO: 53) Screening IsoQCh-2 GGGTTGGAAGTACATCACTTCCTGGGG Cell Line
(SEQ ID NO: 54) Screening IsoQChu-1 ACCATGCGTTCCGGGGGCCGCGGG
Isolation of (SEQ ID NO: 55) hisoQC IsoQChu-2
ACGCTAGAGCCCCAGGTATTCAGCCAG Isolation of (SEQ ID NO: 56) hisoQC
IsoQC EGFP-1 Met ATATATGAATTCATGCGTTCCGGGGGCCGC Cloning human I
isoQC (Met I) (SEQ ID NO: 57) into vector pEGFP-N3 IsoQC EGFP-2 Met
ATATATGAATTCATGGAGCCACTCTTGCCGCCG Cloning human II isoQC (Met II)
(SEQ ID NO: 58) into vector pEGFP-N3 IsoQC EGFP-3
ATATATGTCGACGAGCCCCAGGTATTCAGCCAG Cloning human (SEQ ID NO: 59)
isoQC (Met I and Met II) into vector pEGFP- N3 HisoQC pET41a-1
ATATACTAGTGATGACGAC Cloning human (SEQ ID NO: 60)
GACAAGTTCTACACCATTTGGAGCG isoQC into vector pET41a HisoQC pET41a-2
TATAGAATTCCTAGTGATGGT Cloning human (SEQ ID NO: 61)
GATGGTGATGGAGCCCCAGGTATTCAGC isoQC into vector pET41a hisoQC HIS
C-Term ATA TGA ATT CTT CTA CAC CAT TTG GAG C Cloning human
pPICZAA-1 isoQC into (SEQ ID NO: 62) vector PPICZ.alpha.A hisoQC
HIS N-Term ATA TGA ATT CCA TCA CCA TCA CCA TCA CTT CTA CAC Cloning
human pPICZAA-1 CAT TTG GAG CGG C isoQC into (SEQ ID NO: 63) vector
PPICZ.alpha.A hisoQC HIS N-Term 5'- ATA TAT GCG GCC GCC TAG AGC CCC
AGG TAT TCA Cloning human pPICZAA-2 GC-3' isoQC into (SEQ ID NO:
64) vector PPICZ.alpha.A isoQCm RT s CCA GGA TCC AGG CTA TTG AG
Real-time PCR (SEQ ID NO: 65) analysis of isoQC hisoQC HIS C-Term
ATA TAT GCG GCC GCC TAG TGA TGG TGA TGG TGA TGG Cloning human
pPICZAA-2 AGC CCC AGG TAT TCA GCC AG isoQC into (SEQ ID NO: 66)
vector PPICZ.alpha.A isoQCm RT as TTC CAC AGG GCC GGG GGG C
Real-time PCR (SEQ ID NO: 67) analysis of isoQC isoQCm Metl s ATG
AGT CCC GGG AGC CGC Cloning of (SEQ ID NO: 68) murine isoQC cDNA
isoQCm Metl as CTA GAG TCC CAG GTA CTC Cloning of (SEQ ID NO: 69)
murine isoQC cDNA isoQCm kurz s AGT TCC TGC CCC TGC TGC TG Cloning
of (SEQ ID NO: 70) murine isoQC cDNA mQC RT s ATC AAG AGG CAC CAA
CCA AC Real-time PCR (SEQ ID NO: 71) analysis of mQC mQC RT as CTG
GAT AAT ATT TCC ATA G Real-time PCR (SEQ ID NO: 72) analysis of mQC
mQC RT N-terminal ACA GCT GGG AAT CTG AGT C Real-time PCR s
analysis of mQC (SEQ ID NO: 73) mQC RT N-terminal GAG CAG AAT AGC
TTC CGG GCG Real-time PCR as analysis of mQC (SEQ ID NO: 74)
Iso-I55Ns CTG CGG GTC CCA TTG AAC GGA AGC CTC CCC GAA Site-directed
(SEQ ID NO: 75) mutagenesis hisoQC I55N Iso-I55Nas TTC GGG GAG GCT
TCC GTT CAA TGG GAC CCG CAG Site-directed (SEQ ID NO: 76)
mutagenesis hisoQC I55N Iso-C351As ACG GTA CAC AAC TTG GCC CGC ATT
CTC GCT GTG Site-directed (SEQ ID NO: 77) mutagenesis hisoQC C351A
Iso-C351Aas CAC AGC GAG AAT GCG GGC CAA GTT GTG TAC CGT
Site-directed (SEQ ID NO: 78) mutagenesis hisoQC C351A hQC-1
ATATATAAGCTTATGGCAGGCGGAAGACAC Insertion of (SEQ ID NO: 82) native
hQC into pcDNA 3.1 hQC-2 ATATGCGGCCGCTTACAAATGAAGATATTCC Insertion
of (SEQ ID NO: 83) native hQC into pcDNA 3.1 hisoQC pcDNA as
ATATATGCGGCCGCCTAGAGCCCCAGGTATTCAGC Amplification (SEQ ID NO: 84)
hisoQC including the stop codon for insertion into pcDNA 3.1 EGFP-1
ATATCTCGAGTCCATCGCCACCATGGTGAGC Amplification (SEQ ID NO: 85) EGFP
EGFP-2 ATATCTCGAGTTACTTGTACA GCTCGTCCAT Amplification (SEQ ID NO:
86) EGFP hisoQC SS EGFP ATATGCGGCCGCATGTCGACGCTCCAAATGGTGTAGAACGC
Amplification pcDNA as hisoQC (SEQ ID NO: 87) N-terminal sequence
hQC C-FLAG ATATGCGGCCGCTTACTTGTCATCGTCATCCTTGTAATC Amplification
pcDNA as CAAATGAAGATATTCCAA hQC C-FLAG (SEQ ID NO: 88) hisoQC
C-FLAG ATATGCGGCCGCCTACTTGTCATCGTCATCCTTGTA Amplification h- pcDNA
as ATCGAGCCCCAGGTATTCAGC isoQC C-Flag (SEQ ID NO: 89) Hs_QPCT_1_SG
QuantiTect Primer Assay (200), Qiagen, Hilden qPCR hQC
Hs_QPCTL_1_SG QuantiTect Primer Assay (200), Qiagen, Hilden qPCR
h-isoQC CCL2-F GCCTCCAGCATGAAAGTCTC qPCR CCL2 (SEQ ID NO: 90)
CCL2-R CAGATCTCCTTGGCCACAAT (SEQ ID NO: 91) CCL7-F
ATGAAAGCCTCTGCAGCACT qPCR CCL7 (SEQ ID NO: 92) CCL7-R
TGGCTACTGGTGGTCCTTCT (SEQ ID NO: 93) CCL8-F TCACCTGCTGCTTTAACGTG
qPCR CCL8 (SEQ ID NO: 94) CCL8-R ATCCCTGACCCATCTCTCCT (SEQ ID NO:
95) CCL13-F ATCTCCTTGCAGAGGCTGAA qPCR CCL13 (SEQ ID NO: 96) CCL13-R
AGAAGAGGAGGCCAGAGGAG (SEQ ID NO: 97) HIF1.alpha.-F
CACAGAAATGGCCTTGTGAA qPCR HIF1.alpha. (SEQ ID NO: 98) HIF1.alpha.-R
CCAAGCAGGTCATAGGTGGT (SEQ ID NO: 99) AIM1-F TCCTTTCATCCTGGAACCTG
qPCR AIM1 (SEQ ID NO: 100) AIM1-R CGCCTCTTCTGTTTCACCTC (SEQ ID NO:
101) AIM2-F AAGCGCTGTTTGCCAGTTAT qPCR AIM2 (SEQ ID NO: 102) AIM2-R
CACACGTGAGGCGCTATTTA (SEQ ID NO: 103) MAGEA1-F GTCAACAGATCCTCCCCAGA
qPCR MAGEA1 (SEQ ID NO: 104) MAGEA1-R CAGCATTTCTGCCTTTGTGA (SEQ ID
NO: 105) MAGEA2-F AGGTGGAGAGCCTGAGGAAT qPCR MAGEA2 (SEQ ID NO: 106)
MAGEA2-R CTCGGGTCCTACTTGTCAGC (SEQ ID NO: 107) MAGEA10-F
AAGCGAGGTTCTCGTTCTGA qPCR (SEQ ID NO: 108) MAGEA10 MAGEA10-R
TGACCTCTTGCTCTCCCTGT (SEQ ID NO: 109) MAGEB2-F CTTCAAGCTCTCCTGCTGCT
qPCR MAGEB2 (SEQ ID NO: 110) MAGEB2-R CGACCCTGACTTCCTGGTTA (SEQ ID
NO: 111) MART1-F GCTCATCGGCTGTTGGTATT qPCR MART1 (SEQ ID NO: 112)
MART1-R ATAAGCAGGTGGAGCATTGG (SEQ ID NO: 113) MCL1-F
ATGCTTCGGAAACTGGACAT qPCR MCL1 (SEQ ID NO: 114) MCL1-R
ATGGTTCGATGCAGCTTTCT (SEQ ID NO: 115) TYR-F TACGGCGTAATCCTGGAAAC
qPCR TYR (SEQ ID NO: 116) TYR-R ATTGTGCATGCTGCTTTGAG (SEQ ID NO:
117) TYRP1-F CCGAAACACAGTGGAAGGTT qPCR TYRP1 (SEQ ID NO: 118)
TYRP1-R TCTGTGAAGGTGTGCAGGAG (SEQ ID NO: 119) TYRP2-F
GGTTCCTTTCTTCCCTCCAG qPCR TYRP2 (SEQ ID NO: 120) TYRP2-R
AACCAAAGCCACCAGTGTTC (SEQ ID NO: 121)
TABLE-US-00018 TABLE 5 Purification of GST-isoQC fusion protein
following Expression in E. coli. The purified fusion protein was
used for determination of QC activity. Purification Step 1 2 3 4
Method Ni.sup.2+-IMAC GST-TAG AC GF IEX (EBA) (Desalting) (UNO S)
Column type Chelating Glutathion Sephadex "continuous (Amersham
Sepharose Sepharose G-25 Fine bed" matrix Biosciences AB, Fast Flow
4 Fast Flow BIO-Rad Sweden) Column size d = 2.5 cm d = 1.6 cm d =
2.6 cm d = 1.2 cm l = 42 cm l = 10 cm l = 10 cm l = 5.3 cm CV = 206
cm.sup.3 CV = 20 cm.sup.3 CV = 53 cm.sup.3 CV = 6 cm.sup.3
Equilibration Buffer PBS PBS 25 mM Mes 25 mM Mes pH 7.3 7.3 6.0 6.0
Volume 10 CV 10 CV 10 CV 10 CV Intermediate (Wash) Buffer PBS PBS
-- 25 mM Mes 0.5 mM Histidin pH 7.3 7.3 6.0 Volume 10 CV 10 CV 10
CV Elution Buffer PBS 50 mM Tris 25 mM Mes 25 mM Mes 100 mM
Histidin 10 mM Glutathion Gradient (reduced) elution NaCl pH 7.3
8.0 6.0 6.0 Volume 1.5 CV (reverse flow) 1 CV CV
TABLE-US-00019 TABLE 6 K.sub.I-values for competitive inhibition of
human QC and human isoQC by imidazole derivatives. Human isoQC was
expressed in E. coli BL21 (hisoQCdt) or P. pastoris (YSShisoQC). Ki
(.mu.M) Ki (.mu.M) Inhibitor hisoQCdt YSShisoQC Ki (.mu.M) hQC
Imidazole 220 .+-. 1 235 .+-. 13 103 .+-. 2 Benzimidazole 200 .+-.
8 250 .+-. 5 138 .+-. 4 1-Benzylimidazole 7.3 .+-. 0.5 6.2 .+-. 0.2
7.1 .+-. 0.1 1-Methylimidazole 80 .+-. 5 82 .+-. 3 39.7 .+-. 0.2
PBD150 1-(3,4- 0.48 .+-. 0.03 0.519 .+-. 0.001 0.0584 .+-. 0.0002
Dimethoxy- phenyl)-3- (3-imidazole-1-yl- propyl)-thiourea
EXAMPLE 6
Expression and Purification of Human isoQC in P. pastoris
[0322] Host Strains and Media
[0323] Escherichia coli strain DH5.alpha. was used for propagation
of plasmids and P. pastoris strain X-33 was used for the expression
of human isoQC in yeast. E. coli and P. pastoris strains were
grown, transformed and analyzed according to the manufacturer's
instructions (Qiagen (DH5.alpha.), invitrogen (X-33)). The media
required for E. coli, i.e. Luria-Bertani (LB) medium, was prepared
according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The media required
for Pichia pastoris, i.e. BMMY, BMGY, YPD, YPDS and the
concentration of the antibiotics, i.e. Zeocin, were prepared as
described in the Pichia manual (invitrogen, catalog. No. K1740-01).
The manual also includes all relevant descriptions for the handling
of yeast.
[0324] Molecular Cloning of Plasmid Vectors Encoding the Human
QC
[0325] All cloning procedures were done applying standard molecular
biology techniques. For expression in Pichia pastoris X-33, the
pPiCZ.alpha.A (invitrogen) was used. The cDNA of the mature human
isoQC starting with codon 30 (counting from methionine II) was
fused in frame with the plasmid encoded .alpha.-factor, directing
the protein into the secretory pathway. After amplification
utilizing the primers hisoQC HIS C-Term pPICZAA-1 (SEQ ID NO: 62)
or hisoQC HIS N-Term pPICZAA-1 (SEQ ID NO: 63) as sense-Primers and
hisoQC HIS N-Term pPICZAA-2 (SEQ ID NO: 64) and hisoQC HIS C-Term
pPICZAA-2 (SEQ ID NO: 66) (Table 4) as antisense Primers, the
fragment was inserted into the expression vector employing the
restriction sites of NotI and EcoR I. Depending on the construct,
Mutations were introduced in codons 55 (Ile) and 351 (Cys). The
mutagenesis was performed according to standard PCR techniques
followed by digestion of the parent DNA using DpnI (quik-change II
site-directed mutagenesis kit, Stratagene, Catalog No. 200524). The
generated constructs are illustrated schematically in FIG. 17.
[0326] Transformation of P. pastoris and Mini-Scale Expression
[0327] 1-2 .mu.g of plasmid DNA were applied for transformation of
competent P. pastoris cells by electroporation according to the
manufacturer's instructions (BioRad). Selection was done on plates
containing 100 .mu.g/ml Zeocin. In order to test the recombinant
yeast clones upon isQC expression, recombinants were grown for 24 h
in 10 ml conical tubes containing 2 ml BMGY. Afterwards, the yeast
was centrifuged and resuspended in 2 ml BMMY containing 0.5%
methanol. This concentration was maintained by addition of methanol
every 24 h for about 72 h. Subsequently, QC activity in the
supernatant was determined. Clones that displayed the highest
activity were chosen for further experiments and fermentation.
Depending on the expressed construct, the isoQC-activity in the
medium differed (FIG. 18).
[0328] Expression and Purification of hisoQC in P. pastoris
[0329] For large scale-Expression of isoQC in Pichia pasoris, the
condition were kept as described in the mini-scale expression,
however, the total volume was 8L. The expression was performed in
shake-flasks. After expression, cells were separated from the
medium by centrigugation (1500.times.g, 20 min), and the pellet
discarded. The pH-value of the supernatant was adjusted to
neutrality, centrifuged again and applied for the first
purification step. The isoQC protein was purified utilizing a
3-step protocol (Table 7). The purfication is illustrated by
SDS-PAGE analysis in FIG. 19.
TABLE-US-00020 TABLE 7 Purification of hisoQC (YSShisoQCN55IC351A
C-His) following Expression in P. pastoris. The purified fusion
protein was used for determination of QC activity and
pH-dependence. Purification Step 1 2 3 Method Ni.sup.2+-IMAC HIC GF
(Desalting) Column type Chelating Butyl Sepharose Sephadex G-25
(Amersham Sepharose 4Fast Flow Fine Biosciences Fast Flow AB,
Sweden) Column size d = 2.5 cm d = 1.6 cm d = 2.6 cm l = 42 cm l =
15.5 cm l = 10 cm CV = 206 cm.sup.3 CV = 23 cm.sup.3 CV = 53
cm.sup.3 Equilibration Buffer 50 mM NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4 30 mM
NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4 50 mM Bis-Tris 1M (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 100 mM
NaCl pH 7.0 7.0 6.8 Volume 10 CV 10 CV 10 CV Intermediate (Wash)
Buffer 50 mM NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4 30 mM NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4 -- 0.5 mM
Histidin 1M (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 pH 7.0 7.0 Volume 10 CV 6 CV
Elution Buffer 50 mM NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4 30 mM NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4 50
mM Bis-Tris 100 mM Histidin 100 mM NaCl pH 7.0 7.0 6.8 Volume 1.5
CV 5 CV 1 CV
[0330] Results
[0331] Human isoQC was expressed in the methylotrophic yeast P.
pastoris successfully. Several diffrent constructs were generated,
in order to select the best expression conditions in yeast (FIG.
17). As illustrated in FIG. 18, the QC activity that is expressed
and present in the medium of the expressing cells, varies depending
on the expressed construct. Introduction of a glycosylation site
resulted in proper secretion, as can be observed from constructs
YSShisoQCN55IC351A C-His and YSShisoQCN55I C-His. Due to the
highest activity in the medium, construct YSShisoQCN55IC351A C-His
was expressed in large-scale and purified. The purification was
carried out as described in Table 7, the yield of purification was
59%. The apparent homogeneous protein was glycosylated, as
evidenced by a shift in migration to lower molecular mass (FIG.
19). Glycosylation did not influence the catalytic activity of the
enzyme.
EXAMPLE 7
The pH-Dependence of hisoQC
[0332] The fluorometric assay using H-Gln-.beta.NA (described in
example 5) was applied to investigate the pH-dependence of the
catalytic specificity. The reactions were carried out at substarte
concentrations of 7 .mu.M, i.e. at [S]<<K.sub.M. Therefore,
the the observed specificity constants could be directly deduced
from the initial velocity of the progress curves of substrate
conversion. In these studies the reaction buffer consisted of 0.075
M acetic acid, 0.075 M Mes and 0.15 M Tris, adjusted to the desired
pH using HCl or NaOH. The buffer assures a constant ionic strength
over a very broad pH-range. Evaluation of the acquired enzyme
kinetic data was performed using the following equation:
k.sub.cat/K.sub.M(pH)=k.sub.cat/K.sub.M(limit)*1/(1+[H.sup.+]/K.sub.HS+K-
.sub.E1/[H.sup.+]+K.sub.E1/[H.sup.+]*K.sub.E2/[H.sup.+]),
in which k.sub.cat/K.sub.M(pH) denotes the pH-dependent (observed)
kinetic parameter. k.sub.cat/K.sub.M(limit) denotes the
pH-independent ("limiting") value. K.sub.HS, K.sub.E1 and K.sub.E2
denote the dissociation constants of an dissociating group in the
acidic pH-range, and two dissociating groups of the enzyme,
respectively. Evaluation of all kinetic data was performed using
GraFit software (version 5.0.4. for windows, ERITHACUS SOFTWARE
Ltd., Horley, UK).
[0333] Results
[0334] The hisoQC displays a pH-optimum of specificity at pH 7-8.
Thus, the pH-optimum of catalysis is very similar to human QC.
Fitting of the data according to a model which is based on three
dissociating groups resulted in a well interpretation of the
pH-dependence of hisoQC and hQC (FIG. 22). Thus, the catalysis of
both enzymatic reactions is influenced by similar dissociating
groups, suggesting a similar catalytic mechanism in general.
[0335] The determined pKa-values are displayed in Table 8. It is
obvious, that only one pKa differs between hisoQC and hQC
significantly. In hQC, the pKa corresponds to the pKa of the
dissociation constant of the substrate. Possibly, the subtle
difference between hQC and hisoQC is caused by structural changes
occurring in isoQC catalysis (induced fit), influencing the
pH-dependence.
EXAMPLE 8
Investigation of Glutamyl Cyclase Activity
[0336] It has been described for human QC, that the enzyme
catalyses the cyclization of N-terminal glutamic acid into
pyroglutamic acid. Therefore, QC is involved inteo the generation
of pGlu-modified amyloid peptides.
[0337] In order to investigate the cyclization of glutamic acid,
human QC and human isoQC were purified and the formation of
pGlu-modified amyloid .beta.(3-11) [pGlu-A.beta.(3-11)] from
A.beta.(3-11) was monitored. Reactions consisted of 20 .mu.l
substrate (A.beta.(3-11), 2.5 mM stock solution in 50 mM Mes
buffer, pH 6.5) and 80 .mu.l enzyme (0.62 mg/ml hQC stock solution;
0.61 mg/ml hisoQC stock solution in 50 mM Mes pH 6.5). Samples (15
.mu.l) were removed after 0 h, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h und 72 h and boiled
for 5 min in order to terminate the reaction. The analysis of
substrate conversion was monitored by Maldi-Tof mass spectrometry.
Substrate and product differ in their molecular mass by 18 Da, the
mass of water, which is released during cyclization.
[0338] As shown in FIG. 23, human QC and human isoQC
(YSShisoQCI55NC351A C-His) catalyze the conversion of A.beta.(3-11)
into pGlu-A.beta.(3-11). However, based on equal protein
concentrations in both samples, one can conclude that the
conversion of N-terminal glutamic acid by hisoQC is much slower
compared with hQC. Thus, the lower specificity constants for
conversion of glutaminyl substrates is also observed with glutamyl
substrates. No cyclization was observed under these conditions with
inactivated enzyme (Schilling, S. et al., 2004 FEBS Lett. 563,
191-196).
EXAMPLE 9
Tissue Specificity of Murine isoQC
[0339] The tissue distribution of murine QC and murine isoQC was
investigated using quantitative real time PCR techniques. Prior to
analysis of cDNA from several different organs and tissues, the
murine isoQC open reading frame was isolated applying specific
primers (isoQCm MetI s (SEQ ID NO: 68), isoQCm MetI as (SEQ ID NO:
69) (table 4), which were deduced from the chromosomal coding
region of murine isoQC.
[0340] The open reading frame was cloned into vector pPCR-Script
CAM SK (+) (PCR-Script CAM Cloning Kit, Stratagene) and used as a
positive control in the real-time PCR determinations and for
preparation of a standard curve under assay conditions.
[0341] The characterization of the tissue specificity of misoQC
expression was achieved applying cDNA from 3-6 month old mice.
Total RNA was isolated from 30 mg tissue, using the RNA-isolation
kit II (Macherey and Nagel). The RNA concentration and purity was
assessed by gelelectrophoresis (agarose gel) and spectrophotometry.
For synthesis of cDNA, 1 .mu.g of RNA was used. The reaction was
done applying the reverse Transcriptase Superscript II RT
(Invitrogen) according to the recommendations of the supplier, the
cDNA was stored at -80.degree. C.
[0342] The quantitative analysis of the transcript concentration in
different tissues was analysed using the "Light Cycler" (Corbett
research), applying the "QuantiTect SYBR Green PCR" (Qiagen). The
DNA standard (cloned cDNA isoQC mouse) was used for quantification.
The copy number was calculated according to the following equation:
(X.sup.g/.sub..mu.l DNA)/(Plasmid length in
bp*660)*6.022*1023=Y.sup.Molecules/.sub..mu.l. The DNA standard
contained 4 concentrations in the range of 10.sup.7-10.sup.1
Molecules/.sub..mu.l, and an limiting concentration (10.sup.0). The
reaction protocoll is displayed in Table 8. The results are
displayed in FIG. 24.
[0343] For amplification of murine QC, the same protocol was used,
applying the primers mQC RT N-terminal s (SEQ ID NO: 73) and mQC RT
N-terminal as (SEQ ID NO: 74).
TABLE-US-00021 TABLE 8 Reaction protocol of the quantitative
real-time-PCR using the Roto-Gene RG 3000 (Corbett Research)
PCR-Cycles step T in .degree. C. t in sec. 0 Denaturation 95 900 1
Denaturation 95 15 2 Primer Annealing 55 20 3 Elongation 72 20
Cycles 45
[0344] Results
[0345] As shown in FIG. 24, murine QC and murine isoQC are
expressed in all organs tested. In contrast to murine QC, the
variances in expression of murine isoQC between different organs
are smaller, indicating a lower stringency of regulation of
transcription. The data for expression of mQC correspond to
previous analyses of bovine QC, which was analyzed using
Northern-Blot (Pohl, T. et al. 1991 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88,
10059-10063). Highest expression of QC was observed in Thalamus,
Hippocampus and Cortex. Thus, QC-expression is primarily detected
in neuronal tissue. Little QC-expression is detected in peripheral
organs as spleen and kidney. Also misoQC is expressed in neuronal
tissue, but at lower levels compared with mQC. In contrast,
expresssion levels in peripheral organs is very similar between
isoQC and QC.
[0346] Concluding, based on the results of transcript
concentration, the combined activity (isoQC and QC) should be
highest in brain. Thus, highest QC-protein levels are present in
organs that are afflicted by amyloidoses like Alzheimers Disease,
familial british dementia and familial danish dementia.
EXAMPLE 10
Inhibition of Human isoQC by Heterocyclic Chelators
[0347] Results
[0348] The time-dependent inhibition of QCs from different sources
using heterocyclic chelators, such as 1,10-phenanthroline and
dipicolinic acid has been investigated previously (6, 9). In
analogy, h-isoQC is also time-dependently inactivated by the
heterocyclic chelators 1,10-phenanthroline (FIG. 25) and
dipicolinic acid (not shown), clearly pointing to a metal-dependent
activity. Furthermore, EDTA also inhibited h-isoQC (FIG. 25). This
is in sharp contrast to QCs, since neither human QC, porcine QC nor
murine QC has shown discernible inhibition by EDTA. However,
inhibition of hisoQC by EDTA even stronger suggests a
metal-dependent catalysis.
EXAMPLE 11
Subcellular Localization of hisoQC Investigated Using Cell
Fractionation
[0349] Cell Fractionation
[0350] The day following transfection, expressing HEK293 cells were
washed with D-PBS and collected by centrifugation at 500.times.g
for 5 min at 4.degree. C. Subsequently, D-PBS was discarded and the
cells were resuspended in 1 ml of disruption buffer (50 mM Tris, 50
mM KCl, 5 mM EDTA, 2 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 7.6 adjusted with HCl) and
cracked by 30 crushes in a Potter cell homogenisator. The
suspension was centrifuged at 700.times.g for 10 min at 4.degree.
C. The obtained pellet was resuspended in 300 .mu.l disruption
buffer and designated as debris fraction (D). The resulting
supernatant was further centrifuged at 20.000.times.g for 30 min at
4.degree. C. The pellet illustrated the heavy membrane fraction
(HM) and was resuspended in 200 .mu.l disruption buffer. The
resulting supernatant was centrifuged at 100.000.times.g for 1 h at
4.degree. C. using an ultracentrifuge (Beckmann). The obtained
pellet was resuspended in 200 .mu.l disruption buffer and was
termed as light membrane fraction (LM). The supernatant was
designated as soluble fraction (S). Debris, heavy membrane and
light membrane fractions were sonicated for 10 sec and. the protein
content of all fractions was determined using the method of
Bradford. Subsequently, fractions were analyzed for QC activity and
stained for marker proteins using Western Blot.
[0351] Results
[0352] For further corroboration, biochemical analysis of QC
activity distribution, derived from hisoQC and hQC expression were
performed. The native hisoQC beginning with methionine I and II and
hQC were expressed in HEK293 cells, respectively. After cell
fractionation the QC activity in the each fraction was determined
using the fluorescence assay applying H-Gln-PNA as substrate. In
cells, transfected with the empty vector (pcDNA), specific QC
activity is hardly measurable. When expressing native hisoQC (MetI)
and hisoQC (MetII), QC activity was readily detectable with the
highest specific activity in the heavy membrane fraction (MetI:
40.+-.2 .mu.mole/min/g; MetII: 36.+-.1.5 .mu.mole/min/g) and the
medium (MetI: 30.+-.2 .mu.mole/min/g; MetII: 54.+-.3
.mu.mole/min/g). In contrast, hQC shows the highest specific QC
activity within the medium (1339.+-.76 .mu.mole/min/g) followed by
the heavy membrane fraction (251.+-.21 .mu.mole/min/g) (FIG.
26A).
[0353] In addition the absolute activities were calculated,
illustrating that the expression of hisoQC (MetI) and hisoQC
(MetII) led mainly to an increase in the intracellular QC activity,
namely within the debris (MetI: 1032.+-.9 nM/min; MetII: 1110.+-.10
nM/min) and heavy membrane fraction (MetI: 374.+-.20 nM/min; MetII:
281.+-.12 nM/min). Only little QC activity was found within the
medium (MetI: 27.+-.2 nM/min; MetII: 53.+-.3 nM/min). In contrast,
QC activity deduced by hQC expression shows high activity within
the medium (1138.+-.65 nM/min) and within intracellular
compartements (debris: 1089.+-.14 nM/min; heavy membrane fraction:
583.+-.38 nM/min) supporting an Golgi localization of hisoQC as
shown by histochemical analysis (FIG. 26B).
[0354] The data obtained by the expression of the native enzymes
was further supported by expression of hisoQC (MetI and MetII) and
hQC possessing a C-terminal FLAG-tag (FIG. 26C). Western Blot
analysis of the resulting FLAG-tagged proteins in comparison to
marker proteins of the Golgi complex and mitochondria revealed a
mainly intracellular localization of hisoQC(MetI) and hisoQC
(MetII) within the debris and heavy membrane fraction, whereas hQC
is enriched within the medium but also found within the debris and
heavy membrane fraction. Visualization of marker proteins of the
Golgi complex (ST1GAL3) and mitochondria revealed the presence of
these compartments within the debris and heavy membrane fraction.
In addition the 65 kDa mitochondrial protein was also found to a
smaller portion within the soluble fraction.
EXAMPLE 12
Analysis on the Golgi Retention Signal of hisoQC
[0355] In order to clarify, whether the predicted N-terminal
transmembrane helix is responsible for the retention of hisoQC
within the Golgi complex, the signal peptides starting at MetI and
MetII, including the transmembrane helix, were cloned in frame with
EGFP. The resulting vectors hisoQC (MetI) SS EGFP and hisoQC
(MetII) SS EGFP were expressed in LN405 cells and examined in
analogy to the full-length hisoQC EGFP fusion proteins using
confocal laserscanning microscopy. The expression of hisoQC (MetI)
SS EGFP led to the same Golgi complex localization observed for the
full-length hisoQC (MetI) EGFP fusion protein. Again, a transport
of hisoQC (MetI) SS EGFP to the mitochondria was not observed (FIG.
27A). In addition, the expression of the N-terminal truncated
peptide hisoQC (MetII) SS EGFP also led to a enrichment of the
protein within the Golgi complex. In analogy to hisoQC (MetI) SS
EGFP, no mitochondrial EGFP fluorescence could be recorded (FIG.
27B). Consequently, the N-terminal sequence of hisoQC leads to the
co-translational translocation of the protein to the ER membrane
and to the retention within the Golgi complex. Furthermore, due to
the expression of hisoQC (MetII) SS EGFP, the Golgi retention
signal was grossly mapped to reside between methionine 19 and
serine 53 (counting of amino acids beginning at MetI).
[0356] Additional topology analysis revealed the possibility for a
functional homology of the hisoQC N-terminus to
glycosyltransferases. Glycosyltransferases are type II
transmembrane proteins, possessing a short cytoplasmatic sequence,
followed by the transmembrane helix and a large luminal catalytic
domain. Clearly, this is essentially the same domain structure as
found for misoQC and hisoQC (FIG. 28). For a number of
glycosyltransferases, the Golgi retention signal was identified to
reside within the transmembrane domain. Furthermore, for some of
these enzymes truncation of the cytoplasmatic sequence was found to
have no influence on the activity or the localization of the
protein. In summary, evidence was provided, that hisoQC is a type
II transmembrane protein showing a retention within the Golgi
complex similar to glycosyltransferases.
EXAMPLE 12
Detection of QPCTL mRNA in Different Human Carcinoma Cell Lines and
Tissues
[0357] gPCR Analysis
[0358] Analysis of human QPCTL expression in human carcinoma cell
lines were performed using the quatitative real time PCR (qPCR)
technique, essentially as described in example 9. For determining
QPCTL mRNA, primers of the QuantiTect.RTM. primer assay were
applied covering an exon/exon region for exclusion of
co-amplification of genomic DNA. QPCR was performed following the
manufacturers recommendations. The reaction mixture is depicted in
Table 9 and the PCR program is illustrated in Table 8.
TABLE-US-00022 TABLE 9 Composition of the qPCR mixture component
Volume in .mu.l 2x QuantiTect SYBR Green PCR 7.5 Master Mix (2.5 mM
MgCl.sub.2) 10x QuantiTect Primer Assay 1.5 cDNA (.ltoreq.100
ng/Reaktion) 1 Aqua bidest. 5
[0359] The quantitative analysis of the transcript concentration in
different tissues was analysed using the "Light Cycler" (Corbett
research), applying the "QuantiTect SYBR Green PCR" (Qiagen). The
DNA standard (cloned cDNA isoQC human) was used for quantification.
The copy number was calculated according to the following equation:
(X.sup.g/.sub..mu.l DNA)/(Plasmid length in
bp*660)*6.022*1023=Y.sup.Molecules/.sub..mu.l. The DNA standard
contained 4 concentrations in the range of 10.sup.7-10.sup.1
Molecules/.sub..mu.l, and an limiting concentration (10.sup.0).
[0360] The results of qPCR were evaluated using the rotor-gene
operating software (Corbett research).
[0361] Results
[0362] Expression of QPCTL in Different Carcinoma Cell Lines
[0363] Among the tested cancer cell lines, human melanoma cells
show the highest expression of QPCTL transcripts (approx. 7000
copies/50 ng total-RNA), whereas the human soft tissue sarcoma cell
lines show the lowest expression of QPCTL (365 copies/50 ng
total-RNA). Pancreas carcinoma shows 2100 copies, thyroid carcinoma
3500 copies and gastric carcinoma possesses 4100 copies in the
median (FIG. 29).
[0364] Expression of QPCTL in Different Melanoma Cell Lines
[0365] Recently it has been shown, that melanoma cells possess
comparable high QPCT expression (Gillis, J. S., J. Transl. Med. 4
(2006), 4:27). Therefore, QPCTL expression in different melanoma
cell lines was analyzed. As depicted in FIG. 30, QPCTL expression
was detected in all melanoma cell lines, tested. The variation
among the cell lines varied from 2025 copies/50 ng total-RNA in
line Mel_ZL.sub.--11 to 18043 copies/50 ng total-RNA in line
Mel_ZL12.
TABLE-US-00023 TABLE 10 Correlation of QPCT and QPCTL to
tumor-associates antigens (taa) and correlation of taa among each
other correlation significance correlation significance QPCT-MAGEB2
0.0436 AIM1-MCL1 0.0163 QPCT-MART1 0.0020 MAGEA1-MAGEA2 0.00002
QPCT-TYR 0.0023 MAGEA1-MAGEB2 0.0058 QPCT-MAGEA1 0.0591 TYRP2-MART1
0.0042 QPCTL-MART1 0.0008 TYR-MART1 0.0335 TYR-TYRP2 0.0408
AIM1-AIM2 0.0082 TYR-MCL-1 0.0151
[0366] Furthermore, QPCT and QPCTL expression was correlated to the
expression of tumor-associated antigens (taa). The
melanoma-specific tumor-associated antigens were selected by data
base mining and published results. Among others, AIM1 and AIM2
(absent in melanoma), MAGEA1, -A2, -A1 and MAGEB2 (melanoma antigen
familiy A and B), MART1 (melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells),
TYR (tyrosinase), TYRP1 and TYRP2 (tyrosinase related protein) and
MCL-1 (myeloid cell leukemia) are tumor-associated antigens in
melanoma. Data were compared using SPSS statistic software.
Correlation between QPCT and MAGEB2 was significant (p=0.0436).
Furthermore, correlation between QPCT and MART1 (p=0.002), QPCTL
and MART1 (p=0.008) and QPCT and TYR (p=0.0023) was also
statistically highly significant. The correlations show a direct
dependence, which implies: the higher QPCT/QPCTL expression, the
higher the expression of tumor-associated antigens. The only
exception is the correlation between TYR and MCL1, which shows an
indirect dependence.
[0367] Expression of QPCT and QPCTL in Different Tumor Tissues
[0368] The expression of QPCT and QPCTL was evaluated in tumor
tissues of soft tissue sarcoma, gastric carcinoma and thyroid
carcinoma. Highest expression of QPCT has been found in thyroid
carcinoma followed by gastric carcinoma and soft tissue carcinoma
(Table 11). The same order was observed for QPCTL expression,
however, the copy number of QPCTL transcripts was always lower,
than observed for QPCT transcripts as revealed by Student's t-test
(p.sub.soft tissues carcinoma=0.001; P.sub.gastric
carcinoma=4.8E-7; P.sub.thyroid carcinoma=0.04) (Table 11; FIG.
31).
TABLE-US-00024 TABLE 11 Comparison of QPCT and QPCTL expression in
different tumor tissues soft tissue gastric thyroid sarcoma
carcinoma carcinoma (119 samples) (47 samples) (29 samples) QPCT
1293 2985 8303 QPCTL 170 469 2540
[0369] Further investigations on the expression level of QPCT and
QPCTL revealed a two-sided significant correlation by Pearson in
soft tissue sarcoma (p=2E-31) and gastric carcinoma (p=0.015). No
correlation has been observed for QPCT and QPCTL expression level
in thyroid carcinoma (p=0.46).
[0370] Expression of QPCTL Dependent on the Stage of
Differentiation in Gastric Carcinoma
[0371] For gastric carcinomas, QPCTL expression in samples
representing different stages of tumor differentiation were
investigated. As control served tumor-surrounding normal tissue.
The comparison of normal with tumor tissue revealed a significantly
higher QPCTL expression (p=0.04) in tumor tissues. Undifferentiated
gastric carcinomas show lower QPCTL expression, than normal tissue.
Poorly and well to moderate differentiated gastric carcinomas show
no differences in the median compared to normal tissue (FIG.
32).
[0372] Expression of QPCT and QPCTL in Different Stages of Thyroid
Carcinoma
[0373] Different stages of thyroid carcinoma were inverstigated
concerning QPCT and QPCTL expression. The stages were classified
according to nomenclature of the world health organisation (WHO) as
follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), papillary thyroid carcinoma
(PTC) and undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma (UTC). Samples from
patients possessing goiter served as control.
[0374] The QPCT mRNA level (median) in differentiated thyroid
carcinomas FTC (6700 copies/50 ng total-RNA) and PTC (16000
copies/50 ng total-RNA) were higher than in non-tumor tissue
(goiter: 2100 copies/50 ng total-RNA). UTC possesses 5400 copies/50
ng total-RNA and is 2.5 times higher than observed in goiter. The
mRNA copy number of QPCT is in all thyroid tumors significantly
higher than in goiter (p=0.04, Student's t-test) (FIG. 33).
[0375] The QPCTL mRNA level in thyroid carcinoma is homogeneous.
The samples from FTC (2600 copies/50 ng total-RNA) and UTC (2500
copies/50 ng total-RNA) are similar to goiter (2500 copies/50 ng
total-RNA). The expression of QPCTL in PTC is slightly decreased to
1900 copies/50 ng total-RNA (FIG. 34).
[0376] In conclusion, QPCT and QPCTL are equally expressed in
goiter. However, in tumor tissues the expression of QPCT increases,
whereas the expression of QPCTL remains stable.
EXAMPLE 13
Investigations on the QPCT and QPCTL Expression in Human Cell Lines
After Incubation with Different Stimuli
[0377] Cell Lines and Media
[0378] The stimulation experiments were performed using the human
embryonal kidney cell line HEK293, human acute monocytic leukemia
cell line THP-1 and the follicular thyroid carcinoma cell line
FTC-133. Cells were grown in appropriate culture media (DMEM, 10%
FBS for HEK293, RPMI1640, 10% FBS for THP-1 and DMEM/F12, 10% FBS
for FTC-133) in a humidified atmosphere at 37.degree. C. and 5%
CO.sub.2.
[0379] Stimulation Using Bioactive Peptides, Chemicals or LPS
[0380] HEK293 and FTC-133 cells were cultivated as adherent
cultures and THP-1 cells were grown in suspension. For stimulation
assay 2.times.10.sup.5 cells of FTC-133 and HEK293 cells were
transferred to 24 well plates. In case of HEK293, plates were
coated with collagen I for ensuring proper adherence. In addition,
2.times.10.sup.6 cells of THP-1 were grown in 24 well suspension
plates. All stimulation experiments were applied under serum-free
conditions. FTC-133 was grown over night. Afterwards, cells were
adapted to serum-free media for another 24 h and the stimulation
was started by replacing the conditioned media by fresh serum-free
media. HEK293 cells were grown over night and afterwards the
stimulation using respective agents was started without an adaption
to serum-free conditions due to morphological changes in case of
cultivation of HEK293 under serum-free conditions for more than 24
h. THP-1 cells were plated in serum-free media together with
respective agent. The applied stimuli and final concentrations are
listed in Table 12.
TABLE-US-00025 TABLE 12 Stimuli for investigations on the
regulation of hQC and hisoQC in human cell lines Final Name
concentration butyric acid (BA) 2 mM hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)
10 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 1, 10 .mu.g/ml transforming
growth factor .beta. (TGF.beta.) 10, 100 ng/ml tumor necrosis
factor .alpha. (TNF.alpha.) 10, 100 ng/ml
[0381] Cells were incubated with the respective stimulus for 24 h.
Afterwards, total-RNA from the cells was isolated using the
Nucleo-Spino RNA II Kit (Macherey-Nagel) and stored until qPCR
assay.
[0382] Stimulation Using Hypoxia
[0383] THP-1, HEK293 and FTC-133 cells were plated into two 25
cm.sup.2 tissue culture flasks, respectively. Thereby, one flask of
each cell line served as negative control, cultivated under normal
growth conditions for 24 h. The other flasks were placed in a
anaerobic bag together with an anaerobic reagent (Anaeroculte P,
Merck) and an indicator. The bag was sealed to ensure air tight
conditions. Cells were also grown for 24 h and subsequently,
total-RNA was isolated using the Nucleo-Spin.RTM. RNA II Kit
(Macherey-Nagel) and stored until qPCR assay.
[0384] Results
[0385] Basal Expression of QPCT and QPCTL in HEK293 FTC-133 and
THP-1
[0386] The basal expression in the used cell lines HEK293, FTC-133
and THP-1 was evaluated in preparation for the following
stimulation experiments. The copy number of QPCT and QPCTL
transcripts is summarized in Table 13.
TABLE-US-00026 TABLE 13 Basal expression of QPCT and QPCTL in
different cell lines Absolute mRNA copy numbers per 50 ng total RNA
cell line QPCT QPCTL HEK-293 (8 samples) 37196 .+-. 18928 3206 .+-.
855 FTC-133 (8 samples) 24790 .+-. 7605 10262 .+-. 1899 THP-1 (8
samples) 3588 .+-. 853 6725 .+-. 1763
[0387] Influence of Selected Stimuli on Expression of QPCT and
QPCTL
[0388] Regulational binding sites of the promotors of QPCT and
QPCTL and signal transduction pathways leading to their regulation
are not decribed so far. Therefore, stimulation experiments using
different cell lines and stimuli were conducted. QPCT mRNA levels
in HEK293 cells were increased by stimulation using TNF-.alpha.,
HGF and butyric acid. In addition the regulation of CCL2 as
QPCT/QPCTL substrate has been inverstigated. TNF-.alpha. and
butyric acid increased the amount of CCL2 transcripts in HEK293.
HGF had no influence in CCL2 expression. In contrast QPCTL was not
regulated by TNF-.alpha., HGF and butyric acid (FIG. 35).
[0389] In addition FTC-133 was stimulated using LPS and TGF-.beta.
and the regulation of QPCT, QPCTL and CCL2 was monitored. In
FTC-133, LPS and TGF-.beta. stimulated the expression of QPCT mRNA,
but failed to induce QPCTL and CCL2 expression (FIG. 36).
[0390] This experiments were further coroborated by stimulation of
THP-1 cells using LPS (1 .mu.g/ml), LPS (10 .mu.g/ml), TGF-.beta.
and TNF-.alpha.. As observed for FTC-133 and HEK293, QPCT
expression could be induced using different stimuli. In addition
CCL2 expression was induced using LPS and TNF-.alpha.. Again, no
induction or repression of QPCTL mRNA could be observed (FIG.
37).
[0391] In conclusion, the experiments revealed, that QPCT can be
regulated by a set of stimuli in different cell lines (LPS,
TNF-.alpha., HGF, butyric acid and others). In contrast, QPCTL
could neither stimulated nor repressed by the tested stimuli
suggesting a house-keeping function of QPCTL.
[0392] Influence of Selected Stimuli on Expression of QPCT its
Substrates
[0393] Since QPCT expression was induced by a number of stimuli,
the question was raised, whether QPCT induction takes place in
combination with an induction of the QPCT substrates CCL2, CCL7,
CCL8 and CCL13. Therefore, the stimulation using LPS (1 .mu.g/ml),
LPS (10 .mu.g/ml), TGF-.beta. (100 ng/ml) and TNF-.alpha. (100
ng/ml), respectively, was performed using THP-1 monocytes. THP-1
expresses all chemokines at a basal level, important for comparison
of stimulated cells with the negative control.
[0394] LPS and TNF-.alpha. led to the reliable induction of all
tested chemokines and QPCT in THP-1 cells. TGF-.beta. was less
effective as stimulus and induced the expression of QPCT, CCL2,
CCL7 and CCL8 maximum 2 fold. CCL13 was repressed by TGF-.beta.
stimulation (FIG. 38).
[0395] Stimulation of QPCT and QPCTL Expression by Hypoxia
[0396] QPCTL expression could not be regulated by chemical agents,
bioactive pepitides or LPS. Therefore, we tested, whether QPCTL
expression is regulated by hypoxia. As summarized in FIG. 39.
Hypoxia selectively induced the expression of QPCTL but not of
QPCT. In comparison, hypoxia induced factor 1a (HIF1a) was
repressed by 15% (FIG. 39A) and 45% (FIG. 39C). The data suggest a
connection of QPCTL to hypoxia.
[0397] Synthesis of the Inhibitors
##STR00022##
[0398] Reagents and conditions: (a) NaH, DMF, 4 h, rt.; (b), 8 h,
100.degree. C.; (c) H.sub.2N--NH.sub.2,EtOH, 8 h, reflux then 4N
HCl, 6 h, reflux, (d) R.sup.3--NCO, EtOH, 6 h, reflux, (e) 3,4
dimethoxy-phenyl-isothiocyanate,
##STR00023##
[0399] Reagents and conditions: (a) R--NCS, EtOH, 6 h, reflux; (b)
WSCD, 1H-imidazole-1-propanamine, DMF, 2 h, r.t.
##STR00024##
[0400] Reagents and conditions: (a) NaH, DMF, rt., 3 h; (b)
LiAlH.sub.4, dioxane, reflux, 1 h; (c) R--NCS, EtOH, reflux 6
h,
##STR00025##
[0401] Reagents and conditions: (a) EtOH, 2 h, reflux
##STR00026##
[0402] Reagents and conditions: (a) 1H-imidazole-1-propanamine,
Triethylamine, Toluene, 12 h, reflux
##STR00027##
[0403] Reagents and conditions: (a) CAIBE,
1H-imidazole-1-propanamine, Dioxan, 0.degree. C., 12 h; (b)
Laweson's Reaent, EtOH, reflux, 8 h
##STR00028##
[0404] Reagents and conditions: (a) 1H-imidazole-1-propan acidic
chloride, CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2, -10.degree. C., 1 h; (b) Lawesson's
Reagent, Dioxane, reflux, 8 h
##STR00029##
[0405] Reagents and conditions: (a) EtOH, reflux, 8 h
##STR00030##
[0406] Reagents and conditions: (a) 75% conc. H.sub.2SO.sub.4, 4
h
##STR00031##
[0407] Reagents and conditions: (a) Acetonitrile, reflux 2 h
##STR00032##
[0408] Reagents and conditions: (a) NaH, DMF, 4 h, rt.; (b), 8 h,
100.degree. C.; (c) H.sub.2N--NH.sub.2,EtOH, 8 h, reflux then 4 N
HCl, 6 h, reflux, (d) 3,4 dimethoxy-phenyl-isothiocyanate, EtOH, 6
h, reflux
[0409] Analytical Conditions
[0410] ESI-Mass spectra were obtained with a SCIEX API 365
spectrometer (Perkin Elmer). The .sup.1H-NMR (500 MHz) data was
recorded on a BRUKER AC 500, using DMSO-D.sub.6 as solvent.
Chemical shifts are expressed as parts per million downfield from
tetramethylsilane. Splitting patterns have been designated as
follows: s (singulet), d (doublet), dd (doublet of doublet), t
(triplet), m (multiplet), and br (broad signal).
[0411] Detailed Synthesis Description
EXAMPLES 1-12 AND 14-53
[0412] 1H-imidazole-1-propanamine was reacted with the
corresponding isothiocyanate in ethanol under reflux for 8 h. After
that the solvent was removed and the remaining oil was dissolved in
methylene chloride. The organic layer was washed twice with a
saturated solution of NaHCO.sub.3 followed by NaHSO.sub.4 and
brine, dried then evaporated. The remaining solid was
re-crystallized from ethyl acetate, yielding the example thiourea
in yields of 80-98%.
EXAMPLE 13
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)thiourea
[0413] 4.0 mmol of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl isothiocyanate and 4.0 mmol
of 3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)alkyl-1-amine were dissolved in 10 mL of
absolute ethanol. After stirring for 2 h under reflux, the solvent
was evaporated and the resulting solid was recrystallized from
ethanol.
[0414] Yield: 0.66 g (51.3%); mp: 160.0-161.0.degree. C.
[0415] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.8-2.0 (m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.75
(s, 6H), 3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.7-6.8 (m, 1H), 6.9 (br m, 2H), 6.95 (s,
1H), 7.15 (s, 1H), 7.55 (br s, 1H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 9.3 (s, 1H); MS
m/z 321.2 (M+H), 253.3 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLES 96-102
[0416] 1H-imidazole-1-propanamine was reacted with the
corresponding isocyanate in ethanol under reflux for 8 h. After
that the solvent was removed and the remaining oil was dissolved in
methylene chloride. The organic layer was washed twice with a
saturated solution of NaHCO.sub.3 followed by NaHSO.sub.4 and
brine, dried then evaporated. The remaining solid was
re-crystallized from ethyl acetate, yielding the example urea in
yields of 85-90%.
EXAMPLES 136, 137
[0417] The 1H-imidazole-1-alkylamines were prepared according to
the literature from .quadrature.-brom-alkyl-phtalimides and
imidazolium salt and subsequent hydrazinolysis. The resulting
products were transformed into the thioureas according to example
1-53 giving a 88% (example 136) and 95% (example 137) yield.
EXAMPLES 54-95
[0418] All examples were made from the corresponding thioureas by
reacting with Water-soluble-carbodiimide (WSCD) and
1H-imidazole-1-propanamine in dry dimethyl form-amide for 2 h at
r.t. giving the trisubstituted guanidines with yields from
40-87%.
EXAMPLES 103-105
[0419] Imidazole was reacted with the corresponding
brommethylphenylcyanide in DMF, utilizing 1 equivalent of NaH for 3
h under rt., giving the 1H-imidazole-1-methylphenylcyanides. The
solvent was removed and the resulting oil was re-dissolved in
dioxane. The cyanides were converted in the corresponding amines
using 1 equivalent of LiAlH.sub.4. After adding a saturated
solution of KHSO.sub.4, dioxane was evaporated and the aqueous
layer was extracted by means of CHCl.sub.3. The organic layer was
concentrated in vacuo and the amine was converted in the
corresponding thioureas according to example 1-53 giving a 78%
(example 103) and 65% (example 104) and 81% (example 105)
yield.
EXAMPLES 106-109
[0420] Starting from the corresponding
methansulfonate-2-methylpropyl-phthalimides the amines were
synthesized as described for the amines in example 136-137. The
resulting products were transformed into the thioureas according to
example 1-53 giving example 106-109 in total yields of 25-30%.
EXAMPLES 110-112
[0421] 1H-imidazole-1-propanamine was reacted with the
corresponding 2-chlorobenzo[d] thiazole in toluol for 24 h at a
temperature of 130.degree. C. After removing the solvent and
recristallization from methanol example 110-112 was yielded in an
amount of 55-65%.
EXAMPLES 113-118, 120-124 AND 126-132
[0422] 1H-imidazole-1-propanamine was reacted with the
corresponding 2-phenyl acetic acid in dry dioxane by adding one
equivalent of CAIBE and N-methylmorpholine at a temperature of
0.degree. C. After 2 h the mixture was allowed to warm to r.t. and
the mixture was stirred for 12 h. After removing the solvent the
resulting oil was redissolved in methylene chloride and the organic
layer was washed by means of an aqueous solution of NaHCO.sub.3 and
water, dried and the solvent was evaporated. The remaining oil was
dissolved in dioxane adding Laweson's Reagent. After stirring for
12 h a saturated solution of NaHCO.sub.3 was added. Dioxane was
evaporated and the aqueous layer was extracted by means of ethyl
acetate. The organic layer was separated, dried and the solvent was
evaporated. The remainig solid was crystallized from acetyl
acetate/ether, giving 113-118, 120-124 and 126-132 with total
yields of 62-85%.
EXAMPLE 119
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanethioamide
[0423] A mixture of 4.0 mmol triethylamine and 4.0 mmol of
3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)alkyl-1-amine 20 mL of dioxane was added drop
wise to an ice cooled, stirred solution of 4.0 mmol of
2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acetyl chloride in 30 mL of dioxane. The
mixture was allowed to warm to r.t., and then stirred for 1 h.
After removing the solvent by reduced pressure, the residue was
redissolved in 50 mL of dichloromethane. The organic layer was
washed by means of 30 mL of saturated aqueous solution of
NaHCO.sub.3, and water. The organic solution was dried, filtered,
and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. After
redissolving in 50 mL of dry dioxane 2.2 mmol of Lawesson's reagent
was added, and the mixture was heated to 90.degree. C. and stirred
for 8 h. The solvent was removed by reduced pressure, and the
residue was redissolved in 50 mL of dichloromethane. The organic
layer was washed three times by means of a saturated aqueous
solution of NaHCO.sub.3, followed three times by water, dried,
filtered, and then the organic solvent was removed. The compound
was purified by chromatography using a
centrifugal-force-chromatography device, (Harrison Research Ltd.)
utilizing silica plates of a layer thickness of 2 mm, and a
CHCl.sub.3/MeOH gradient as eluting system.
[0424] Yield: 0.14 g (10.6%); melting point: 148.0-150.0.degree.
C.
[0425] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 2.0-2.15 (br m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (m, 2H),
3.7 (s, 6H), 6.75-6.8 (m, 2H), 4.1-4.2 (m, 2H), 6.8-6.9 (m, 2H),
6.95-7.0 (m, 1H), 7.4 (s, 1H), 7.75-7.85 (br m, 1H), 8.6 (s, 1H),
10.2 (s, 1H); MS m/z 320.2 (M+H), 252.2
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 125
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopropanecarbothi-
oamide
[0426] 11.06 mmol of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl acetonitrile, 34.8 mmol of
2-Bromo-1-chloroethanole and 1.16 mmol of triethylbenzylammonium
hydrochloride were dissolved in 10 mL of an aqueous solution of KOH
(60%). The mixture was transferred into an ultrasonic bath and
vigorously stirred for 3 h at room temperature. The resulting
suspension was diluted with 40 mL of water and extracted three
times by means of 20 mL of dichloromethane. The combined organic
layers where washed by means of an aqueous solution of hydrochloric
acid (1N), dried over Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 and the solvent was removed
under reduced pressure. The remaining oil was purified by
flash-chromatography using silica gel and ethyl acetate/heptane as
eluting system, resulting in 0.81 g (34.4%) of
1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopropanecarbonitrile 3.9 mmol of
1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopropanecarbonitrile and 11.2 mmol of
KOH were suspended in 80 mL of ethylene glycol. The mixture was
stirred for 12 h under reflux. Then 80 mL of water were added and
the aqueous layer was extracted two times with ether. After pH
adjustment to a value of pH=4-5 using HCl (1N) the aqueous layer
was extracted three times by means of ether, then the combined
organic layers were dried over Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 and the solvent was
removed, resulting in 0.81 g (93.5%) of
1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid.
[0427] 3.44 mmol of 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopropanecarboxylic
acid, 3.5 mmol of N-Methyl morpholine, and 3.5 mmol of isobutyl
chloroformiat were dissolved in dry tetrahydrofurane and stirred
for 15 min at -15.degree. C. Then 3.5 mmol of
3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)alkyl-1-amine was added and the mixture was
allowed to warm to 0.degree. C. and was stirred for 12 h. The
solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the remaining oil
was redissolved in chloroform. Then the organic layer was washed
two times by means of a saturated aqueous solution of NaHCO.sub.3,
then dried over Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 and the solvent was removed.
Purification was performed by means of centrifugal forced
chromatography using a chromatotron.RTM. device (Harrison Research
Ltd.) utilizing silica plates of a layer thickness of 2 mm, and a
CHCl.sub.3/MeOH gradient as eluting system resulting in 0.671 g
(59.3%) of
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopropane-carbox-
amide.
[0428] After redissolving in 30 mL of dry dioxane 1.43 mmol of
Lawesson's reagent were added, and the mixture was heated to
90.degree. C. and stirred for 8 h. The solvent was removed by
reduced pressure, and the residue was remains were dissolved in 50
mL of dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed three times by
means of a saturated aqueous solution of NaHCO.sub.3, followed
three times by water, dried, filtered, and then the organic solvent
was removed. The compound was purified by chromatography using a
centrifugal-force-chromatography device, (Harrison Research Ltd.)
utilizing silica plates of a layer thickness of 2 mm, and a
CHCl.sub.3/MeOH gradient as eluting system.
[0429] Yield: 0.33 g (46.2%); melting point: 127.0-127.5.degree.
C.
[0430] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.1-1.2 (t, 2H), 1.55-1.6 (t, 2H),
2.0-2.1 (m, 2H), 3.5-3.6 (m, 2H), 3.7-3.8 (s, 6H), 4.1-4.2 (t, 2H),
6.8-6.9 (m, 3H), 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.75 (s, 1H), 8.8 (m, 1H), 9.05 (s,
1H; MS m/z 346.0 (M+H), 278.2 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.), 177.1
(M-C.sub.6H.sub.8N.sub.3S.)
EXAMPLES 133-135
[0431] A mixture of 1 equivalent triethylamine and
3,4-dimethoxyaniline in dioxane was added to an stirred solution of
the corresponding cbromoalkyl acidic chloride at a temperature of
0.degree. C. The solution was allowed to warm to r.t. and stirred
for 2 h. The solvent was evaporated, and the remaining oil was
redissolved in dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed by
means of water, dried, filtered, and the solvent was removed under
reduced pressure.
[0432] Imidazole and sodium hydride were suspended in and the
mixture was stirred under inert conditions at r.t. for 3 h.
.omega.-Bromo-N-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)alkylamide was added and the
mixture was heated to 100.degree. C. and stirred for 8 h. After
that, the solvent was evaporated, hot toluene were added and the
solution was filtered. Then the solvent was removed under reduced
pressure. The transformation into the thioamides was performed as
described for example 113-132 by means of Laweson's reagent, giving
133-135 in total yields of 13-20%.
[0433] The analytical data for further examples, which were
syntesized according to the general synthesis schemes described
above, are as follows:
EXAMPLE 1
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-methylthiourea
[0434] melting point: 122-122.5.degree. C.
[0435] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.85-1.95 (m, 2H), 2.8 (s, 3H), 3.2-3.5
(br d, 2H), 3.8-3.9 (m, 2H), 6.85 (d, 1H), 7.15 (d, 1H), 7.3-7.5
(br d, 2H), 7.65 (s, 1H); MS m/z 199.1 (M+H), 221.3 (M+Na), 131.0
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 2
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-tert-butylthiourea
[0436] melting point: 147.0-147.5.degree. C.
[0437] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.3-1.4 (s, 9H), 1.85-1.95 (m, 2H), 3.5
(t, 2H), 3.8 (t, 2H), 6.85 (d, 1H), 7.15 (d, 1H), 7.3-7.5 (br d,
2H), 7.65 (s, 1H); MS m/z 241.1 (M+H), 173.1
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 3
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-benzylthiourea
[0438] melting point: 127.0-128.0.degree. C.
[0439] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.85-1.95 (m, 2H), 3.2-3.5 (br d, 2H),
3.8-3.9 (m, 2H), 4.6 (s, 2H), 6.8 (d, 1H), 7.15 (d, 1H), 7.19-7.35
(m, 5H), 7.5-7.6 (br d, 2H), 7.85 (s, 1H); MS m/z 275.3 (M+H),
207.1 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 5
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-phenylthiourea
[0440] melting point: 166.5-167.0.degree. C.
[0441] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.95-2.05 (m, 2H), 3.3-3.5 (br d, 2H),
3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.85 (d, 1H), 7.05 (m, 1H) 7.15 (d, 1H), 7.25 (m,
2H), 7.35 (m, 2H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 7.8 (br s, 1H), 9.5 (br s, 1H); MS
m/z 261.1 (M+H), 193.2 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 6
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)thiourea
[0442] melting point: 147.0-148.0.degree. C.
[0443] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.95-2.05 (m, 2H), 3.3-3.5 (br d, 2H),
3.9-4.05 (m, 2H), 6.85 (d, 1 H), 7.05-7.15 (m, 3H), 7.3-7.4 (m,
2H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 7.7-7.8 (br s, 1H), 9.4 (br s, 1H); MS m/z 279.3
(M+H), 211.2 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 7
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-ethylphenyl)thiourea
[0444] melting point: 100.0-100.5.degree. C.
[0445] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.15-1.2 (t, 3H), 1.9-2.0 (m, 2H),
2.5-2.6 (m, 2H), 3.3-3.5 (br d, 2H), 3.9-4.05 (m, 2H), 6.85 (d,
1H), 7.1-7.2 (m, 3H), 7.25-7.3 (m, 2H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 7.7-7.8 (br s,
1H), 9.4 (br s, 1H); MS m/z 289.3 (M+H), 221.1
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 8
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thiourea
[0446] melting point: 154.5-155.0.degree. C.
[0447] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.9-2.1 (br m, 2H), 3.4-3.6 (br d, 2H),
3.95-4.1 (br m, 2H), 6.85 (d, 1H), 7.2 (d, 1H), 7.6-7.8 (m, 5H),
8.2 (br s, 1H), 9.9 (br s, 1H); MS m/z 329.3 (M+H), 261.2
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 10
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-acetylphenyl)thiourea
[0448] melting point: 170.0-171.0.degree. C.
[0449] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.9-2.1 (br m, 2H), 2.4-2.5 (s, 3H),
3.2-3.5 (br m, 2H), 3.9-4.1 (m, 2H), 6.85 (d, 1H), 7.15 (d, 1H),
7.5-7.65 (br m, 3H), 7.8-7.9 (m, 2H), 8.1 (m, 2H), 9.8 (br s, 1H);
MS m/z 303.2 (M+H), 235.1 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 11
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea
[0450] melting point: 125.0-125.5.degree. C.
[0451] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.8-2.0 (br m, 2H), 3.2-3.5 (br m, 2H),
3.7 (s, 3H), 3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.7-6.9 (m, 3H), 7.1-7.2 (m, 3H), 7.5
(s, 1H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 9.2 (s, 1H); MS m/z 291.1 (M+H), 223.2
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 14
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)thiourea
[0452] melting point: 120.0-120.5.degree. C.
[0453] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.8-2.0 (br m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (br m, 2H),
3.75 (s, 6H), 3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.5 (d, 1H), 6.6 (s, 1H), 6.9 (s,
1H), 7.15 (s, 1H), 7.3 (d, 1H), 7.5 (br s, 1H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 9.75
(s, 1H); MS m/z 321.2 (M+H), 253.3 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 15
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)thiourea
[0454] melting point: 142.0-143.0.degree. C.
[0455] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.8-2.0 (br m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (br m, 2H),
3.6 (s, 6H), 3.95-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.25 (m, 1H), 6.6 (m, 2H), 6.9 (s,
1H), 7.2 (s, 1H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 7.8 (s, 1H), 9.5 (s, 1H); MS m/z
321.2 (M+H), 253.3 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 23
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-7-yl)-thi-
ourea
[0456] melting point: 103.0-103.5.degree. C.
[0457] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.9-2.0 (br m, 2H), 3.3-3.5 (br d, 2H),
3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 4.2-4.3 (m, 4H), 6.7 (m, 1H), 6.8-6.8 (m, 1H), 6.9
(m, 2H), 7.2 (s, 1H), 7.6 (m, 2H), 9.3 (s, 1H); MS m/z 319.3 (M+H),
251.3 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 24
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-6-yl)thiourea
[0458] melting point: 115.0-115.6.degree. C.
[0459] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.9-2.1 (br m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (br d, 2H),
4.05-4.15 (m, 2H), 6.0 (s, 2H), 6.7 (m, 1H), 6.8-6.85 (m, 1H), 6.95
(d, 1H), 7.25 (s, 1H), 7.45 (s, 1H), 7.7 (br s, 1H), 8.5 (br s,
1H), 9.4 (br s, 1H); MS m/z 305.2 (M+H), 237.2
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 25
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)thiourea
[0460] melting point: 124.5-125.5.degree. C.
[0461] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.8-2.0 (m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (br m, 2H), 3.6
(s, 3H), 3.7 (s, 6H), 3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.65 (m, 2H), 6.85 (s, 1H),
7.2 (s, 1H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 7.7 (br s, 1H), 9.4 (s, 1H); MS m/z 351.3
(M+H), 283.2 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 26
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)thiourea
[0462] melting point: 89.5-90.0.degree. C.
[0463] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.9-2.1 (br m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (br m, 2H),
3.7 (s, 3H), 3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.6-6.7 (m, 1H), 6.8-6.9 (m, 2H), 7.1
(m, 2H), 7.15-7.25 (br m, 1H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 7.8 (br s, 1H), 9.5 (s,
1H); MS m/z 291.1 (M+H), 223.2 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 27
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)thiourea
[0464] melting point: 126.0-126.5.degree. C.
[0465] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.5 (br m, 3H), 1.9-2.0 (br m, 2H),
3.4-3.5 (br m, 2H), 3.9-4.0 (br m, 4H), 6.8-6.9 (m, 2H), 6.95 (s,
1H), 7.15-7.2 (m, 2H), 7.25 (s, 1H), 7.55-7.6 (br s, 1H), 7.8 (s,
1H), 9.3 (s, 1H); MS m/z 305.2 (M+H), 237.2
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 33
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)thiourea
[0466] melting point: 140.0-140.5.degree. C.
[0467] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.8-2.05 (br m, 2H), 2.5 (s, 3H),
3.3-3.5 (br m, 2H), 3.9-4.1 (m, 2H), 6.9 (m, 1H), 7.1-7.3 (br m,
5H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 7.75 (br s, 1H), 9.4 (s, 1H); MS m/z 307.2 (M+H),
239.2 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 42
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)thiourea
[0468] melting point: 165.0. 166.0.degree. C.
[0469] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.9-2.05 (m, 2H), 3.3-3.5 (br d, 2H),
3.95-4.05 (m, 2H), 6.85 (d,1H), 7.15 (d, 1H), 7.6 (d, 1H), 7.7 (m,
2H), 8.1 (m, 2H), 8.3 (br s, 1H), 10.1 (br s, 1H); MS m/z 306.2
(M+H), 237.9 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 50
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)thiourea
[0470] melting point: 146.5-147.0.degree. C.
[0471] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.9-2.0 (m, 2H), 2.9 (s, 6H), 3.4 (m,
2H), 3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.7 (m, 2H), 6.9 (s, 1H), 7.05-7.1 (m, 2H),
7.15 (s, 1H), 7.4 (br s, 1H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 9.2 (s, 1H); MS m/z
304.2 (M+H), 236.0 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 102
1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)urea
[0472] melting point: 114.5-115.0.degree. C.
[0473] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.7-1.9 (m, 2H), 2.9-3.1 (m, 2H), 3.7
(2s, 6H), 3.9-4.0 (m, 2H), 6.1 (t, 1H), 6.7 (s, 2H), 6.8 (s, 1H),
7.15 (d, 2H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 8.2 (s, 1H); MS m/z 321.2 (M+H), 253.3
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 106
1-((S)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-methylpropyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)thioure-
a
[0474] melting point: 150.5-151.5.degree. C.
[0475] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 0.9 (d, 3H), 2.3-2.4 (m, 2H), 2.5 (s,
1H), 3.7 (d, 6H), 4.0-4.1 (br m, 1H), 4.15-4.25 (br m, 1H),
6.75-6.8 (m, 1H), 6.85 (m, 1H), 6.9-7.0 (m, 1H), 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.75
(s, 2H), 9.1 (s, 1H), 9.5 (s, 1H); MS m/z 335.6 (M+H), 267.1
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 107
1-((R)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-methylpropyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)thioure-
a
[0476] melting point: 155.0-157.5 .degree. C.
[0477] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 0.9 (d, 3H), 2.3-2.4 (m, 2H), 2.5 (s,
1H), 3.7 (d, 6H), 4.0-4.1 (br m, 1H), 4.15-4.25 (br m, 1H),
6.75-6.8 (m, 1H), 6.85 (m, 1H), 6.9-7.0 (m, 1H), 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.75
(s, 2H), 9.1 (s, 1H), 9.5 (s, 1H); MS m/z 335.4 (M+H), 267.2
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 109
1-((1-((1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)cyclopropyl)methyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxy-pheny-
l)thiourea
[0478] melting point: 166.5-168.5.degree. C.
[0479] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 0.7-0.8 (br m, 2H), 1.85-1.9 (m, 1H),
2.15-2.2 (m, 1H), 2.2-2.3 (m, 1H), 3.4-3.5 (m, 1H), 3.7 (d, 6H),
4.2 (s, 1H), 4.95 (s, 1H), 6.75-6.8 (br m, 1H), 6.85-6.9 (br m,
1H), 7.0 (s, 1H), 7.5 (m, 1H), 7.6 (m, 1H), 7.7 (s, 0.5H), 7.8 (s,
0.5H), 8.85 (s, 0.5 H), 9.1 (s, 0.5H), 9.35 (s, 0.5H), 9.45 (s,
0.5H); MS m/z 347.2 (M+H), 279.2 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.), 137.5
(M-C.sub.9H.sub.13N.sub.4S.)
EXAMPLE 110
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-amine
[0480] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.95-2.15 (m, 2H), 3.25-3.35 (m, 2H),
4.0-4.1 (t, 2H), 6.9 (s, 1H), 6.95-7.05 (t, 1H), 7.15-7.2 (m, 2H),
7.35-7.4 (d, 1H), 7.60-7.70 (m, 2H), 8.0-8.1 (br s, 1H); MS m/z
259.4 (M+H), 191.3 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 111
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-6-chlorobenzo[d]thiazol-2-amine
[0481] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.95-2.15 (m, 2H), 3.25-3.35 (m, 2H),
4.0-4.1 (t, 2H), 6.9 (s, 1H), 7.1-7.2 (d, 2H), 7.3-7.4 (d, 1H),
7.65 (s, 1H), 7.8 (s, 1H), 8.2 (s, 1H); MS m/z 293.3 (M+H), 225.3
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 112
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-6-methoxybenzo[d]thiazol-2-amine
[0482] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.9-2.05 (m, 2H), 3.2-3.3 (m, 2H), 3.7
(s, 3H), 4.0-4.1 (t, 2H), 6.7-6.8 (d, 1H), 6.9 (s, 1H), 7.15-7.2
(s, 1H), 7.2-7.3 (m, 2H), 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.8 (s, 1H); MS m/z 289.1
(M+H), 221.4 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 115
(R)--N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-2-phenylpropanethioamide
[0483] melting point: 82.0-82.5.degree. C.
[0484] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.4-1.55 (d, 3H), 1.9-2.0 (m, 2H),
3.4-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.85-3.95 (m, 2H), 4.0-4.1 (q, 1H), 6.8-6.9 (s,
1H), 7.1 (s, 1H), 7.15-7.2 (m, 1H), 7.2-7.3 (m, 2H), 7.35-7.4 (m,
2H), 7.55 (s, 1H), 10.1 (s, 1H); MS m/z 274.4 (M+H), 206.3
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 116
(S)--N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-2-phenylpropanethioamide
[0485] melting point: 82.5-83.5.degree. C.
[0486] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.4-1.55 (d, 3H), 1.9-2.0 (m, 2H),
3.4-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.85-3.95 (m, 2H), 4.0-4.1 (q, 1H), 6.8-6.9 (s,
1H), 7.1 (s, 1H), 7.15-7.2 (m, 1H), 7.2-7.3 (m, 2H), 7.35-7.4 (m,
2H), 7.55 (s, 1H), 10.1 (s, 1H); MS m/z 274.4 (M+H), 206.3
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 121
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclobutanecarbothioamide
[0487] melting point: 137.5-139.0.degree. C.
[0488] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.55-1.75 (br m, 2H), 1.85-1.95 (br m,
2H), 2.4-2.5 (br m, 2H), 2.7-2.85 (br m, 2H), 3.3-3.5 (br m, 2H),
3.8 (m, 2H), 6.9 (s, 1H), 7.0 (s, 1H), 7.3 (m, 2H), 7.45 (s, 1H),
7.5 (m, 2H), 9.6 (t, 1H); MS m/z 334.3 (M+H), 266.1
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 122
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclopentanecarbothioamid-
e
[0489] melting point: 140.0-141.0.degree. C.
[0490] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.5-1.65 (br m, 4H), 1.8-1.9 (m, 2H),
2.0-2.1 (m, 2H), 2.6 (m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.7-3.8 (m, 2H),
6.85 (s, 1H), 7.0 (s, 1H), 7.35 (m, 2H), 7.4 (m, 2H), 7.5 (s, 1H),
9.4 (t, 1H); MS m/z 348.2 (M+H), 280.2
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 123
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanecarbothioamid-
e
[0491] melting point: 162.5-164.0.degree. C.
[0492] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.2-1.3 (m, 1H), 1.35-1.5 (br m, 5H),
1.85-2.0 (br m, 4H), 2.4-2.6 (br m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.7 (s,
3H), 3.8 (m, 2H), 6.8 (m, 3H), 7.0 (s, 1H), 7.3 (m, 2H), 7.5 (s,
1H), 9.2 (t, 1H); MS m/z 358.3 (M+H), 290.3
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 124
N-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)cyclopropanecarbothioami-
de
[0493] melting point:: 129.0-129.5.degree. C.
[0494] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.0-1.1 (m, 2H), 1.5-1.6 (m, 2H),
1.9-2.0 (br m, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.7 (s, 3H), 3.9 (m, 2H), 6.9
(m, 3H), 7.1 (s, 1H), 7.2-7.3 (m, 2H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 8.9 (br s, 1H);
MS m/z 316.0 (M+H), 248.4 (M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 134
5-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-N-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)pentanethioamide
[0495] melting point:: 128.0-128.5.degree. C.
[0496] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 1.65-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.75-1.80 (m, 2H),
2.7-2.75 (m, 2H), 3.7 (s, 3H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 4.0-4.05 (t, 2H),
6.9-7.0 (m, 2H), 7.2 (s, 1H), 7.3 (d, 1H), 7.5 (s, 1H), 7.75 (s,
1H), 11.0 (s, 1H); MS m/z 320.2 (M+H), 252.2
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
EXAMPLE 136
1-(2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)thiourea
[0497] melting point: 157.5-159.0.degree. C.
[0498] .sup.1H NMR .delta. 3.7 (2 s, 6H), 3.8 (m, 2H), 4.2 (m, 2H),
6.7 (m, 1H), 6.85 (m, 1H), 6.9 (m, 2H), 7.15 (s, 1H), 7.5 (br s,
1H), 7.6 (s, 1H), 9.5 (s, 1H); MS m/z 307.2 (M+H), 239.1
(M-C.sub.3H.sub.3N.sub.2.)
ABBREVIATIONS
[0499] .degree. C. degree Celsius
[0500] A, Ala alanine
[0501] A.beta. amyloid-.beta. peptide
[0502] ABri amyloid peptide in familial british dementia
[0503] AC adenylyl cyclase
[0504] ADan amyloid peptide in familial danish dementia
[0505] AIM absent in melanoma
[0506] AMC aminio methyl coumarine
[0507] as antisense
[0508] Asp aspartate
[0509] .beta.NA beta-naphtylamine
[0510] BA butyric acid
[0511] bp basepair
[0512] BSA bovine serum albumin
[0513] C cysteine
[0514] CAT chloramphenicol acetyl transferase
[0515] cAMP cyclic adenosine monophsphate
[0516] CCL2 MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1
[0517] CCL7 MCP-3, monocyte chemoattractant protein 3
[0518] CCL8 MCP-2, monocyte chemoattractant protein 2
[0519] CCL13 MCP-4, monocyte chemoattractant protein 4
[0520] cDNA copy-DNA
[0521] C-His C-terminal histidine tag
[0522] CIDP Chronic inflammatory demyelinizing
polyradiculoneuropathy
[0523] Cl chlorine
[0524] CSF cerebor-spinal fluid (liquor cerebrospinalis)
[0525] C-terminus carboxy-terminus
[0526] CTL cytotoxic T-lymphocyte
[0527] CV column volume
[0528] d diameter
[0529] Da Dalton
[0530] DMSO dimethyl sulphoxide
[0531] DNA desoxyribonucleic acid
[0532] E enzyme
[0533] EBV Epstein Barr virus
[0534] ECL enterochromaffin-like
[0535] E. coli Escherichia coli
[0536] EC glutamyl cyclase
[0537] ED effective dose
[0538] EGFP enhanced green fluorescent protein
[0539] ES enzyme-substrate complex
[0540] FPP fertilization promoting peptide
[0541] FTC follicular thyroid carcinoma
[0542] g relative centrifugal force
[0543] GBS Guillain-Barre syndrome
[0544] GF gel filtration
[0545] Gln glutamine
[0546] Glu glutamic acid
[0547] GnRH gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gonadoliberin)
[0548] GST glutathion S-transferase
[0549] H hydrogen
[0550] h human, hour
[0551] HGF hepatocyte growth factor
[0552] HIC hydrophobic interaction chromatography
[0553] HIF1a hypoxia induced factor 1a
[0554] His histidine
[0555] HPLC high performance liquid chromatography
[0556] I inhibitor, isoleucine
[0557] ID identification
[0558] IMAC immobilized metal affinity chromatography
[0559] IPTG Isopropyl-.beta.-D-thiogalactopyranosid
[0560] K potassium
[0561] k constant
[0562] kDA kilo-dalton
[0563] k.sub.i inhibitor constant
[0564] KLH Keyhole limpet hemocyanin
[0565] l length
[0566] LB Luria-Bertani
[0567] LD lethal dose
[0568] LPS lipopolysaccharide
[0569] M molar
[0570] .mu.l micro-liter
[0571] .mu.M micro-molar
[0572] MAGEA melanoma antigen family A
[0573] MAGEB melanoma antigen family B
[0574] Maldi-tof matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization
time-of-flight
[0575] MART 1 melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells 1
[0576] max maximum
[0577] MCL-1 myeloid cell leukemia 1
[0578] Met methionine
[0579] min minutes
[0580] mM milli-molar
[0581] MS Multiple Sclerosis
[0582] mRNA messenger-RNA
[0583] N asparagine
[0584] Na sodium
[0585] NADH nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
[0586] nm nanometer
[0587] NO number
[0588] NT Neurotensin
[0589] N-terminus amino terminus
[0590] O oxygen
[0591] OD optical density
[0592] P product, phosphor
[0593] PBS phosphate-buffered saline
[0594] PCR polymerase chain reaction
[0595] pGlu pyroglutamic acid
[0596] pH pondus hydrogenii
[0597] Pro proline
[0598] PTC papillary thyroid carcinoma
[0599] Pyr pyroglutamate
[0600] QC glutaminyl cyclase (glutaminyl-peptide
cyclotransferase)
[0601] qPCR quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction
[0602] QPCTL glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like
[0603] RNA ribonucleic acid
[0604] RT reverse transcription; reverse transcriptase
[0605] S substrate
[0606] s sense
[0607] SAGE serial analysis of gene expression
[0608] SDS sodium dodecly sulfate
[0609] SDS-PAGE SDS-polyacrylamid gelelectrophoresis
[0610] SGAP Streptomyces griseus amino peptidase
[0611] SEQ sequence
[0612] SNP single nucleotide polymorphism
[0613] taa tumor-associated antigen
[0614] TGF-.beta. transforming growth factor beta
[0615] TNF-.alpha. tumor necrosis factor alpha
[0616] TRH thyreotropin-realeasing hormone (thyreoliberin)
[0617] TSH thyroidea-stimulating-hormone
[0618] TYR tyrosinase
[0619] TYRP tyrosinase related protein
[0620] U unit
[0621] UTC undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma
[0622] UV ultraviolet
[0623] V velocity
[0624] VpAP Vibrio proteolytica amino peptidase
[0625] YSS yeast signal sequence
[0626] Zn zinc
Sequence CWU 1
1
12111086DNAhuman 1atggcaggcg gaagacaccg gcgcgtcgtg ggcaccctcc
acctgctgct gctggtggcc 60gccctgccct gggcatccag gggggtcagt ccgagtgcct
cagcctggcc agaggagaag 120aattaccacc agccagccat tttgaattca
tcggctcttc ggcaaattgc agaaggcacc 180agtatctctg aaatgtggca
aaatgactta cagccattgc tgatagagcg atacccggga 240tcccctggaa
gctatgctgc tcgtcagcac atcatgcagc gaattcagag gcttcaggct
300gactgggtct tggaaataga caccttcttg agtcagacac cctatgggta
ccggtctttc 360tcaaatatca tcagcaccct caatcccact gctaaacgac
atttggtcct cgcctgccac 420tatgactcca agtatttttc ccactggaac
aacagagtgt ttgtaggagc cactgattca 480gccgtgccat gtgcaatgat
gttggaactt gctcgtgcct tagacaagaa actcctttcc 540ttaaagactg
tttcagactc caagccagat ttgtcactcc agctgatctt ctttgatggt
600gaagaggctt ttcttcactg gtctcctcaa gattctctct atgggtctcg
acacttagct 660gcaaagatgg catcgacccc gcacccacct ggagcgagag
gcaccagcca actgcatggc 720atggatttat tggtcttatt ggatttgatt
ggagctccaa acccaacgtt tcccaatttt 780tttccaaact cagccaggtg
gttcgaaaga cttcaagcaa ttgaacatga acttcatgaa 840ttgggtttgc
tcaaggatca ctctttggag gggcggtatt tccagaatta cagttatgga
900ggtgtgattc aggatgacca tattccattt ttaagaagag gtgttccagt
tctgcatctg 960ataccgtctc ctttccctga agtctggcac accatggatg
acaatgaaga aaatttggat 1020gaatcaacca ttgacaatct aaacaaaatc
ctacaagtct ttgtgttgga atatcttcat 1080ttgtaa 108621149DNAhuman
2atgcgttccg ggggccgcgg gcgaccccgc ctgcggctgg gggaacgtgg cctcatggag
60ccactcttgc cgccgaagcg ccgcctgcta ccgcgggttc ggctcttgcc tctgttgctg
120gcgctggccg tgggctcggc gttctacacc atttggagcg gctggcaccg
caggactgag 180gagctgccgc tgggccggga gctgcgggtc ccattgatcg
gaagcctccc cgaagcccgg 240ctgcggaggg tggtgggaca actggatcca
cagcgtctct ggagcactta tctgcgcccc 300ctgctggttg tgcgaacccc
gggcagcccg ggaaatctcc aagtcagaaa gttcctggag 360gccacgctgc
ggtccctgac agcaggttgg cacgtggagc tggatccctt cacagcctca
420acacccctgg ggccagtgga ctttggcaat gtggtggcca cactggaccc
aagggctgcc 480cgtcacctca cccttgcctg ccattatgac tcgaagctct
tcccacccgg atcgaccccc 540tttgtagggg ccacggattc ggctgtgccc
tgtgccctgc tgctggagct ggcccaagca 600cttgacctgg agctgagcag
ggccaaaaaa caggcagccc cggtgaccct gcaactgctc 660ttcttggatg
gtgaagaggc gctgaaggag tggggaccca aggactccct ttacggttcc
720cggcacctgg cccagctcat ggagtctata cctcacagcc ccggccccac
caggatccag 780gctattgagc tctttatgct tcttgatctc ctgggagccc
ccaatcccac cttctacagc 840cacttccctc gcacggtccg ctggttccat
cggctgagga gcattgagaa gcgtctgcac 900cgtttgaacc tgctgcagtc
tcatccccag gaagtgatgt acttccaacc cggggagccc 960tttggctctg
tggaagacga ccacatcccc ttcctccgca gaggggtacc cgtgctccat
1020ctcatctcca cgcccttccc tgctgtctgg cacacccctg cggacaccga
ggtcaatctc 1080cacccaccca cggtacacaa cttgtgccgc attctcgctg
tgttcctggc tgaatacctg 1140gggctctag 114931145DNAhuman 3atgcgttccg
ggggccgcgg gcgaccccgc ctgcggctgg gggaacgtgg atggagccac 60tcttgccgcc
gaagcgccgc ctgctaccgc gggttcggct cttgcctctg ttgctggcgc
120tggccgtggg ctcggcgttc tacaccattt ggagcggctg gcaccgcagg
actgaggagc 180tgccgctggg ccgggagctg cgggtcccat tgatcggaag
cctccccgaa gcccggctgc 240ggagggtggt gggacaactg gatccacagc
gtctctggag cacttatctg cgccccctgc 300tggttgtgcg aaccccgggc
agcccgggaa atctccaagt cagaaagttc ctggaggcca 360cgctgcggtc
cctgacagca ggttggcacg tggagctgga tcccttcaca gcctcaacac
420ccctggggcc agtggacttt ggcaatgtgg tggccacact ggacccaagg
gctgcccgtc 480acctcaccct tgcctgccat tatgactcga agctcttccc
acccggatcg accccctttg 540taggggccac ggattcggct gtgccctgtg
ccctgctgct ggagctggcc caagcacttg 600acctggagct gagcagggcc
aaaaaacagg cagccccggt gaccctgcaa ctgctcttct 660tggatggtga
agaggcgctg aaggagtggg gacccaagga ctccctttac ggttcccggc
720acctggccca gctcatggag tctatacctc acagccccgg ccccaccagg
atccaggcta 780ttgagctctt tatgcttctt gatctcctgg gagcccccaa
tcccaccttc tacagccact 840tccctcgcac ggtccgctgg ttccatcggc
tgaggagcat tgagaagcgt ctgcaccgtt 900tgaacctgct gcagtctcat
ccccaggaag tgatgtactt ccaacccggg gagccctttg 960gctctgtgga
agacgaccac atccccttcc tccgcagagg ggtacccgtg ctccatctca
1020tctccacgcc cttccctgct gtctggcaca cccctgcgga caccgaggtc
aatctccacc 1080cacccacggt acacaacttg tgccgcattc tcgctgtgtt
cctggctgaa tacctggggc 1140tctag 114541149DNAMacaca fascicularis
4atgcgttccg ggggccgcgg gcggccccgc ctgcggctag gggaacgtgg cgttatggag
60ccactcttgc ccccgaagcg ccgcctgcta ccgcgggttc ggctcttgcc cctgttgctg
120gcgctggccg tgggctcggc gttctacacc atttggagcg gctggcaccg
caggactgag 180gagctgccgc tgggccggga gctgcgggtc ccgttgatcg
gaagccttcc cgaagcccgg 240ctgcggaggg tggtgggaca actggaccca
cagcgtctct ggggcactta tctgcgcccc 300ctgctggttg tgcgaacccc
aggcagcccg ggaaatctcc aagtcagaaa gttcctggag 360gccacgctgc
ggtccctgac agcaggttgg cacgtggagc tggatccctt cacagcctcg
420acgcccctgg ggccagtgga ctttggcaat gtggtggcca cgctggaccc
gggggctgcc 480cgtcacctca cccttgcctg ccattatgac tcgaagctct
tcccacccgg atcgaccccg 540tttgtagggg ccacggactc ggctgtgccc
tgtgccctgc tgctggagct ggcccaggca 600cttgacctgg agctgagcag
ggccaaagaa caggcagccc cggtgaccct gcaactgctc 660ttcctggatg
gtgaagaggc gctgaaggag tggggaccca aggactccct ttacggttcc
720cggcacctgg cccagctcat ggagtctata cctcatagcc ccggccccac
caggatccag 780gctattgagc tctttatgct tcttgatctc ctgggagccc
ccaatcccac cttctacagc 840cacttccctc gcacggtccg ctggttccat
cggctgagaa gcattgagaa gcgtctgcac 900cgtttgaacc tgctgcagtc
tcatccccag gaagtgatgt acttccaacc cggggagccc 960ttcggctctg
tggaagacga ccacatcccc ttcctccgca gaggggtccc cgtgctccat
1020ctcatctcta cgcccttccc tgctgtctgg cacacccctg cggacacaga
ggccaatctc 1080cacccgccca cggtacacaa cttaagccgc attctggccg
tgttcctggc tgaatacctg 1140gggctctag 114951149DNAMacaca mulatta
5atgcgttccg ggggccgcgg gcggccccgc ctgcggctag gggaacgtgg cgttatggag
60ccactcttgc ccccgaagcg ccgcctgcta ccgcgggttc ggctcttgcc cctgttgctg
120gcgctggccg tgggctcggc gttctacacc atttggagcg gctggcaccg
caggactgag 180gagctgccgc tgggccggga gctgcgggtc ccgttgatcg
gaagccttcc cgaagcccgg 240ctgcggaggg tggtgggaca actggaccca
cagcgtctct ggggcactta tctgcgcccc 300ctgctggttg tgcgaacccc
aggcagcccg ggaaatctcc aagtcagaaa gttcctggag 360gccacgctgc
ggtccctgac agcaggttgg cacgtggagc tggatccctt cacagcctcg
420acgcccctgg gcccagtgga ctttggcaat gtggtggcca cgctggaccc
gggggctgcc 480cgtcacctca cccttgcctg ccattatgac tcgaagctct
tcccacccgg atcgaccccg 540tttgtagggg ccacagactc ggctgtgccc
tgtgccctgc tgctggagct ggcccaggca 600cttgacctgg agctgagcag
ggccaaagaa caggcagccc cggtgaccct gcaactgctc 660ttcctggatg
gtgaagaggc gctgaaggag tggggaccca aggactccct ttacggttcc
720cggcacctgg cccagctcat ggagtctata cctcatagcc ccggccccac
caggatccag 780gctattgagc tctttatgct tcttgatctc ctgggagccc
ccaatcccac cttctacagc 840cacttccctc gcacggtccg ctggttccat
cggctgagaa gcattgagaa gcgtctgcac 900cgtttgaacc tgctgcagtc
tcatccccag gaagtgatgt acttccaacc cggggagccc 960tttggctctg
tggaagacga ccacatcccc ttcctccgca gaggggtccc cgtgctccat
1020ctcatctcta cgcccttccc tgctgtctgg cacacccctg cggacacaga
ggccaatctc 1080cacccgccca cggtacacaa cttaagccgc attctggccg
tgttcctggc tgaatacctg 1140gggctctag 114961152DNACanis familiaris
6atgccttccg ggggccgcgg gcggtcccgg ctacggctcg gggaacgtgg cctcttggag
60ccgccctccc cgcccaagcg ccgcctgctc ccgcgggcgc acttcttgcc tctgcttctg
120ctggccctgg ccctggcttc ggcgacctac accatctgga gcggctggca
ccaccagact 180gaggagctgc cgcggggccg ggagctgcgg ggccgcttga
tcggaagcct ctccgaagcc 240cggctgcggc gggtggtggg gcaactggac
ccacaccgtc tctggaacac ttatctgcgc 300cccctgctgg ttgtgcggac
cccgggcagc cccggcaatc tccaagtcag aaagttcctg 360gaggctacac
tacggacctt gacagcaggc tggcatgtgg aactggaccc cttcacagcc
420ttgacacccc tggggccact ggactttggc aatgtggtgg ccacgctgga
cccaggggct 480gcccgtcacc tcacccttgc ctgccattat gactccaagc
tcttcgcatc tgagtcggtt 540ccctttgtgg gggcaacaga ttcggctgta
ccttgcgccc tgctgctgga gctggctcag 600gccctcgaca gggagttgag
tagggccaag gagcaggaag ccccggtgac tctgcagctg 660ctctttttgg
atggtgaaga agcactgaag gagtggggac ccacagactc cctctatggc
720tcccggcacc tggcccagct catggagtct gcaccccaca gcccgggccc
caccaggatc 780caggctatcg agctcttcat gctccttgat ctcctgggtg
ccccgaatcc aaacttctac 840agtcacttcc ctcatacagc ccgctggttc
catcggctga ggagcatcga gaagcgcctt 900caccgcatga acctgctgca
gtctcatccc caggaagtga tgtacttcca gcccggggag 960ccccctggtt
ctgtggaaga tgaccacatc cccttcctcc gccgaggggt ccctgtgctc
1020cacctcatct ccatgccctt cccctccgtc tggcacaccc ccgatgactc
tgaggccaac 1080ctgcacccac ccaccgtaca caatctgagc cgcatcctcg
ccgtgttcct ggccgaatat 1140ctggggctct ag 115271152DNARattus
norvegicus 7atgagtccgg ccagccgcgg gcggtctcgg cagcggctcg gggatcgcgg
cctcatgaaa 60ccaccctcac tttccaagcg ccgtcttctg ccgcgggtgc agctcctgcc
cctgctgctg 120ctggcgctgg ccctgggctt ggctttttat atcgtctgga
atagctggca ccctggggtt 180gaggaggtat cacggagccg ggatctgcgg
gtcccgctga tcggaagcct ttcagaagcc 240aagctgcggc ttgtggtagg
gcagctggat ccacagcgtc tctggggaac ttttctgcgt 300cccttgttga
ttgtacgacc cccaggtagt cctggcaatc tccaagtgag aaagttcctg
360gaggctacgt tgcagtccct atcggcaggc tggcacgtgg aactggaccc
attcacagcc 420tcaaccccct tggggccact ggacttcggg aacgtggtgg
ccacccttga cccaggagct 480gcccgtcacc tcaccctcgc ctgccattat
gactctaagt tcttccctcc tgggttaccc 540ccctttgtgg gggccacaga
ttcagccgtg ccctgtgccc tgcttctgga gttagtccag 600gcccttgatg
tcatgctgag cagaatcaag cagcaggcag caccagtgac cctgcagctg
660ctcttcttgg acggggagga ggcactgaag gagtggggac caaaggactc
cctctatggt 720tcccggcacc tagctcagat catggagtct ataccgcaca
gccctggccc caccaggatc 780caggctattg agctctttgt ccttcttgac
cttctgggag cgcccagtcc aatcttcttc 840agtcacttcc cccgcacagc
ccgctggttc caacgactgc ggagcatcga gaagcgcctt 900caccgtctga
acctactgca gtctcacccc caggaagtga tgtacttcca acccggggag
960ccccctggcc ctgtggaaga tgaccacatc cccttccttc gcagaggggt
cccggtgctc 1020cacctcattg cgatgccctt ccctgccgtg tggcacacac
ctgctgacac tgaggctaac 1080ctccacccgc ccacggtgca caacctgagc
cgcatcctcg ccgtgttcct ggctgagtac 1140ctgggtctct ag 115281152DNAMus
musculus 8atgagtcccg ggagccgcgg gcggccccgg cagcggctcg aggatcgtgg
cctcatgaaa 60ccaccctcac tttccaagcg ccgtcttctg ccgcgagtgc agttcctgcc
cctgctgctg 120ctggcgctgg ctatgggctt ggctttctat atcgtctgga
acagctggca ccctggggtt 180gaggagatgt cacggagccg ggatctgcgg
gtcccgctga tcggaagcct ttcagaagcc 240aagctgcggc tggtggtagg
gcagctggat ccgcagcgtc tctggggaac tttcctgcgt 300cccttattga
ttgtgcgacc cccgggtagt tctggcaatc tccaagtgag aaagttcctg
360gaggctacgt tgcagtccct gtcggcaggc tggcatgttg aactggaccc
attcacggcc 420tcaaccccct tggggccact ggacttcggg aacgtggtgg
ccacacttga cccaggagct 480gcccgtcacc tcaccctcgc ctgccattat
gactctaagt tcttccctcc ggggttgccc 540ccctttgtgg gggccacaga
ttcagctgtg ccctgtgccc tgcttctgga gttggtccag 600gcccttgatg
ccatgctgag cagaatcaag cagcaggcag caccggtgac cctgcagctg
660cttttcttgg atggggagga ggcactgaag gagtggggac caaaggactc
cctctatggc 720tcccggcacc tagctcagat catggagtct ataccacaca
gccctggccc caccaggatc 780caggctattg agctctttgt cctcctcgac
cttctgggag catccagtcc gatcttcttc 840agtcacttcc ctcgcacagc
ccgctggttc cagcgactga ggagcattga gaagcgcctt 900caccggctga
acctactgca gtctcacccc caggaagtga tgtacttcca acccggggag
960ccccccggcc ctgtggaaga tgaccacatc cccttccttc gcagaggggt
cccggtgctc 1020cacctcattg ccacgccctt ccctgctgtg tggcacacac
ctgctgacac cgaggccaac 1080ctccacccac ccactgtgca taacctgagc
cgcatccttg ctgtgttcct ggccgagtac 1140ctgggactct ag 115291152DNABos
taurus 9atgccttccg ggggccgcgg gcggccccgg ctccaggtcg gggaacgcag
ccttttggag 60cgaccctcac cgcccaagcg ccgcctgata ccgcgggcac agctgttgcc
ccagctgctg 120ctggctctga cggtagcctc ggtgttctat accatttgga
ggatctggca tagccagact 180gaagagctac cgctggggcg ggagctgcgg
ggccctttga tcggaagcct ccccgaagct 240cgggtgcgga gggtagtggg
gcaactggac cctcaccgtc tctggaacac tttcctgcgc 300cctctgctgg
ttgtacggac tccgggcagc ccgggcaatc tccaagtgag aaagttcctg
360gaggctacgc tgcggacact ttcagcaggc tggcatatag aactcgactc
cttcactgcc 420tccacacccg tggggccatt ggacttcagc aatgtggtgg
ccacgctgga cccaggggct 480gcccgccacc ttacccttgc ctgccattat
gactccaagc tcttcccatc tgactcagcc 540ccctttgtgg gggccacgga
ttcggcagtg ccttgctccc tgctactgga gctggcccaa 600gcccttgacc
aggagctggg caaagccaag gagagggcag cgccaatgac cttgcagctg
660atcttcctgg atggtgaaga ggcactgaag cagtggggac ccaaggactc
gctttatggc 720tcccggcacc tggcccagct catggagtct acaccccacg
gcctgggctc caccaggatc 780caggctattg agctctttat gcttcttgat
ctcctgggag cccccaaccc gaccttctac 840agtcacttcc ctcgcacggc
ccgctggttc catcggctca ggagcattga gaagcgcctg 900caccgtctga
acctcctgca gtctcatcct tgggaagtga tgtacttcca gaccggggag
960ccccccggct ccgtggaaga cgaccacatc ccgttcctcc gccgaggagt
tcccgtgctc 1020cacctcatcg ccacaccctt cccctctgtc tggcacacgt
ccgatgactc cgaggccaac 1080ctgcacccac ccacggtaca caacctgagc
cgcatcctgg ccgtgttcct ggctgagtac 1140ctggggctct ag
115210361PRThuman 10Met Ala Gly Gly Arg His Arg Arg Val Val Gly Thr
Leu His Leu Leu1 5 10 15Leu Leu Val Ala Ala Leu Pro Trp Ala Ser Arg
Gly Val Ser Pro Ser 20 25 30Ala Ser Ala Trp Pro Glu Glu Lys Asn Tyr
His Gln Pro Ala Ile Leu 35 40 45Asn Ser Ser Ala Leu Arg Gln Ile Ala
Glu Gly Thr Ser Ile Ser Glu 50 55 60Met Trp Gln Asn Asp Leu Gln Pro
Leu Leu Ile Glu Arg Tyr Pro Gly65 70 75 80Ser Pro Gly Ser Tyr Ala
Ala Arg Gln His Ile Met Gln Arg Ile Gln 85 90 95Arg Leu Gln Ala Asp
Trp Val Leu Glu Ile Asp Thr Phe Leu Ser Gln 100 105 110Thr Pro Tyr
Gly Tyr Arg Ser Phe Ser Asn Ile Ile Ser Thr Leu Asn 115 120 125Pro
Thr Ala Lys Arg His Leu Val Leu Ala Cys His Tyr Asp Ser Lys 130 135
140Tyr Phe Ser His Trp Asn Asn Arg Val Phe Val Gly Ala Thr Asp
Ser145 150 155 160Ala Val Pro Cys Ala Met Met Leu Glu Leu Ala Arg
Ala Leu Asp Lys 165 170 175Lys Leu Leu Ser Leu Lys Thr Val Ser Asp
Ser Lys Pro Asp Leu Ser 180 185 190Leu Gln Leu Ile Phe Phe Asp Gly
Glu Glu Ala Phe Leu His Trp Ser 195 200 205Pro Gln Asp Ser Leu Tyr
Gly Ser Arg His Leu Ala Ala Lys Met Ala 210 215 220Ser Thr Pro His
Pro Pro Gly Ala Arg Gly Thr Ser Gln Leu His Gly225 230 235 240Met
Asp Leu Leu Val Leu Leu Asp Leu Ile Gly Ala Pro Asn Pro Thr 245 250
255Phe Pro Asn Phe Phe Pro Asn Ser Ala Arg Trp Phe Glu Arg Leu Gln
260 265 270Ala Ile Glu His Glu Leu His Glu Leu Gly Leu Leu Lys Asp
His Ser 275 280 285Leu Glu Gly Arg Tyr Phe Gln Asn Tyr Ser Tyr Gly
Gly Val Ile Gln 290 295 300Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg Gly
Val Pro Val Leu His Leu305 310 315 320Ile Pro Ser Pro Phe Pro Glu
Val Trp His Thr Met Asp Asp Asn Glu 325 330 335Glu Asn Leu Asp Glu
Ser Thr Ile Asp Asn Leu Asn Lys Ile Leu Gln 340 345 350Val Phe Val
Leu Glu Tyr Leu His Leu 355 36011382PRThuman 11Met Arg Ser Gly Gly
Arg Gly Arg Pro Arg Leu Arg Leu Gly Glu Arg1 5 10 15Gly Leu Met Glu
Pro Leu Leu Pro Pro Lys Arg Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg 20 25 30Val Arg Leu
Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Val Gly Ser Ala Phe 35 40 45Tyr Thr
Ile Trp Ser Gly Trp His Arg Arg Thr Glu Glu Leu Pro Leu 50 55 60Gly
Arg Glu Leu Arg Val Pro Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Pro Glu Ala Arg65 70 75
80Leu Arg Arg Val Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Pro Gln Arg Leu Trp Ser Thr
85 90 95Tyr Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu Val Val Arg Thr Pro Gly Ser Pro Gly
Asn 100 105 110Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Phe Leu Glu Ala Thr Leu Arg Ser
Leu Thr Ala 115 120 125Gly Trp His Val Glu Leu Asp Pro Phe Thr Ala
Ser Thr Pro Leu Gly 130 135 140Pro Val Asp Phe Gly Asn Val Val Ala
Thr Leu Asp Pro Arg Ala Ala145 150 155 160Arg His Leu Thr Leu Ala
Cys His Tyr Asp Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro Pro 165 170 175Gly Ser Thr Pro
Phe Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Ser Ala Val Pro Cys Ala 180 185 190Leu Leu
Leu Glu Leu Ala Gln Ala Leu Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser Arg Ala 195 200
205Lys Lys Gln Ala Ala Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Leu Leu Phe Leu Asp Gly
210 215 220Glu Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Trp Gly Pro Lys Asp Ser Leu Tyr
Gly Ser225 230 235 240Arg His Leu Ala Gln Leu Met Glu Ser Ile Pro
His Ser Pro Gly Pro 245 250 255Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile Glu Leu Phe
Met Leu Leu Asp Leu Leu Gly 260 265 270Ala Pro Asn Pro Thr Phe Tyr
Ser His Phe Pro Arg Thr Val Arg Trp 275 280 285Phe His Arg Leu Arg
Ser Ile Glu Lys Arg Leu His Arg Leu Asn Leu 290 295 300Leu Gln Ser
His Pro Gln Glu Val Met Tyr Phe Gln Pro Gly Glu Pro305 310 315
320Phe Gly
Ser Val Glu Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg Gly Val 325 330
335Pro Val Leu His Leu Ile Ser Thr Pro Phe Pro Ala Val Trp His Thr
340 345 350Pro Ala Asp Thr Glu Val Asn Leu His Pro Pro Thr Val His
Asn Leu 355 360 365Cys Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu Ala Glu Tyr Leu
Gly Leu 370 375 38012364PRThuman 12Met Glu Pro Leu Leu Pro Pro Lys
Arg Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg Val Arg1 5 10 15Leu Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Ala
Leu Ala Val Gly Ser Ala Phe Tyr Thr 20 25 30Ile Trp Ser Gly Trp His
Arg Arg Thr Glu Glu Leu Pro Leu Gly Arg 35 40 45Glu Leu Arg Val Pro
Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Pro Glu Ala Arg Leu Arg 50 55 60Arg Val Val Gly
Gln Leu Asp Pro Gln Arg Leu Trp Ser Thr Tyr Leu65 70 75 80Arg Pro
Leu Leu Val Val Arg Thr Pro Gly Ser Pro Gly Asn Leu Gln 85 90 95Val
Arg Lys Phe Leu Glu Ala Thr Leu Arg Ser Leu Thr Ala Gly Trp 100 105
110His Val Glu Leu Asp Pro Phe Thr Ala Ser Thr Pro Leu Gly Pro Val
115 120 125Asp Phe Gly Asn Val Val Ala Thr Leu Asp Pro Arg Ala Ala
Arg His 130 135 140Leu Thr Leu Ala Cys His Tyr Asp Ser Lys Leu Phe
Pro Pro Gly Ser145 150 155 160Thr Pro Phe Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Ser
Ala Val Pro Cys Ala Leu Leu 165 170 175Leu Glu Leu Ala Gln Ala Leu
Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser Arg Ala Lys Lys 180 185 190Gln Ala Ala Pro Val
Thr Leu Gln Leu Leu Phe Leu Asp Gly Glu Glu 195 200 205Ala Leu Lys
Glu Trp Gly Pro Lys Asp Ser Leu Tyr Gly Ser Arg His 210 215 220Leu
Ala Gln Leu Met Glu Ser Ile Pro His Ser Pro Gly Pro Thr Arg225 230
235 240Ile Gln Ala Ile Glu Leu Phe Met Leu Leu Asp Leu Leu Gly Ala
Pro 245 250 255Asn Pro Thr Phe Tyr Ser His Phe Pro Arg Thr Val Arg
Trp Phe His 260 265 270Arg Leu Arg Ser Ile Glu Lys Arg Leu His Arg
Leu Asn Leu Leu Gln 275 280 285Ser His Pro Gln Glu Val Met Tyr Phe
Gln Pro Gly Glu Pro Phe Gly 290 295 300Ser Val Glu Asp Asp His Ile
Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg Gly Val Pro Val305 310 315 320Leu His Leu Ile
Ser Thr Pro Phe Pro Ala Val Trp His Thr Pro Ala 325 330 335Asp Thr
Glu Val Asn Leu His Pro Pro Thr Val His Asn Leu Cys Arg 340 345
350Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu Ala Glu Tyr Leu Gly Leu 355
36013382PRTMacaca fascicularis 13Met Arg Ser Gly Gly Arg Gly Arg
Pro Arg Leu Arg Leu Gly Glu Arg1 5 10 15Gly Val Met Glu Pro Leu Leu
Pro Pro Lys Arg Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg 20 25 30Val Arg Leu Leu Pro Leu
Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Val Gly Ser Ala Phe 35 40 45Tyr Thr Ile Trp Ser
Gly Trp His Arg Arg Thr Glu Glu Leu Pro Leu 50 55 60Gly Arg Glu Leu
Arg Val Pro Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Pro Glu Ala Arg65 70 75 80Leu Arg
Arg Val Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Pro Gln Arg Leu Trp Gly Thr 85 90 95Tyr
Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu Val Val Arg Thr Pro Gly Ser Pro Gly Asn 100 105
110Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Phe Leu Glu Ala Thr Leu Arg Ser Leu Thr Ala
115 120 125Gly Trp His Val Glu Leu Asp Pro Phe Thr Ala Ser Thr Pro
Leu Gly 130 135 140Pro Val Asp Phe Gly Asn Val Val Ala Thr Leu Asp
Pro Gly Ala Ala145 150 155 160Arg His Leu Thr Leu Ala Cys His Tyr
Asp Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro Pro 165 170 175Gly Ser Thr Pro Phe Val Gly
Ala Thr Asp Ser Ala Val Pro Cys Ala 180 185 190Leu Leu Leu Glu Leu
Ala Gln Ala Leu Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser Arg Ala 195 200 205Lys Glu Gln
Ala Ala Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Leu Leu Phe Leu Asp Gly 210 215 220Glu
Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Trp Gly Pro Lys Asp Ser Leu Tyr Gly Ser225 230
235 240Arg His Leu Ala Gln Leu Met Glu Ser Ile Pro His Ser Pro Gly
Pro 245 250 255Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile Glu Leu Phe Met Leu Leu Asp
Leu Leu Gly 260 265 270Ala Pro Asn Pro Thr Phe Tyr Ser His Phe Pro
Arg Thr Val Arg Trp 275 280 285Phe His Arg Leu Arg Ser Ile Glu Lys
Arg Leu His Arg Leu Asn Leu 290 295 300Leu Gln Ser His Pro Gln Glu
Val Met Tyr Phe Gln Pro Gly Glu Pro305 310 315 320Phe Gly Ser Val
Glu Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg Gly Val 325 330 335Pro Val
Leu His Leu Ile Ser Thr Pro Phe Pro Ala Val Trp His Thr 340 345
350Pro Ala Asp Thr Glu Ala Asn Leu His Pro Pro Thr Val His Asn Leu
355 360 365Ser Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu Ala Glu Tyr Leu Gly Leu
370 375 38014382PRTMacaca mulatta 14Met Arg Ser Gly Gly Arg Gly Arg
Pro Arg Leu Arg Leu Gly Glu Arg1 5 10 15Gly Val Met Glu Pro Leu Leu
Pro Pro Lys Arg Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg 20 25 30Val Arg Leu Leu Pro Leu
Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Val Gly Ser Ala Phe 35 40 45Tyr Thr Ile Trp Ser
Gly Trp His Arg Arg Thr Glu Glu Leu Pro Leu 50 55 60Gly Arg Glu Leu
Arg Val Pro Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Pro Glu Ala Arg65 70 75 80Leu Arg
Arg Val Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Pro Gln Arg Leu Trp Gly Thr 85 90 95Tyr
Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu Val Val Arg Thr Pro Gly Ser Pro Gly Asn 100 105
110Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Phe Leu Glu Ala Thr Leu Arg Ser Leu Thr Ala
115 120 125Gly Trp His Val Glu Leu Asp Pro Phe Thr Ala Ser Thr Pro
Leu Gly 130 135 140Pro Val Asp Phe Gly Asn Val Val Ala Thr Leu Asp
Pro Gly Ala Ala145 150 155 160Arg His Leu Thr Leu Ala Cys His Tyr
Asp Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro Pro 165 170 175Gly Ser Thr Pro Phe Val Gly
Ala Thr Asp Ser Ala Val Pro Cys Ala 180 185 190Leu Leu Leu Glu Leu
Ala Gln Ala Leu Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser Arg Ala 195 200 205Lys Glu Gln
Ala Ala Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Leu Leu Phe Leu Asp Gly 210 215 220Glu
Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Trp Gly Pro Lys Asp Ser Leu Tyr Gly Ser225 230
235 240Arg His Leu Ala Gln Leu Met Glu Ser Ile Pro His Ser Pro Gly
Pro 245 250 255Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile Glu Leu Phe Met Leu Leu Asp
Leu Leu Gly 260 265 270Ala Pro Asn Pro Thr Phe Tyr Ser His Phe Pro
Arg Thr Val Arg Trp 275 280 285Phe His Arg Leu Arg Ser Ile Glu Lys
Arg Leu His Arg Leu Asn Leu 290 295 300Leu Gln Ser His Pro Gln Glu
Val Met Tyr Phe Gln Pro Gly Glu Pro305 310 315 320Phe Gly Ser Val
Glu Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg Gly Val 325 330 335Pro Val
Leu His Leu Ile Ser Thr Pro Phe Pro Ala Val Trp His Thr 340 345
350Pro Ala Asp Thr Glu Ala Asn Leu His Pro Pro Thr Val His Asn Leu
355 360 365Ser Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu Ala Glu Tyr Leu Gly Leu
370 375 38015383PRTCanis familiaris 15Met Pro Ser Gly Gly Arg Gly
Arg Ser Arg Leu Arg Leu Gly Glu Arg1 5 10 15Gly Leu Leu Glu Pro Pro
Ser Pro Pro Lys Arg Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg 20 25 30Ala His Phe Leu Pro
Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Leu Ala Ser Ala 35 40 45Thr Tyr Thr Ile
Trp Ser Gly Trp His His Gln Thr Glu Glu Leu Pro 50 55 60Arg Gly Arg
Glu Leu Arg Gly Arg Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Ser Glu Ala65 70 75 80Arg
Leu Arg Arg Val Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Pro His Arg Leu Trp Asn 85 90
95Thr Tyr Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu Val Val Arg Thr Pro Gly Ser Pro Gly
100 105 110Asn Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Phe Leu Glu Ala Thr Leu Arg Thr
Leu Thr 115 120 125Ala Gly Trp His Val Glu Leu Asp Pro Phe Thr Ala
Leu Thr Pro Leu 130 135 140Gly Pro Leu Asp Phe Gly Asn Val Val Ala
Thr Leu Asp Pro Gly Ala145 150 155 160Ala Arg His Leu Thr Leu Ala
Cys His Tyr Asp Ser Lys Leu Phe Ala 165 170 175Ser Glu Ser Val Pro
Phe Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Ser Ala Val Pro Cys 180 185 190Ala Leu Leu
Leu Glu Leu Ala Gln Ala Leu Asp Arg Glu Leu Ser Arg 195 200 205Ala
Lys Glu Gln Glu Ala Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Leu Leu Phe Leu Asp 210 215
220Gly Glu Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Trp Gly Pro Thr Asp Ser Leu Tyr
Gly225 230 235 240Ser Arg His Leu Ala Gln Leu Met Glu Ser Ala Pro
His Ser Pro Gly 245 250 255Pro Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile Glu Leu Phe
Met Leu Leu Asp Leu Leu 260 265 270Gly Ala Pro Asn Pro Asn Phe Tyr
Ser His Phe Pro His Thr Ala Arg 275 280 285Trp Phe His Arg Leu Arg
Ser Ile Glu Lys Arg Leu His Arg Met Asn 290 295 300Leu Leu Gln Ser
His Pro Gln Glu Val Met Tyr Phe Gln Pro Gly Glu305 310 315 320Pro
Pro Gly Ser Val Glu Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg Gly 325 330
335Val Pro Val Leu His Leu Ile Ser Met Pro Phe Pro Ser Val Trp His
340 345 350Thr Pro Asp Asp Ser Glu Ala Asn Leu His Pro Pro Thr Val
His Asn 355 360 365Leu Ser Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu Ala Glu Tyr
Leu Gly Leu 370 375 38016383PRTRattus norvegicus 16Met Ser Pro Ala
Ser Arg Gly Arg Ser Arg Gln Arg Leu Gly Asp Arg1 5 10 15Gly Leu Met
Lys Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser Lys Arg Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg 20 25 30Val Gln
Leu Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Leu Gly Leu Ala 35 40 45Phe
Tyr Ile Val Trp Asn Ser Trp His Pro Gly Val Glu Glu Val Ser 50 55
60Arg Ser Arg Asp Leu Arg Val Pro Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Ser Glu Ala65
70 75 80Lys Leu Arg Leu Val Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Pro Gln Arg Leu Trp
Gly 85 90 95Thr Phe Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu Ile Val Arg Pro Pro Gly Ser
Pro Gly 100 105 110Asn Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Phe Leu Glu Ala Thr Leu
Gln Ser Leu Ser 115 120 125Ala Gly Trp His Val Glu Leu Asp Pro Phe
Thr Ala Ser Thr Pro Leu 130 135 140Gly Pro Leu Asp Phe Gly Asn Val
Val Ala Thr Leu Asp Pro Gly Ala145 150 155 160Ala Arg His Leu Thr
Leu Ala Cys His Tyr Asp Ser Lys Phe Phe Pro 165 170 175Pro Gly Leu
Pro Pro Phe Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Ser Ala Val Pro Cys 180 185 190Ala
Leu Leu Leu Glu Leu Val Gln Ala Leu Asp Val Met Leu Ser Arg 195 200
205Ile Lys Gln Gln Ala Ala Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Leu Leu Phe Leu Asp
210 215 220Gly Glu Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Trp Gly Pro Lys Asp Ser Leu
Tyr Gly225 230 235 240Ser Arg His Leu Ala Gln Ile Met Glu Ser Ile
Pro His Ser Pro Gly 245 250 255Pro Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile Glu Leu
Phe Val Leu Leu Asp Leu Leu 260 265 270Gly Ala Pro Ser Pro Ile Phe
Phe Ser His Phe Pro Arg Thr Ala Arg 275 280 285Trp Phe Gln Arg Leu
Arg Ser Ile Glu Lys Arg Leu His Arg Leu Asn 290 295 300Leu Leu Gln
Ser His Pro Gln Glu Val Met Tyr Phe Gln Pro Gly Glu305 310 315
320Pro Pro Gly Pro Val Glu Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg Gly
325 330 335Val Pro Val Leu His Leu Ile Ala Met Pro Phe Pro Ala Val
Trp His 340 345 350Thr Pro Ala Asp Thr Glu Ala Asn Leu His Pro Pro
Thr Val His Asn 355 360 365Leu Ser Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu Ala
Glu Tyr Leu Gly Leu 370 375 38017383PRTMus musculus 17Met Ser Pro
Gly Ser Arg Gly Arg Pro Arg Gln Arg Leu Glu Asp Arg1 5 10 15Gly Leu
Met Lys Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser Lys Arg Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg 20 25 30Val
Gln Phe Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Met Gly Leu Ala 35 40
45Phe Tyr Ile Val Trp Asn Ser Trp His Pro Gly Val Glu Glu Met Ser
50 55 60Arg Ser Arg Asp Leu Arg Val Pro Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Ser Glu
Ala65 70 75 80Lys Leu Arg Leu Val Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Pro Gln Arg
Leu Trp Gly 85 90 95Thr Phe Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu Ile Val Arg Pro Pro
Gly Ser Ser Gly 100 105 110Asn Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Phe Leu Glu Ala
Thr Leu Gln Ser Leu Ser 115 120 125Ala Gly Trp His Val Glu Leu Asp
Pro Phe Thr Ala Ser Thr Pro Leu 130 135 140Gly Pro Leu Asp Phe Gly
Asn Val Val Ala Thr Leu Asp Pro Gly Ala145 150 155 160Ala Arg His
Leu Thr Leu Ala Cys His Tyr Asp Ser Lys Phe Phe Pro 165 170 175Pro
Gly Leu Pro Pro Phe Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Ser Ala Val Pro Cys 180 185
190Ala Leu Leu Leu Glu Leu Val Gln Ala Leu Asp Ala Met Leu Ser Arg
195 200 205Ile Lys Gln Gln Ala Ala Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Leu Leu Phe
Leu Asp 210 215 220Gly Glu Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Trp Gly Pro Lys Asp
Ser Leu Tyr Gly225 230 235 240Ser Arg His Leu Ala Gln Ile Met Glu
Ser Ile Pro His Ser Pro Gly 245 250 255Pro Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile
Glu Leu Phe Val Leu Leu Asp Leu Leu 260 265 270Gly Ala Ser Ser Pro
Ile Phe Phe Ser His Phe Pro Arg Thr Ala Arg 275 280 285Trp Phe Gln
Arg Leu Arg Ser Ile Glu Lys Arg Leu His Arg Leu Asn 290 295 300Leu
Leu Gln Ser His Pro Gln Glu Val Met Tyr Phe Gln Pro Gly Glu305 310
315 320Pro Pro Gly Pro Val Glu Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg
Gly 325 330 335Val Pro Val Leu His Leu Ile Ala Thr Pro Phe Pro Ala
Val Trp His 340 345 350Thr Pro Ala Asp Thr Glu Ala Asn Leu His Pro
Pro Thr Val His Asn 355 360 365Leu Ser Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu
Ala Glu Tyr Leu Gly Leu 370 375 38018383PRTBos taurus 18Met Pro Ser
Gly Gly Arg Gly Arg Pro Arg Leu Gln Val Gly Glu Arg1 5 10 15Ser Leu
Leu Glu Arg Pro Ser Pro Pro Lys Arg Arg Leu Ile Pro Arg 20 25 30Ala
Gln Leu Leu Pro Gln Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Thr Val Ala Ser Val 35 40
45Phe Tyr Thr Ile Trp Arg Ile Trp His Ser Gln Thr Glu Glu Leu Pro
50 55 60Leu Gly Arg Glu Leu Arg Gly Pro Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Pro Glu
Ala65 70 75 80Arg Val Arg Arg Val Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Pro His Arg
Leu Trp Asn 85 90 95Thr Phe Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu Val Val Arg Thr Pro
Gly Ser Pro Gly 100 105 110Asn Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Phe Leu Glu Ala
Thr Leu Arg Thr Leu Ser
115 120 125Ala Gly Trp His Ile Glu Leu Asp Ser Phe Thr Ala Ser Thr
Pro Val 130 135 140Gly Pro Leu Asp Phe Ser Asn Val Val Ala Thr Leu
Asp Pro Gly Ala145 150 155 160Ala Arg His Leu Thr Leu Ala Cys His
Tyr Asp Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro 165 170 175Ser Asp Ser Ala Pro Phe Val
Gly Ala Thr Asp Ser Ala Val Pro Cys 180 185 190Ser Leu Leu Leu Glu
Leu Ala Gln Ala Leu Asp Gln Glu Leu Gly Lys 195 200 205Ala Lys Glu
Arg Ala Ala Pro Met Thr Leu Gln Leu Ile Phe Leu Asp 210 215 220Gly
Glu Glu Ala Leu Lys Gln Trp Gly Pro Lys Asp Ser Leu Tyr Gly225 230
235 240Ser Arg His Leu Ala Gln Leu Met Glu Ser Thr Pro His Gly Leu
Gly 245 250 255Ser Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile Glu Leu Phe Met Leu Leu
Asp Leu Leu 260 265 270Gly Ala Pro Asn Pro Thr Phe Tyr Ser His Phe
Pro Arg Thr Ala Arg 275 280 285Trp Phe His Arg Leu Arg Ser Ile Glu
Lys Arg Leu His Arg Leu Asn 290 295 300Leu Leu Gln Ser His Pro Trp
Glu Val Met Tyr Phe Gln Thr Gly Glu305 310 315 320Pro Pro Gly Ser
Val Glu Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg Arg Gly 325 330 335Val Pro
Val Leu His Leu Ile Ala Thr Pro Phe Pro Ser Val Trp His 340 345
350Thr Ser Asp Asp Ser Glu Ala Asn Leu His Pro Pro Thr Val His Asn
355 360 365Leu Ser Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu Ala Glu Tyr Leu Gly
Leu 370 375 380191457DNAhuman 19gtctggtaca ggtttcaggg caaagcggcc
atgcgttccg ggggccgcgg gcgaccccgc 60ctgcggctgg gggaacgtgg cctcatggag
ccactcttgc cgccgaagcg ccgcctgcta 120ccgcgggttc ggctcttgcc
tctgttgctg gcgctggccg tgggctcggc gttctacacc 180atttggagcg
gctggcaccg caggactgag gagctgccgc tgggccggga gctgcgggtc
240ccattgatcg gaagcctccc cgaagcccgg ctgcggaggg tggtgggaca
actggatcca 300cagcgtctct ggagcactta tctgcgcccc ctgctggttg
tgcgaacccc gggcagcccg 360ggaaatctcc aagtcagaaa gttcctggag
gccacgctgc ggtccctgac agcaggttgg 420cacgtggagc tggatccctt
cacagcctca acacccctgg ggccagtgga ctttggcaat 480gtggtggcca
cactggaccc aagggctgcc cgtcacctca cccttgcctg ccattatgac
540tcgaagctct tcccacccgg atcgaccccc tttgtagggg ccacggattc
ggctgtgccc 600tgtgccctgc tgctggagct ggcccaagca cttgacctgg
agctgagcag ggccaaaaaa 660caggcagccc cggtgaccct gcaactgctc
ttcttggatg gtgaagaggc gctgaaggag 720tggggaccca aggactccct
ttacggttcc cggcacctgg cccagctcat ggagtctata 780cctcacagcc
ccggccccac caggatccag gctattgagc tctttatgct tcttgatctc
840ctgggagccc ccaatcccac cttctacagc cacttccctc gcacggtccg
ctggttccat 900cggctgagga gcattgagaa gcgtctgcac cgtttgaacc
tgctgcagtc tcatccccag 960gaagtgatgt acttccaacc cggggagccc
tttggctctg tggaagacga ccacatcccc 1020ttcctccgca gaggggtacc
cgtgctccat ctcatctcca cgcccttccc tgctgtctgg 1080cacacccctg
cggacaccga ggtcaatctc cacccaccca cggtacacaa cttgtgccgc
1140attctcgctg tgttcctggc tgaatacctg gggctctagc gtgcttggcc
aatgactgtg 1200gagaggactg tgagagagaa ggtcccagcg ggggccagtg
aagctcaggc aggatctgcc 1260tagggtgtgc tggtttgtcc ttttcatacc
tttgtctcct aattgtgcta caattggaag 1320accttctttc ttttgattgt
ctcaagctgc cacccttcaa ggacagggaa gagaccactg 1380tgggatgaca
gccagaggaa taagaacttg ctccctcccc agaggtaaac acttggtcca
1440aaggtttgca gggacca 1457201088DNAhuman 20agcggccatg cgttccgggg
gccgcgggcg accccgcctg cggctggggg aacgtggcct 60catggagcca ctcttgccgc
cgaagcgccg cctgctaccg cgggttcggc tcttgcctct 120gttgctggcg
ctggccgtgg gctcggcgtt ctacaccatt tggagcggct ggcaccgcag
180gactgaggag ctgccgctgg gccgggagct gcgggtccca ttgatcggaa
gcctccccga 240agcccggctg cggagggtgg tgggacaact ggatccacag
cgtctctgga gcacttatct 300gcgccccctg ctggttgtgc gaaccccggg
cagcccggga aatctccaag tcagaaaggc 360agccccggtg accctgcaac
tgctcttctt ggatggtgaa gaggcgctga aggagtgggg 420acccaaggac
tccctttacg gttcccggca cctggcccag ctcatggagt ctatacctca
480cagccccggc cccaccagga tccaggctat tgagctcttt atgcttcttg
atctcctggg 540agcccccaat cccaccttct acagccactt ccctcgcacg
gtccgctggt tccatcggct 600gaggagcatt gagaagcgtc tgcaccgttt
gaacctgctg cagtctcatc cccaggaagt 660gatgtacttc caacccgggg
agccctttgg ctctgtggaa gacgaccaca tccccttcct 720ccgcagaggg
gtacccgtgc tccatctcat ctccacgccc ttccctgctg tctggcacac
780ccctgcggac accgaggtca atctccaccc acccacggta cacaacttgt
gccgcattct 840cgctgtgttc ctggctgaat acctggggct ctagcgtgct
tggccaatga ctgtggagag 900gactgtgaga gagaaggtcc cagcgggggc
cagtgaagct caggcaggat ctgcctaggg 960tgtgctggtt tgtccttttc
atacctttgt ctcctaattg tgctacaatt ggaagacctt 1020ctttcttttg
attgtctcaa gctgccaccc ttcaaggaca gggaagagac cactgtggga 1080tgacagcc
108821481PRThuman 21Val Trp Tyr Arg Phe Gln Gly Lys Ala Ala Met Arg
Ser Gly Gly Arg1 5 10 15Gly Arg Pro Arg Leu Arg Leu Gly Glu Arg Gly
Leu Met Glu Pro Leu 20 25 30Leu Pro Pro Lys Arg Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg
Val Arg Leu Leu Pro Leu 35 40 45Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Val Gly Ser Ala
Phe Tyr Thr Ile Trp Ser Gly 50 55 60Trp His Arg Arg Thr Glu Glu Leu
Pro Leu Gly Arg Glu Leu Arg Val65 70 75 80Pro Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu
Pro Glu Ala Arg Leu Arg Arg Val Val Gly 85 90 95Gln Leu Asp Pro Gln
Arg Leu Trp Ser Thr Tyr Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu 100 105 110Val Val Arg
Thr Pro Gly Ser Pro Gly Asn Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Phe 115 120 125Leu
Glu Ala Thr Leu Arg Ser Leu Thr Ala Gly Trp His Val Glu Leu 130 135
140Asp Pro Phe Thr Ala Ser Thr Pro Leu Gly Pro Val Asp Phe Gly
Asn145 150 155 160Val Val Ala Thr Leu Asp Pro Arg Ala Ala Arg His
Leu Thr Leu Ala 165 170 175Cys His Tyr Asp Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro Pro
Gly Ser Thr Pro Phe Val 180 185 190Gly Ala Thr Asp Ser Ala Val Pro
Cys Ala Leu Leu Leu Glu Leu Ala 195 200 205Gln Ala Leu Asp Leu Glu
Leu Ser Arg Ala Lys Lys Gln Ala Ala Pro 210 215 220Val Thr Leu Gln
Leu Leu Phe Leu Asp Gly Glu Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu225 230 235 240Trp
Gly Pro Lys Asp Ser Leu Tyr Gly Ser Arg His Leu Ala Gln Leu 245 250
255Met Glu Ser Ile Pro His Ser Pro Gly Pro Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile
260 265 270Glu Leu Phe Met Leu Leu Asp Leu Leu Gly Ala Pro Asn Pro
Thr Phe 275 280 285Tyr Ser His Phe Pro Arg Thr Val Arg Trp Phe His
Arg Leu Arg Ser 290 295 300Ile Glu Lys Arg Leu His Arg Leu Asn Leu
Leu Gln Ser His Pro Gln305 310 315 320Glu Val Met Tyr Phe Gln Pro
Gly Glu Pro Phe Gly Ser Val Glu Asp 325 330 335Asp His Ile Pro Phe
Leu Arg Arg Gly Val Pro Val Leu His Leu Ile 340 345 350Ser Thr Pro
Phe Pro Ala Val Trp His Thr Pro Ala Asp Thr Glu Val 355 360 365Asn
Leu His Pro Pro Thr Val His Asn Leu Cys Arg Ile Leu Ala Val 370 375
380Phe Leu Ala Glu Tyr Leu Gly Leu Arg Ala Trp Pro Met Thr Val
Glu385 390 395 400Arg Thr Val Arg Glu Lys Val Pro Ala Gly Ala Ser
Glu Ala Gln Ala 405 410 415Gly Ser Ala Gly Val Leu Val Cys Pro Phe
His Thr Phe Val Ser Leu 420 425 430Cys Tyr Asn Trp Lys Thr Phe Phe
Leu Leu Ile Val Ser Ser Cys His 435 440 445Pro Ser Arg Thr Gly Lys
Arg Pro Leu Trp Asp Asp Ser Gln Arg Asn 450 455 460Lys Asn Leu Leu
Pro Pro Gln Arg Thr Leu Gly Pro Lys Val Cys Arg465 470 475
480Asp22359PRThuman 22Ala Ala Met Arg Ser Gly Gly Arg Gly Arg Pro
Arg Leu Arg Leu Gly1 5 10 15Glu Arg Gly Leu Met Glu Pro Leu Leu Pro
Pro Lys Arg Arg Leu Leu 20 25 30Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Leu Pro Leu Leu
Leu Ala Leu Ala Val Gly Ser 35 40 45Ala Phe Tyr Thr Ile Trp Ser Gly
Trp His Arg Arg Thr Glu Glu Leu 50 55 60Pro Leu Gly Arg Glu Leu Arg
Val Pro Leu Ile Gly Ser Leu Pro Glu65 70 75 80Ala Arg Leu Arg Arg
Val Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Pro Gln Arg Leu Trp 85 90 95Ser Thr Tyr Leu
Arg Pro Leu Leu Val Val Arg Thr Pro Gly Ser Pro 100 105 110Gly Asn
Leu Gln Val Arg Lys Ala Ala Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Leu Leu 115 120
125Phe Leu Asp Gly Glu Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Trp Gly Pro Lys Asp Ser
130 135 140Leu Tyr Gly Ser Arg His Leu Ala Gln Leu Met Glu Ser Ile
Pro His145 150 155 160Ser Pro Gly Pro Thr Arg Ile Gln Ala Ile Glu
Leu Phe Met Leu Leu 165 170 175Asp Leu Leu Gly Ala Pro Asn Pro Thr
Phe Tyr Ser His Phe Pro Arg 180 185 190Thr Val Arg Trp Phe His Arg
Leu Arg Ser Ile Glu Lys Arg Leu His 195 200 205Arg Leu Asn Leu Leu
Gln Ser His Pro Gln Glu Val Met Tyr Phe Gln 210 215 220Pro Gly Glu
Pro Phe Gly Ser Val Glu Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu225 230 235
240Arg Arg Gly Val Pro Val Leu His Leu Ile Ser Thr Pro Phe Pro Ala
245 250 255Val Trp His Thr Pro Ala Asp Thr Glu Val Asn Leu His Pro
Pro Thr 260 265 270Val His Asn Leu Cys Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Phe Leu
Ala Glu Tyr Leu 275 280 285Gly Leu Arg Ala Trp Pro Met Thr Val Glu
Arg Thr Val Arg Glu Lys 290 295 300Val Pro Ala Gly Ala Ser Glu Ala
Gln Ala Gly Ser Ala Gly Val Leu305 310 315 320Val Cys Pro Phe His
Thr Phe Val Ser Leu Cys Tyr Asn Trp Lys Thr 325 330 335Phe Phe Leu
Leu Ile Val Ser Ser Cys His Pro Ser Arg Thr Gly Lys 340 345 350Arg
Pro Leu Trp Asp Asp Ser 3552342PRTHomo sapiens 23Asp Ala Glu Phe
Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val His His Gln Lys1 5 10 15Leu Val Phe
Phe Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile 20 25 30Gly Leu
Met Val Gly Gly Val Val Ile Ala 35 402440PRTHomo sapiens 24Asp Ala
Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val His His Gln Lys1 5 10 15Leu
Val Phe Phe Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile 20 25
30Gly Leu Met Val Gly Gly Val Val 35 402540PRTHomo sapiens 25Glu
Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val1 5 10
15Phe Phe Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly Leu
20 25 30Met Val Gly Gly Val Val Ile Ala 35 402638PRTHomo sapiens
26Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val1
5 10 15Phe Phe Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly
Leu 20 25 30Met Val Gly Gly Val Val 352732PRTartificial
sequencesynthetic peptide 27Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val Phe Phe
Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser1 5 10 15Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly Leu Met
Val Gly Gly Val Val Ile Ala 20 25 302830PRTartificial
sequencesynthetic peptide 28Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val Phe Phe
Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser1 5 10 15Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly Leu Met
Val Gly Gly Val Val 20 25 302940PRThumanMOD_RES(1)..(1)PYRROLIDONE
CARBOXYLIC ACID 29Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val His His
Gln Lys Leu Val1 5 10 15Phe Phe Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser Asn Lys Gly
Ala Ile Ile Gly Leu 20 25 30Met Val Gly Gly Val Val Ile Ala 35
403038PRThumanMOD_RES(1)..(1)PYRROLIDONE CARBOXYLIC ACID 30Glu Phe
Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val1 5 10 15Phe
Phe Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly Leu 20 25
30Met Val Gly Gly Val Val 353132PRThumanMOD_RES(1)..(1)PYRROLIDONE
CARBOXYLIC ACID 31Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val Phe Phe Ala Glu
Asp Val Gly Ser1 5 10 15Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly Leu Met Val Gly
Gly Val Val Ile Ala 20 25 303230PRThumanMOD_RES(1)..(1)PYRROLIDONE
CARBOXYLIC ACID 32Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val Phe Phe Ala Glu
Asp Val Gly Ser1 5 10 15Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly Leu Met Val Gly
Gly Val Val 20 25 303334PRTHomo sapiens 33Glu Ala Ser Asn Cys Phe
Ala Ile Arg His Phe Glu Asn Lys Phe Ala1 5 10 15Val Glu Thr Leu Ile
Cys Ser Arg Thr Val Lys Lys Asn Ile Ile Glu 20 25 30Glu
Arg3434PRTHomo sapiens 34Glu Ala Ser Asn Cys Phe Ala Ile Arg His
Phe Glu Asn Lys Phe Ala1 5 10 15Val Glu Thr Leu Ile Cys Ser Arg Thr
Val Lys Lys Asn Ile Ile Glu 20 25 30Glu Arg3517PRTHomo
sapiensMOD_RES(17)..(17)AMIDATION 35Gln Gly Pro Trp Leu Glu Glu Glu
Glu Glu Ala Tyr Gly Trp Met Asp1 5 10 15Phe3634PRThuman 36Gln Leu
Gly Pro Gln Gly Pro Pro His Leu Val Ala Asp Pro Ser Lys1 5 10 15Lys
Gln Gly Pro Trp Leu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Ala Tyr Gly Trp Met 20 25
30Asp Phe3734PRTHomo sapiensMOD_RES(1)..(1)PYRROLIDONE CARBOXYLIC
ACID 37Glu Ala Ser Asn Cys Phe Ala Ile Arg His Phe Glu Asn Lys Phe
Ala1 5 10 15Val Glu Thr Leu Ile Cys Ser Arg Thr Val Lys Lys Asn Ile
Ile Glu 20 25 30Glu Arg3834PRTHomo
sapiensMOD_RES(1)..(1)PYRROLIDONE CARBOXYLIC ACID 38Glu Ala Ser Asn
Cys Phe Ala Ile Arg His Phe Glu Asn Lys Phe Ala1 5 10 15Val Glu Thr
Leu Ile Cys Ser Arg Thr Val Lys Lys Asn Ile Ile Glu 20 25 30Glu
Arg3917PRThumanMOD_RES(1)..(1)PYRROLIDONE CARBOXYLIC ACID 39Gln Gly
Pro Trp Leu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Ala Tyr Gly Trp Met Asp1 5 10
15Phe4034PRThumanMOD_RES(1)..(1)PYRROLIDONE CARBOXYLIC ACID 40Gln
Leu Gly Pro Gln Gly Pro Pro His Leu Val Ala Asp Pro Ser Lys1 5 10
15Lys Gln Gly Pro Trp Leu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Ala Tyr Gly Trp Met
20 25 30Asp Phe4113PRTHomo sapiens 41Gln Leu Tyr Glu Asn Lys Pro
Arg Arg Pro Tyr Ile Leu1 5 104210PRTHomo
sapiensMOD_RES(10)..(10)AMIDATION 42Gln His Trp Ser Tyr Gly Leu Arg
Pro Gly1 5 104397PRTHomo sapiens 43Gln Pro Lys Val Pro Glu Trp Val
Asn Thr Pro Ser Thr Cys Cys Leu1 5 10 15Lys Tyr Tyr Glu Lys Val Leu
Pro Arg Arg Leu Val Val Gly Tyr Arg 20 25 30Lys Ala Leu Asn Cys His
Leu Pro Ala Ile Ile Phe Val Thr Lys Arg 35 40 45Asn Arg Glu Val Cys
Thr Asn Pro Asn Asp Asp Trp Val Gln Glu Tyr 50 55 60Ile Lys Asp Pro
Asn Leu Pro Leu Leu Pro Thr Arg Asn Leu Ser Thr65 70 75 80Val Lys
Ile Ile Thr Ala Lys Asn Gly Gln Pro Gln Leu Leu Asn Ser 85 90
95Gln4476PRTHomo sapiens 44Gln Pro Asp Ser Val Ser Ile Pro Ile Thr
Cys Cys Phe Asn Val Ile1 5 10 15Asn Arg Lys Ile Pro Ile Gln Arg Leu
Glu Ser Tyr Thr Arg Ile Thr 20 25 30Asn Ile Gln Cys Pro Lys Glu Ala
Val Ile Phe Lys Thr Lys Arg Gly 35 40 45Lys Glu Val Cys Ala Asp Pro
Lys Glu Arg Trp Val Arg Asp Ser Met 50 55 60Lys His Leu Asp Gln Ile
Phe Gln Asn Leu Lys Pro65 70 754576PRTHomo sapiens 45Gln Pro Asp
Ala
Ile Asn Ala Pro Val Thr Cys Cys Tyr Asn Phe Thr1 5 10 15Asn Arg Lys
Ile Ser Val Gln Arg Leu Ala Ser Tyr Arg Arg Ile Thr 20 25 30Ser Ser
Lys Cys Pro Lys Glu Ala Val Ile Phe Lys Thr Ile Val Ala 35 40 45Lys
Glu Ile Cys Ala Asp Pro Lys Gln Lys Trp Val Gln Asp Ser Met 50 55
60Asp His Leu Asp Lys Gln Thr Gln Thr Pro Lys Thr65 70
754668PRTHomo sapiens 46Gln Val Gly Thr Asn Lys Glu Leu Cys Cys Leu
Val Tyr Thr Ser Trp1 5 10 15Gln Ile Pro Gln Lys Phe Ile Val Asp Tyr
Ser Glu Thr Ser Pro Gln 20 25 30Cys Pro Lys Pro Gly Val Ile Leu Leu
Thr Lys Arg Gly Arg Gln Ile 35 40 45Cys Ala Asp Pro Asn Lys Lys Trp
Val Gln Lys Tyr Ile Ser Asp Leu 50 55 60Lys Leu Asn
Ala6547373PRTHomo sapiens 47Gln His His Gly Val Thr Lys Cys Asn Ile
Thr Cys Ser Lys Met Thr1 5 10 15Ser Lys Ile Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Ile
His Tyr Gln Gln Asn Gln Ala 20 25 30Ser Cys Gly Lys Arg Ala Ile Ile
Leu Glu Thr Arg Gln His Arg Leu 35 40 45Phe Cys Ala Asp Pro Lys Glu
Gln Trp Val Lys Asp Ala Met Gln His 50 55 60Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala
Ala Leu Thr Arg Asn Gly Gly Thr Phe Glu65 70 75 80Lys Gln Ile Gly
Glu Val Lys Pro Arg Thr Thr Pro Ala Ala Gly Gly 85 90 95Met Asp Glu
Ser Val Val Leu Glu Pro Glu Ala Thr Gly Glu Ser Ser 100 105 110Ser
Leu Glu Pro Thr Pro Ser Ser Gln Glu Ala Gln Arg Ala Leu Gly 115 120
125Thr Ser Pro Glu Leu Pro Thr Gly Val Thr Gly Ser Ser Gly Thr Arg
130 135 140Leu Pro Pro Thr Pro Lys Ala Gln Asp Gly Gly Pro Val Gly
Thr Glu145 150 155 160Leu Phe Arg Val Pro Pro Val Ser Thr Ala Ala
Thr Trp Gln Ser Ser 165 170 175Ala Pro His Gln Pro Gly Pro Ser Leu
Trp Ala Glu Ala Lys Thr Ser 180 185 190Glu Ala Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp
Pro Ser Thr Gln Ala Ser Thr Ala Ser 195 200 205Ser Pro Ala Pro Glu
Glu Asn Ala Pro Ser Glu Gly Gln Arg Val Trp 210 215 220Gly Gln Gly
Gln Ser Pro Arg Pro Glu Asn Ser Leu Glu Arg Glu Glu225 230 235
240Met Gly Pro Val Pro Ala His Thr Asp Ala Phe Gln Asp Trp Gly Pro
245 250 255Gly Ser Met Ala His Val Ser Val Val Pro Val Ser Ser Glu
Gly Thr 260 265 270Pro Ser Arg Glu Pro Val Ala Ser Gly Ser Trp Thr
Pro Lys Ala Glu 275 280 285Glu Pro Ile His Ala Thr Met Asp Pro Gln
Arg Leu Gly Val Leu Ile 290 295 300Thr Pro Val Pro Asp Ala Gln Ala
Ala Thr Arg Arg Gln Ala Val Gly305 310 315 320Leu Leu Ala Phe Leu
Gly Leu Leu Phe Cys Leu Gly Val Ala Met Phe 325 330 335Thr Tyr Gln
Ser Leu Gln Gly Cys Pro Arg Lys Met Ala Gly Glu Met 340 345 350Ala
Glu Gly Leu Arg Tyr Ile Pro Arg Ser Cys Gly Ser Asn Ser Tyr 355 360
365Val Leu Val Pro Val 3704876PRTHomo sapiens 48Gln Pro Val Gly Ile
Asn Thr Ser Thr Thr Cys Cys Tyr Arg Phe Ile1 5 10 15Asn Lys Lys Ile
Pro Lys Gln Arg Leu Glu Ser Tyr Arg Arg Thr Thr 20 25 30Ser Ser His
Cys Pro Arg Glu Ala Val Ile Phe Lys Thr Lys Leu Asp 35 40 45Lys Glu
Ile Cys Ala Asp Pro Thr Gln Lys Trp Val Gln Asp Phe Met 50 55 60Lys
His Leu Asp Lys Lys Thr Gln Thr Pro Lys Leu65 70 754933PRTHomo
sapiens 49Gln Pro Leu Pro Asp Cys Cys Arg Gln Lys Thr Cys Ser Cys
Arg Leu1 5 10 15Tyr Glu Leu Leu His Gly Ala Gly Asn His Ala Ala Gly
Ile Leu Thr 20 25 30Leu5011PRTHomo sapiens 50Arg Pro Lys Pro Gln
Gln Phe Phe Gly Leu Met1 5 10515PRTartificial sequenceynthetic
peptide 51Gln Tyr Asn Ala Asp1 5525PRTartificial sequencesynthetic
peptide 52Gln Tyr Asn Ala Asp1 55326DNAartificial sequencesynthetic
nucleotide 53ggtctacacc atttggagcg gctggc 265427DNAartificial
sequencesynthtic nucleotide 54gggttggaag tacatcactt cctgggg
275524DNAartificial sequencesynthetic nucleotide 55accatgcgtt
ccgggggccg cggg 245627DNAartificial sequencesynthetic nucleotide
56acgctagagc cccaggtatt cagccag 275730DNAartificial
sequencesynthetic nucleotide 57atatatgaat tcatgcgttc cgggggccgc
305833DNAartificial sequencesynthetic nucleotide 58atatatgaat
tcatggagcc actcttgccg ccg 335933DNAartificial sequencesynthetic
nucleotide 59atatatgtcg acgagcccca ggtattcagc cag
336044DNAartificial sequencesynthetic nucleotide 60atatactagt
gatgacgacg acaagttcta caccatttgg agcg 446149DNAartificial
sequencesynthetic nucleotide 61tatagaattc ctagtgatgg tgatggtgat
ggagccccag gtattcagc 496228DNAartificial sequencePCR primer
62atatgaattc ttctacacca tttggagc 286349DNAartificial sequencePCR
primer 63atatgaattc catcaccatc accatcactt ctacaccatt tggagcggc
496435DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 64atatatgcgg ccgcctagag
ccccaggtat tcagc 356520DNAartificial sequencePCR primer
65ccaggatcca ggctattgag 206656DNAartificial sequencePCR primer
66atatatgcgg ccgcctagtg atggtgatgg tgatggagcc ccaggtattc agccag
566719DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 67ttccacaggg ccggggggc
196818DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 68atgagtcccg ggagccgc
186918DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 69ctagagtccc aggtactc
187020DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 70agttcctgcc cctgctgctg
207120DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 71atcaagaggc accaaccaac
207219DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 72ctggataata tttccatag
197319DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 73acagctggga atctgagtc
197421DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 74gagcagaata gcttccgggc g
217533DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 75ctgcgggtcc cattgaacgg
aagcctcccc gaa 337633DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 76ttcggggagg
cttccgttca atgggacccg cag 337733DNAartificial sequencePCR primer
77acggtacaca acttggcccg cattctcgct gtg 337833DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 78cacagcgaga atgcgggcca agttgtgtac cgt
3379362PRTMus musculus 79Met Ala Gly Ser Glu Asp Lys Leu Val Val
Gly Thr Leu His Leu Leu1 5 10 15Leu Leu Gln Ala Thr Val Leu Ser Leu
Thr Ala Gly Asn Leu Ser Leu 20 25 30Val Ser Ala Ala Trp Thr Gln Glu
Lys Asn His His Gln Pro Ala His 35 40 45Leu Asn Ser Ser Ser Leu Gln
Gln Val Ala Glu Gly Thr Ser Ile Ser 50 55 60Glu Met Trp Gln Asn Asp
Leu Arg Pro Leu Leu Ile Glu Arg Tyr Pro65 70 75 80Gly Ser Pro Gly
Ser Tyr Ser Ala Arg Gln His Ile Met Gln Arg Ile 85 90 95Gln Arg Leu
Gln Ala Glu Trp Val Val Glu Val Asp Thr Phe Leu Ser 100 105 110Arg
Thr Pro Tyr Gly Tyr Arg Ser Phe Ser Asn Ile Ile Ser Thr Leu 115 120
125Asn Pro Glu Ala Lys Arg His Leu Val Leu Ala Cys His Tyr Asp Ser
130 135 140Lys Tyr Phe Pro Arg Trp Asp Ser Arg Val Phe Val Gly Ala
Thr Asp145 150 155 160Ser Ala Val Pro Cys Ala Met Met Leu Glu Leu
Ala Arg Ala Leu Asp 165 170 175Lys Lys Leu His Ser Leu Lys Asp Val
Ser Gly Ser Lys Pro Asp Leu 180 185 190Ser Leu Arg Leu Ile Phe Phe
Asp Gly Glu Glu Ala Phe His His Trp 195 200 205Ser Pro Gln Asp Ser
Leu Tyr Gly Ser Arg His Leu Ala Gln Lys Met 210 215 220Ala Ser Ser
Pro His Pro Pro Gly Ser Arg Gly Thr Asn Gln Leu Asp225 230 235
240Gly Met Asp Leu Leu Val Leu Leu Asp Leu Ile Gly Ala Ala Asn Pro
245 250 255Thr Phe Pro Asn Phe Phe Pro Lys Thr Thr Arg Trp Phe Asn
Arg Leu 260 265 270Gln Ala Ile Glu Lys Glu Leu Tyr Glu Leu Gly Leu
Leu Lys Asp His 275 280 285Ser Leu Glu Arg Lys Tyr Phe Gln Asn Phe
Gly Tyr Gly Asn Ile Ile 290 295 300Gln Asp Asp His Ile Pro Phe Leu
Arg Lys Gly Val Pro Val Leu His305 310 315 320Leu Ile Ala Ser Pro
Phe Pro Glu Val Trp His Thr Met Asp Asp Asn 325 330 335Glu Glu Asn
Leu His Ala Ser Thr Ile Asp Asn Leu Asn Lys Ile Ile 340 345 350Gln
Val Phe Val Leu Glu Tyr Leu His Leu 355 36080284PRTStrepromyces
griseus 80Ala Pro Asp Ile Pro Leu Ala Asn Val Lys Ala His Leu Thr
Gln Leu1 5 10 15Ser Thr Ile Ala Ala Asn Asn Gly Gly Asn Arg Ala His
Gly Arg Pro 20 25 30Gly Tyr Lys Ala Ser Val Asp Tyr Val Lys Ala Lys
Leu Asp Ala Ala 35 40 45Gly Tyr Thr Thr Thr Leu Gln Gln Phe Thr Ser
Gly Gly Ala Thr Gly 50 55 60Tyr Asn Leu Ile Ala Asn Trp Pro Gly Gly
Asp Pro Asn Lys Val Leu65 70 75 80Met Ala Gly Ala His Leu Asp Ser
Val Ser Ser Gly Ala Gly Ile Asn 85 90 95Asp Asn Gly Ser Gly Ser Ala
Ala Val Leu Glu Thr Ala Leu Ala Val 100 105 110Ser Arg Ala Gly Tyr
Gln Pro Asp Lys His Leu Arg Phe Ala Trp Trp 115 120 125Gly Ala Glu
Glu Leu Gly Leu Ile Gly Ser Lys Phe Tyr Val Asn Asn 130 135 140Leu
Pro Ser Ala Asp Arg Ser Lys Leu Ala Gly Tyr Leu Asn Phe Asp145 150
155 160Met Ile Gly Ser Pro Asn Pro Gly Tyr Phe Val Tyr Asp Asp Asp
Pro 165 170 175Val Ile Glu Lys Thr Phe Lys Asn Tyr Phe Ala Gly Leu
Asn Val Pro 180 185 190Thr Glu Ile Glu Thr Glu Gly Asp Gly Arg Ser
Asp His Ala Pro Phe 195 200 205Lys Asn Val Gly Val Pro Val Gly Gly
Leu Phe Thr Gly Ala Gly Tyr 210 215 220Thr Lys Ser Ala Ala Gln Ala
Gln Lys Trp Gly Gly Thr Ala Gly Gln225 230 235 240Ala Phe Asp Arg
Cys Tyr His Ser Ser Cys Asp Ser Leu Ser Asn Ile 245 250 255Asn Asp
Thr Ala Leu Asp Arg Asn Ser Asp Ala Ala Ala His Ala Ile 260 265
270Trp Thr Leu Ser Ser Gly Thr Gly Glu Pro Pro Thr 275
28081299PRTVibrio proteolyticus 81Met Pro Pro Ile Thr Gln Gln Ala
Thr Val Thr Ala Trp Leu Pro Gln1 5 10 15Val Asp Ala Ser Gln Ile Thr
Gly Thr Ile Ser Ser Leu Glu Ser Phe 20 25 30Thr Asn Arg Phe Tyr Thr
Thr Thr Ser Gly Ala Gln Ala Ser Asp Trp 35 40 45Ile Ala Ser Glu Trp
Gln Ala Leu Ser Ala Ser Leu Pro Asn Ala Ser 50 55 60Val Lys Gln Val
Ser His Ser Gly Tyr Asn Gln Lys Ser Val Val Met65 70 75 80Thr Ile
Thr Gly Ser Glu Ala Pro Asp Glu Trp Ile Val Ile Gly Gly 85 90 95His
Leu Asp Ser Thr Ile Gly Ser His Thr Asn Glu Gln Ser Val Ala 100 105
110Pro Gly Ala Asp Asp Asp Ala Ser Gly Ile Ala Ala Val Thr Glu Val
115 120 125Ile Arg Val Leu Ser Glu Asn Asn Phe Gln Pro Lys Arg Ser
Ile Ala 130 135 140Phe Met Ala Tyr Ala Ala Glu Glu Val Gly Leu Arg
Gly Ser Gln Asp145 150 155 160Leu Ala Asn Gln Tyr Lys Ser Glu Gly
Lys Asn Val Val Ser Ala Leu 165 170 175Gln Leu Asp Met Thr Asn Tyr
Lys Gly Ser Ala Gln Asp Val Val Phe 180 185 190Ile Thr Asp Tyr Thr
Asp Ser Asn Phe Thr Gln Tyr Leu Thr Gln Leu 195 200 205Met Asp Glu
Tyr Leu Pro Ser Leu Thr Tyr Gly Phe Asp Thr Cys Gly 210 215 220Tyr
Ala Cys Ser Asp His Ala Ser Trp His Asn Ala Gly Tyr Pro Ala225 230
235 240Ala Met Pro Phe Glu Ser Lys Phe Asn Asp Tyr Asn Pro Arg Ile
His 245 250 255Thr Thr Gln Asp Thr Leu Ala Asn Ser Asp Pro Thr Gly
Ser His Ala 260 265 270Lys Lys Phe Thr Gln Leu Gly Leu Ala Tyr Ala
Ile Glu Met Gly Ser 275 280 285Ala Thr Gly Asp Thr Pro Thr Pro Gly
Asn Gln 290 2958230DNAArtificial sequenceCloning primer
82atatataagc ttatggcagg cggaagacac 308331DNAArtificial
sequenceCloning primer 83atatgcggcc gcttacaaat gaagatattc c
318435DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 84atatatgcgg ccgcctagag
ccccaggtat tcagc 358531DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer
85atatctcgag tccatcgcca ccatggtgag c 318631DNAArtificial
sequencePCR primer 86atatctcgag ttacttgtac agctcgtcca t
318741DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 87atatgcggcc gcatgtcgac
gctccaaatg gtgtagaacg c 418857DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer
88atatgcggcc gcttacttgt catcgtcatc cttgtaatcc aaatgaagat attccaa
578957DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 89atatgcggcc gcctacttgt
catcgtcatc cttgtaatcg agccccaggt attcagc 579020DNAArtificial
sequencePCR primer 90gcctccagca tgaaagtctc 209120DNAArtificial
sequenceCAGATCTCCTTGGCCACAAT 91cagatctcct tggccacaat
209220DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 92atgaaagcct ctgcagcact
209320DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 93tggctactgg tggtccttct
209420DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 94tcacctgctg ctttaacgtg
209520DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 95atccctgacc catctctcct
209620DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 96atctccttgc agaggctgaa
209720DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 97agaagaggag gccagaggag
209820DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 98cacagaaatg gccttgtgaa
209920DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 99ccaagcaggt cataggtggt
2010020DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 100tcctttcatc ctggaacctg
2010120DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 101cgcctcttct gtttcacctc
2010220DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 102aagcgctgtt tgccagttat
2010320DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 103cacacgtgag gcgctattta
2010420DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 104gtcaacagat cctccccaga
2010520DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 105cagcatttct gcctttgtga
2010620DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 106aggtggagag cctgaggaat
2010720DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 107ctcgggtcct acttgtcagc
2010820DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 108aagcgaggtt ctcgttctga
2010920DNAartificial sequencePCR primer 109tgacctcttg ctctccctgt
2011020DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 110cttcaagctc tcctgctgct 2011120DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 111cgaccctgac ttcctggtta 2011220DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 112gctcatcggc tgttggtatt 2011320DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 113ataagcaggt ggagcattgg 2011420DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 114atgcttcgga aactggacat 2011520DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 115atggttcgat gcagctttct 2011620DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 116tacggcgtaa tcctggaaac 2011720DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 117attgtgcatg ctgctttgag 2011820DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 118ccgaaacaca gtggaaggtt 2011920DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 119tctgtgaagg tgtgcaggag 2012020DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 120ggttcctttc ttccctccag 2012120DNAartificial
sequencePCR primer 121aaccaaagcc accagtgttc 20
* * * * *
References