Abstract:
The invention relates to a DNA molecule, a polypeptide expressed by the molecule, their use in diagnosis and their methods of production. More particularly, the invention relates to a diagnostic DNA molecule, a diagnostic protein, diagnostic antibodies and protective antigen and antibodies for hepatitis C virus (HCV). The DNA molecule disclosed herein is characterized by the DNA molecule derived from the genome of an HCV, and codes for a polypeptide having the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen protein. The polypeptide may be used in the detection of HCV.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/963,483, filed Oct. 16, 1992 now abandoned. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a DNA molecule, a polypeptide expressed by the molecule, their use in diagnosis and their methods of production. More particularly, the invention relates to a diagnostic DNA molecule, a diagnostic protein, diagnostic antibodies and a protective polypeptide for hepatitis C virus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most cases of hepatitis arising from blood transfusion are virally-inducted, and distinguishable from other forms of viral-associated liver diseases caused by known hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis A virus (HAY) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). The etiological agent(s) of said Non-A, Non-B hepatitis (NANBH) has long been sought by many research groups and is presently believed to be the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) occurs in approximately 10% of transfusion patients, and NANBH accounts for up to 90% of these cases. The major problem in this disease is the frequent progression to chronic liver damage (25-55%). Therefore, the demand for sensitive, specific methods for detecting HCV in contaminated blood or blood products is significant. 
     The hepatitis C virus (HCV) was first identified by molecular cloning and characterization of its RNA genome by Choo, et al. (Science 244: 359-362, 1989). A specific assay using the HCV antigen, designated C100-3, was synthesized using recombinant DNA methods in yeast and detects the antibody of HCV (Science 244: 362-364). A detailed description regarding the genome of HCV, the cDNA sequences derived therefrom, and polypeptides derived from the HCV genome or HCV cDNA as well as methodologies relating to such subject matter, was given in EP 0 318 216 A1 in the name of Chiron Corporation. In particular, the European patent provides a synthesized polypeptide, C100-3, containing 363 viral amino acids which can be used for the detection of HCV antibodies. Now, kits for detecting HCV antibodies on the basis of C100-3 have been commercialized by Abbott Laboratories. 
     As suggested in the above European patent, HCV may be a flavivirus or flavi-like virus. Generally, with respect to morphology, a flavivirus contains a central nucleocapsid surrounded by a lipid bilayer. It is believed that hepatitis C virus protein is composed of structural proteins including a nucleocapsid (core) protein (C), two glycosylated envelope proteins (E1, E2) and nonstructural proteins (NS1-5). However, the corresponding virus has not yet been isolated nor characterized. It is only confirmed that said C100-3 disclosed by Choo et al. is a protein encoded by part of the nonstructural regions 3-4 of the HCV genome. 
     Besides, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has also been developed for serological diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, by using the HCV core protein (p22) synthesized by a recombinant baculovirus by Chiba, et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:4641-4645, 1991). It was found that C100-3 antibody was not detected in all post-transfusion NANBH cases, probably because of the delayed response to C100-3 antigen. Such delayed response was considered to be due to the fact that the C100-3 is an HCV nonstructural protein. However, Chiba, et al. used an unglycosylated 22-kDa nucleocapsid (core) protein, and established an antibody detection system to develop a specific sensitive method for diagnosing HCV infection. 
     The invention discloses a DNA molecule coding for an HCV core antigen protein and provides an alternative HCV antibody assay. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a DNA molecule coding for a polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen protein. More specifically, the invention provides a DNA molecule derived from the genome of HCV. The DNA molecule was cloned from the plasma of a patient with hepatitis C via a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. 
     Portions of the DNA molecule are useful as probes to diagnose the presence of virus in samples. Additionally, the DNA molecule of the invention is capable of producing, in an appropriate host, viral polypeptides displaying the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen protein. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen protein. Said polypeptide was produced by an appropriate host transformed with the DNA molecule of the invention. 
     Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing a polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen protein. The process comprises incubating host cells transformed with an expression vector containing a DNA molecule of the invention. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting HCV antibodies in samples by using said HCV core antigen protein as a probe. The method may be carried out by immunoassay or Western blotting which is characterized by using said HCV core antigen as a probe capable of binding to antibodies directed against HCV in samples, to form an antigen-antibody complex. 
     The invention also includes a method for detecting HCV antibodies in samples by using said HCV core antigen protein combined with an HCV nonstructural protein as a probe. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a kit for analyzing samples for the presence of HCV antibodies, the kit, comprising said HCV core antigen protein. Specifically, a kit is useful for an immunoassay for detecting HCV antibodies and comprises said HCV core antigen protein and a suitable solid phase. 
     It is another further object of the present invention to provide monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies directed against said HCV core antigen protein. Also included in the invention is the process for producing said antibodies by immunizing an animal with said HCV core antigen protein. A method for analyzing HCV in samples can be established by using the obtained antibodies. 
     It is yet further object of the present invention to provide vaccines for prevention of HCV infection, the vaccines comprising an immunogenic polypeptide of the invention, or an inactivated preparation or an attenuated preparation thereof. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the written specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A depicts the nucleotide sequence of the presently claimed invention, which sequence encompasses the entire core region and a part of the envelope region of the hepatitis C virus. 
     FIG. 1B depicts the amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence depicted in FIG. 1A. 
     FIG. 2 shows the structure of the expression vector pEN-2 constructed by inserting the cDNA coding for an HCV core antigen into a plasmid. The figure also shows a restriction map illustrating the significant features of the vector pEN-2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a DNA molecule coding for a polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen protein. The DNA molecule is isolated from nucleic acid sequences present in the plasma of an HCV infected patient which includes the steps of isolating the viral particles from the patient&#39;s plasma, extracting and purifying the vital nucleic acid sequences, and then Cloning the desired DNA molecule via a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. The PCR technique comprises of steps of a selection by using specific primers and an amplification by using a reverse transcriptase. The primers used in the PCR are 
     (i) 5&#39;-GGATCCATGAGCACAAATCCTAAACCT-3&#39; (Seq ID No.1) and 
     (ii) 5&#39;-GAATTCGGTGTGCATGATCATGTCCGC-3&#39; (Seq ID No.2) 
     The cloned DNA molecule is subject to a hybridization with original HCV particles for identification. The molecule thus obtained is designated EN-80-2. The DNA sequence of the molecule EN-80-2 is given in FIG. 1A (Seq ID No.3). The DNA molecule is derived from the genome of the HCV nucleocapsid and envelope regions and has 669 bp. 
     Portions of the DNA molecule are useful as probes to diagnose the presence of HCV nucleic acids in samples. 
     The DNA molecule of the present invention is inserted into an appropriate vector to form an expression vector. The vector can be a plasmid, bacteriophage or other DNA sequence which is able to replicate in a host cell. The preferable vector is a plasmid with the promoter lac. Referring to FIG. 2, we have shown an expression plasmid, pEN-2, constructed by a vehicle plasmid and the DNA molecule of the present invention. 
     An appropriate host is transformed with an expression vector-containing the DNA molecule of the invention and the polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen protein can be produced in the transformed host. A process for producing the polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen has been established. 
     The invention also provides a polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen protein. The amino acid sequence of the polypeptide is given in FIG. 1B (Seq ID No.4). The polypeptide has a molecular weight of about 25,000 as measured by electrophoresis through a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel and is deduced to have about 220 amino acids. The ability of the obtained polypeptide to bind to HCV antibodies is confirmed by Western Blotting. The polypeptide is reactive with the sera of patients with hepatitis C but not reactive with the sera of persons without hepatitis C. This fact suggests that the polypeptide capable of detecting the presence of HCV antibodies in samples holds a potential in diagnosis of hepatitis C. Additionally, the polypeptides displaying the antigenicity of an HCV core antigen, or an inactivated preparation or an attenuated preparation thereof, can be formulated in an immunogenically effective amount as vaccines for prevention of HCV infection. 
     The method for detecting HCV antibodies in samples is included in the invention. The method is characterized by the HCV core antigen&#39;s capability of binding to HCV antibodies as a probe. The method can be carried out by immunoassay or Western Blotting. A preferred method is solid-phase immunoassay. A solid phase, such as microtiter plates, beads and semipermeable membranes, can be used to carry out the immunoassay. Substances useful as a label include enzymes, isotopes, fluorescent materials and any other materials which can be directly detected. The immunoassay is conveniently achieved by a sandwich method, such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA comprises: 1) coating the polypeptide of the present invention onto a solid phase, 2) incubating a sample suspected of containing HCV antibodies with the polypeptide coated onto said solid phase under conditions which allow the formation of an antigen-antibody complex, 3) adding an anti-antibody (such as anti-IgG) conjugated with a label to be captured by the resulting antigen-antibody complex bound to the solid phase, and 4) measuring the captured label and determining whether the sample has HCV antibodies. 
     An alternative assay can be carried out by using the polypeptide of the invention combined with an HCV nonstructural protein as a probe. The assay is thought to be more specific and sensitive. 
     The invention further provides a kit for analyzing samples for the presence of HCV antibodies. The kit comprises a polypeptide of the invention and an appropriate solid phase. Preferably the polypeptide is coated onto the solid phase. 
     The present invention also provides monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies directed against said HCV core antigen protein. The antibodies are produced by using the polypeptide of the invention as an immunogen through standard procedures for preparing a hybridoma and/or conventional methods. The obtained antibodies are potentially useful for developing a method for detecting HCV. 
     The following examples are offered to aid in understanding the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope thereof. 
     EXAMPLES 
     I. Cloning of an HCV cDNA 
     The plasma of the patients infected with Hepatitis C virus are collected and ultracentrifuged at 4° C. and then the viral particles are obtained. Subsequently, the viral nucleic acid (RNA) is extracted and purified from the viral particles by using guanidine isothiocyanate and acidic phenol. 
     The nucleic acid thus obtained is subject to a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A cDNA molecule is cloned by said PCR wherein the following oligonucleotide sequences are used as primers: 
     (i) 5&#39;-GGATCCATGAGCACAAATCCTAAACCT-3&#39; (Seq. ID No. 1) and 
     (ii) 5&#39;-GAATTCGGTGTGCATGATCATGTCCGC-3 (Seq. ID No. 2); 
     and the cloned DNA is amplified by using a reverse transcriptase. 
     The cloned DNA molecule is subject to a hybridization with original HCV particles for identification. The obtained molecule is designated EN-80-2. The DNA sequence of the molecule EN-80-2 is given in FIG. 1A (Seq ID No.3). The DNA molecule is derived from the genome of HCV nucleocapsid and envelope regions and has 669 bp. 
     II. Construction of a Plasmid Containing an HCV cDNA 
     The molecule EN-80-2 is treated with restriction endonucleases Bam HI and EcoRI to obtain a transposon containing said HCV cDNA. The obtained transposon is inserted into a plasmid which is first cleaved with the restriction endonucleases Bam HI and EcoRI, to obtain an expression plasmid, designated pEN-2. The expression of the HCV cDNA is under the control of a promoter lac. The structure of the expression plasmid pEN-2 and a restriction map are given in FIG. 2. 
     III. Transformation of E. coli 
     The expression plasmid pEN-2 is incubated with E. coli JM109 (DE3) at 37° C. overnight. E. coli colonies producing HCV core antigen protein are selected by screening their expression products by Western Blotting. 
     IV. Production of HCV Core Antigen 
     The transformed E. coli colonies are incubated in a conditioned culture medium. The colonies are centrifuged and lysed by freezing-defrosting cycles and enzyme-digestion. The protein product is released by the lysed cells and purified by chromatography. The purity of the obtained polypeptide is more than 90%. 
     The polypeptide has a molecular weight of about 25,000 as measured by electrophoresis through a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. 
     V. Immunological Reactivity of HCV Core Antigen with HCV Antibodies by Western Blotting 
     The purified polypeptide is subject to an SDS PAGE electrophoresis by standard procedures. The SDS-PAGE gel is washed with deionized water at 4° C. for 15 minutes and washed with Blotting Buffer (0.15M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 6.7) at 4° C. for 20 minutes. The peptide map on the gel is then electroblotted onto a nitrocellulose paper under the Blotting Buffer at 1.3 A for 1-1.5 hours. The paper is washed with Wash Buffer (PBS-Tween 20, pH 7.4) and blocked with Blocking Buffer (0.1M NaCl, 5 mM EDTA, 50 mM Tris, pH 7.2-7.4, 0.2% fetal bovine serum albumin, 0.05% Nonidet p-40, 1M urea) overnight. 
     The paper is reacted with the sera of subjects with/without hepatitis C, which are first diluted with 40% NBBS/Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 10×, at 40° C. for 2 hours. After the reaction, the paper is washed with Wash Buffer three times. The paper is reacted with an anti-hIgG:HRPO conjugate (which is prepared as described hereafter) at 40° C. for 2 hours. After the reaction, the paper is washed with Wash Buffer three times and then reacted with 10 ml Substrate Solution (0.01% 4-ethloro-1-Napthol, 18% methanol, 0.04M Tris, pH 7.2-7.4, 0.1M NaCl and 0.01% H 2  O 2 ) for 20 minutes. The polypeptide of the present invention is reactive with the sera of HCV patients but not reactive with the sera of healthy persons. 
     VI. ELISA for HCV Antibodies 
     (1) Treatment of Microtiter Plate 
     The microtiter plate is coated with the purified polypeptide of the invention at appropriate concentrations and blocked with a buffer containing bovine serum albumin. The treated microtiter plate is stored at 2°-8° C. 
     (2) Preparation of Anti-hIgG:HRPO Conjugate 
     The purified anti-human Immunoglobulin G (anti-hIgG) is conjugated with horse radish peroxidase (HRPO) using NaIO 4  to obtain the anti-IgG:HRPO conjugate. The conjugate is purified by chromatography. 
     (3) Components of Reagents 
     (a) Wash Solution: Phosphate Buffer containing 0.9% NaCl and Thimerosal. 
     (b) Anti-hIgG:HRPO Conjugate Solution: the anti-hIgG:HRPO conjugate prepared as described above dissolved in Tris Buffer containing a proteineous stabilizer and antiseptics. 
     (c) Sample Diluent: Tris Buffer containing a proteineous stabilizer and antiseptics. 
     (d) OPD Substrate Solution: o-phenylene diamine (OPD) dissolved in citrate-phosphate buffer containing H 2  O 2 . (If the solution becomes orange, it means that the solution has been contaminated and cannot be used any more.) 
     (e) Stopping Solution: 2N H 2  SO 4  solution. 
     (f) Positive/Negative Controls: the serum samples of persons infected with/without hepatitis C diluted with phosphate buffer containing a proteineous stabilizer and antiseptics at an appropriate concentration. 
     (4) Procedure 
     (a) One hundred and fifty microliter (ul) of test samples diluted with Sample Diluent (1:10) and Positive/Negative Controls are added into the wells of the treated microtiter plate. Some wells have to be retained as substrate blanks. 
     (b) The plate is gently mixed by shaking and incubated at 37°-40° C. for 1 hour. 
     (c) The plate is washed with 0.3 ml of Wash Solution per well by a washer three times. 
     (d) One hundred ul of anti-hIgG:HRPO Conjugate Solution is added to each well. 
     (e) The plate is incubated by shaking at 37°-40° C. for 30 minutes. 
     (f) The plate is washed five times. 
     (g) One hundred ul of OPD Substrate Solution is added into each well and the plate is incubated at 15°-30° C. in the dark for 30 minutes. 
     (h) One hundred ul of Stopping Solution is added into each well and gently mixed to stop the reaction. 
     (i) The OD value per well is measured by a spectrophotometer at 492 nm. 
     (5) Determination 
     The OD 492  nm value per well subtracts the mean of the readings of the blanks (backgrounds). The difference (PCx-NCx) between the mean of the readings of the positive controls (PCx) and that of the negative controls (NCx) is equal to or more than 0.5. 
     The Cut-off value (CO) is calculated by the following formula: 
     
         CO=PCx×0.15+NCx 
    
     When the readings of test samples are less than the CO value, the samples are considered negative (i.e., HCV antibodies cannot be detected in the samples). 
     When the readings of test samples are equal to or more than the CO value, the samples are expected to be positive; however, it is necessary to repeat the assay for the samples in duplicate. If the readings of either of the duplicate samples is less than the CO value, the samples are negative. If the duplicate samples are both more than or equal to the cut-off value, the samples will be positive. 
     When the readings of test samples are more than NCx but less than the CO value by 20%, the samples should be regarded as questionable samples and the assay has to be repeated for those samples. 
     Twenty-seven samples were tested by the ELISA according to the invention. At the same time, the samples were also tested by the HCV antibody assay by using C100-3 as a probe (i.e., Abbott&#39;s kit (II)). The comparison between the test results of Abbott&#39;s kit and those of the assay of the invention is given in Table I. It is noted that the results of Sample G 229 was negative by the Abbott&#39;s kit (II) but positive by the assay of the present invention. It is suggested that samples infected with HCV cannot be all detected by the Abbott&#39;s assay. 
     
                       TABLE I______________________________________                           ReferencesSample No. OD.sub.492nm                 Results   Abbott&#39;s kit (II)______________________________________TSGH    56     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveTSGH    57     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       23     1.469      positive                             positiveG       30     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       32     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       49     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       56     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       58     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       114    1.559      positive                             positiveG       128    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       186    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       208    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       214    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       231    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       250    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveY        1     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB      9     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB     19     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB     20     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB     23     0.952      positive                             positiveUSB     27     0.753      positive                             positiveG       11     0.147      negative                             negativeG       12     0.077      negative                             negativeG       13     0.061      negative                             negativeG       14     0.116      negative                             negativeG       15     0.139      negative                             negativeG       229    0.517      positive                             negative______________________________________ 
    
     VII. Detection of HCV Antibodies by HCV Core Antigen Protein Combined with HCV Nonstructural Protein 
     The method is analogous to the ELISA as described above except that HCV core antigen protein of the invention combined with an HCV nonstructural protein (9:1) is replaced for the HCV core antigen protein to be coated onto the plate. 
     Twenty-four samples were tested by the above-mentioned method. At the same time, the samples were also tested by Abbott&#39;s kit (II). The results are given in Table II. It is suggested that the results of the Abbott&#39;s assay is the same of the above-mentioned method. 
     
                       TABLE II______________________________________                           ReferencesSample No. OD.sub.492nm                 Results   Abbott&#39;s kit (II)______________________________________TSGH    56     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveTSGH    57     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       23     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       26     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       30     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       32     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       49     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       56     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       58     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       114    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       128    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       186    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       214    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       231    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       250    &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveY        1     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB      9     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB     19     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB     20     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB     23     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveUSB     27     &gt;2.0       positive                             positiveG       92     0.038      negative                             negativeG       93     0.056      negative                             negativeG       94     0.071      negative                             negative______________________________________ 
    
     While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it will be appreciated that modifications thereof, some of which have been alluded to hereinabove, may still be readily made thereto by those skilled in the art. We, therefore, intend, by the appended claims, to cover the modifications alluded to herein as well as all other modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention. 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________SEQUENCE LISTING(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 4(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 27 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA(iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO(iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: N-terminal(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:GGATCCATGAGCACAAATCCTAAACCT27(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 27 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA(iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO(iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: N-terminal(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:GAATTCGGTGTGCATGATCATGTCCGC27(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 669 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: CDS(B) LOCATION: 1..669(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:ATGAGCACAAATCCTAAACCTCAAAGAAAAACCAAACGTAACACCAAC48MetSerThrAsnProLysProGlnArgLysThrLysArgAsnThrAsn151015CGCCGCCCACAGGACGTCAAGTTCCCGGGCGGTGGTCAGATCGTTGGT96ArgArgProGlnAspValLysPheProGlyGlyGlyGlnIleValGly202530GGAGTTTACCTGTTGCCGCGCAGGGGCCCCAGGTTGGGTGTGCGCGCG144GlyValTyrLeuLeuProArgArgGlyProArgLeuGlyValArgAla354045ACTAGGAAGACTTCCGAGCGGTCGCAACCTCGTGGAAGGCGACAACCT192ThrArgLysThrSerGluArgSerGlnProArgGlyArgArgGlnPro505560ATCCCCAAGGCTCGCCGGCCCGAGGGCAGGACCTGGGCTCAGCCGGGG240IleProLysAlaArgArgProGluGlyArgThrTrpAlaGlnProGly65707580TACCCTTGGCCCCTCTATGGCAATGAGGGTCTGGGGTGGGCAGGATGG288TyrProTrpProLeuTyrGlyAsnGluGlyLeuGlyTrpAlaGlyTrp859095CTCCTGTCACCCCGAGGCTCTCGGCCTAGTTGGGGCCCCACGGACCCC336LeuLeuSerProArgGlySerArgProSerTrpGlyProThrAspPro100105110CGGCGTAGGTCGCGTAATCTGGGTAAGGTCATCGATACCCTCACAGGT384ArgArgArgSerArgAsnLeuGlyLysValIleAspThrLeuThrGly115120125GGCTTCGCCGACCTCATGGGGTACATTCCGCTCGTCAGCGCCCCACTA432GlyPheAlaAspLeuMetGlyTyrIleProLeuValSerAlaProLeu130135140GGAGGCGCTGCCAGGGCCCTGGGCCATGGCGTCCGGGTTCTGGAGGAC480GlyGlyAlaAlaArgAlaLeuGlyHisGlyValArgValLeuGluAsp145150155160GGCGTGAACTATGCAACAGGGAATCTGCCCGGTTGCTCTTTCTCTATC528GlyValAsnTyrAlaThrGlyAsnLeuProGlyCysSerPheSerIle165170175TTCCTCTTAGCTTTGCTGTCTTGTTTGACCATCCCAGCTTCCGCTTAC576PheLeuLeuAlaLeuLeuSerCysLeuThrIleProAlaSerAlaTyr180185190GAGGTGCGCAACGTGTCCGGGATATACCATGTTACGAACGATTGCTCC624GluValArgAsnValSerGlyIleTyrHisValThrAsnAspCysSer195200205AACTCAAGTATCGTGTATGAGGCAGCGGACATGATCATGCACACC669AsnSerSerIleValTyrGluAlaAlaAspMetIleMetHisThr210215220(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 223 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:MetSerThrAsnProLysProGlnArgLysThrLysArgAsnThrAsn151015ArgArgProGlnAspValLysPheProGlyGlyGlyGlnIleValGly202530GlyValTyrLeuLeuProArgArgGlyProArgLeuGlyValArgAla354045ThrArgLysThrSerGluArgSerGlnProArgGlyArgArgGlnPro505560IleProLysAlaArgArgProGluGlyArgThrTrpAlaGlnProGly65707580TyrProTrpProLeuTyrGlyAsnGluGlyLeuGlyTrpAlaGlyTrp859095LeuLeuSerProArgGlySerArgProSerTrpGlyProThrAspPro100105110ArgArgArgSerArgAsnLeuGlyLysValIleAspThrLeuThrGly115120125GlyPheAlaAspLeuMetGlyTyrIleProLeuValSerAlaProLeu130135140GlyGlyAlaAlaArgAlaLeuGlyHisGlyValArgValLeuGluAsp145150155160GlyValAsnTyrAlaThrGlyAsnLeuProGlyCysSerPheSerIle165170175PheLeuLeuAlaLeuLeuSerCysLeuThrIleProAlaSerAlaTyr180185190GluValArgAsnValSerGlyIleTyrHisValThrAsnAspCysSer195200205AsnSerSerIleValTyrGluAlaAlaAspMetIleMetHisThr210215220__________________________________________________________________________