IKK- alpha PROTEINS, NUCLEIC ACIDS AND METHODS

Abstract: The invention provides methods and composiitons relating to an I kappa B kinase, IKK- alpha , and related nucleic acids. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed IKK- alpha encoding nucleic acids or purified from human cells. The invention provides isolated IKK- alpha hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed IKK- alpha genes, IKK- alpha -specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis, therapy and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Description: IKK- a Proteins, Nucleic Acids and Methods INTRODUCTION Field of the Invention The field of this invention is proteins involved in transcription factor activation. Background Cytokines trigger changes in gene expression by modifying the activity of otherwise latent transcription factors (Hill and Treisman, 1995). Nuclear factor KB (NF- KB) is a prominent example of how such an external stimulus is converted into an active transcription factor (Verma et al., 1995). The NF-κB system is composed of homo- and heterodimers of members of the Rel family of related transcription factors that control the expression of numerous immune and inflammatory response genes as well as important viral genes (Lenardo and Baltimore, 1989; Baeuerle and Henkel, 1994). The activity of NF-κB transcription factors is regulated by their subcellular localization (Verma et al., 1995). In most cell types, NF-KB is present as a heterodimer comprising of a 50 kDa and a 65 kDa subunit. This heterodimer is sequestered in the cytoplasm in association with IκB a member of the IκB family of inhibitory proteins (Finco and Baldwin, 1995; Thanos and Maniatis, 1995; Verma et al., 1995). IκBα masks the nuclear localization signal of NF-κB and thereby prevents NF-κB nuclear translocation. Conversion of NF-κB into an active transcription factor that translocates into the nucleus and binds to cognate DNA sequences requires the phosphorylation and subsequent ubiquitin-dependent degradation of IκBα in the 26s proteasome. Signal-induced phosphorylation of IκB occurs at serines 32 and 36. Mutation of one or both of these serines renders IκBα resistant to ubiquitination and proteolytic degradation (Chen et al., 1995). The pleiotropic cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (LL-1) are among the physiological inducers of IκB phosphorylation and subsequent NF-κB activation (Osborn et al, 1989; Beg et al., 1993). Although TNF and LL-1 initiate signaling cascades leading to NF-κB activation via distinct families of cell-surface receptors (Smith et al., 1994; Dinarello, 1996), both pathways utilize members of the TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF) family of adaptor proteins as signal transducers (Rothe et al., 1995; Hsu et al., 1996; Cao et al., 1996b). TRAF proteins were originally found to associate directly with the cytoplasmic domains of several members of the TNF receptor family including the 75 kDa TNF receptor (TNFR2), CD40, CD30, and the lymphotoxin-β receptor (Rothe et al, 1994; Hu et al., 1994; Cheng et al., 1995; Mosialos et al., 1995; ^ Song and Dormer, 1995; Sato et al, 1995; Lee et al, 1996; Gedrich et al., 1996; Ansieau et al., 1996). In addition, TRAF proteins are recruited indirectly to the 55 kDa TNF receptor (TNFRl) by the adaptor protein TRADD (Hsu et al., 1996). Activation of NF- KB by TNF requires TRAF2 (Rothe et al., 1995; Hsu et al., 1996). TRAF5 has also been implicated in NF- B activation by members of the TNF receptor family (Nakano et al., 1996). In contrast, TRAF6 participates in NF-κB activation by LL-1 (Cao et al., 1996b). Upon LL-1 treatment, TRAF6 associates with LRAK, a serine-threonine kinase that binds to the LL-1 receptor complex (Cao et al., 1996a). The NF-r B-inducing kinase (NLK) is a member of the MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family that was identified as a TRAF2-interacting protein (Malinin et al., 1997). NLK activates NF-κB when overexpressed, and kinase-inactive mutants of NLK comprising its TRAF2 -interacting C-terminal domain ( K 624 _ 947) ) or lacking two crucial lysine residues in its kinase domain (NTK ^KK429 - 430AA) ) behave as dominant-negative inhibitors that suppress TNF-, IL-1-, and TRAF2-induced NF-κB activation (Malinin et al, 1997). Recently, NLK was found to associate with additional members of the TRAF family, including TRAF5 and TRAF6. Catalytically inactive mutants of NLK also inhibited TRAF5- and TRAF6-induced NF-κB activation, thus providing a unifying concept for NLK as a common mediator in the NF-κB signaling cascades triggered by TNF and LL-1 downstream of TRAFs. Here, we disclose a novel human kinase IκB Kinase, IKK-α, as a NLK-interacting protein. LKK-α has sequence similarity to the conceptual translate of a previously identified open reading frame (SEQ LD NO:5) postulated to encode a serine-threonine kinase of unknown function ('Conserved Helix-loop-helix Ubiquitous Kinase 1 or CHUK, Connelly and Marcu, 1995; Mock et al., 1995). Catalytically inactive mutants of LKK-α are shown to suppress NF-KB activation induced by TNF and LL-1 stimulation as well as by TRAF and NLK overexpression; transiently expressed IKK-α is shown to associate with the endogenous IκBα complex; and LKK-α is shown to phosphorylate IκBα on serines 32 and 36. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides methods and compositions relating to isolated LKK-α polypeptides, related nucleic acids, polypeptide domains thereof having LKK-α-specific structure and activity and modulators of LKK-α function, particularly IκB kinase activity. IKK-α polypeptides can regulate NFKB activation and hence provide important regulators of cell function. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the subject LKK-α polypeptide encoding nucleic acids or purified from mammalian cells. The invention provides isolated LKK-α hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed LKK-α gene, LKK-α-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis (e.g. genetic hybridization screens for LKK-α transcripts), therapy (e.g. LKK-α kinase inhibitors to inhibit TNF signal transduction) and in the biopharmaceutical industry (e.g. as immunogens, reagents for isolating other transcriptional regulators, reagents for screening chemical libraries for lead pharmacological agents, etc.). DETALLED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTLON The nucleotide sequence of a natural cDNA encoding a human LKK-α polypeptide is shown as SEQ LD NO:3, and the full conceptual translate is shown as SEQ LD NO:4. The LKK-α polypeptides of the invention include incomplete translates of SEQ ID NO:3, particularly of SEQ LD NO:3, residues 1-638, which translates and deletion mutants of SEQ ID NO:4 have human IKK-α-specific amino acid sequence, binding specificity or function and comprise at least one of Cys30, GluLeu604, Thr679, Ser680, Pro684, Thr686, and Ser678. Preferred translates/deletion mutants comprise at least a 6 residue Cys30, Glu543, Leu604, Thr679, Ser680, Pro684, Thr686 or Ser687-containing domain of SEQ LD NO:4, preferably including at least 8, more preferably at least 12, most preferably at least 20 contiguous residues which immediately flank said residue, with said residue preferably residing within said contigous residues, see, e.g. Table I; which mutants provide hLKK-α specific epitopes and immunogens. TABLE 1. Exemplay IKK-α polypeptides having LKK-α binding specificity hLKK-αΔl (SEQ ID NO:4, residues 1-30) hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4,residues 686-699) hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4, residues 22-31) hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4, residues312-345) JiLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4,residues 599-608)hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4, residues419-444) hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4,residues 601-681)hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4, residues495-503) hLKK-αΔ 1 (SEQ ID NO:4,residues 604-679)hLKK-αΔ 1 (SEQ ID NO:4, residues565-590) hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4,residues 670-687)hLKK-αΔ 1 (SEQ ID NO:4, residuesό 10-627) hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4,residues 679-687)hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4, residues627-638) hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4,residues 680-690)hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4, residues715-740) hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4,residues 684-695)hLKK-αΔl (SEQ LD NO:4, residues737-745) The subject domains provide LKK-α domain specific activity or function, such as IKK-α-specific kinase or kinase inhibitory activity, NTK-binding or binding inhibitory activity, IκB-binding or binding inhibitory activity, NFKB activating or inhibitory activity or antibody binding. Preferred domains phosphorylate at least one and preferably both the serine 32 and 36 of IκB (Verma, I. M., et al. (1995)). As used herein, Ser32 and Ser36 of IKB refers collectively to the two serine residues which are part of the consensus sequence DSGL/IXSM/L (e.g. ser 32 and 36 in IκBα, ser 19 and 23 in IκBβ, and ser 157 and 161, or 18 and 22, depending on the usage of methionines, in IκBe, respectively. LKK-α-specific activity or function may be determined by convenient in vitro, cell- based, or in vivo assays: e.g. in vitro binding assays, cell culture assays, in animals (e.g. gene therapy, transgenics, etc.), etc. Binding assays encompass any assay where the molecular interaction of an LKK-α polypeptide with a binding target is evaluated. The binding target may be a natural intracellular binding target such as an LKK-α substrate, a LKK-α regulating protein or other regulator that directly modulates LKK-α activity or its localization; or non-natural binding target such a specific immune protein such as an antibody, or an LKK-α specific agent such as those identified in screening assays such as described below. IKK-α-binding specificity may assayed by kinase activity or binding equilibrium constants (usually at least about 10 7 M _I , preferably at least about 10 8 M "1 , more preferably at least about 10 9 M "1 ), by the ability of the subject polypeptide to function as negative mutants in LKK-α-expressing cells, to elicit IKK-α specific antibody in a heterologous host (e.g a rodent or rabbit), etc. In any event, the IKK-α binding specificity of the subject LKK-α polypeptides necessarily distinguishes the murine and human CHUK sequences of Connelly and Marcu (1995) as well as LKK-β (SEQ ID NO:4). The claimed LKK-α polypeptides are isolated or pure: an "isolated" polypeptide is unaccompanied by at least some of the material with which it is associated in its natural state, preferably constituting at least about 0.5%, and more preferably at least about 5% by weight of the total polypeptide in a given sample and a pure polypeptide constitutes at least about 90%, and preferably at least about 99% by weight of the total polypeptide in a given sample. In a particular embodiments, LKK-α polypeptides are isolated from a MKP- 1 precipitable complex, isolated from a IKK complex, and/or isolated from LKK-β. The LKK-α polypeptides and polypeptide domains may be synthesized, produced by recombinant technology, or purified from mammalian, preferably human cells. A wide variety of molecular and biochemical methods are available for biochemical synthesis, molecular expression and purification of the subject compositions, see e.g. Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (Sambrook, et al. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Eds. Ausubel, et al, Greene Publ. Assoc, Wiley- Interscience, NY) or that are otherwise known in the art. The invention provides binding agents specific to LKK polypeptides, preferably the claimed LKK-α polypeptides, including substrates, agonists, antagonists, natural intracellular binding targets, etc., methods of identifying and making such agents, and their use in diagnosis, therapy and pharmaceutical development. For example, specific binding agents are useful in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications, especially where disease or disease prognosis is associated with improper utilization of a pathway involving the subject proteins, e.g. NF-κB activation. Novel IKK-specific binding agents include LKK-specific receptors, such as somatically recombined polypeptide receptors like specific antibodies or T-cell antigen receptors (see, e.g Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) and other natural intracellular binding agents identified with assays such as one-, two- and three-hybrid screens, non- natural intracellular binding agents identified in screens of chemical libraries such as described below, etc. Agents of particular interest modulate LKK function, e.g. LKK- dependent transcriptional activation. For example, a wide variety of inhibitors of LKK IκB kinase activity may be used to regulate signal transduction involving IκB. Exemplary IKK IκB kinase inhibitors include known classes of serine/threonine kinase (e.g. PKC) inhibitors such as competitive inhibitors of ATP and substrate binding, antibiotics, LKK- derived peptide inhibitors, etc., see Tables II and III. LKK specificity and activity are readily quantified in high throughput kinase assays using panels of protein kinases (see cited references and Examples). Preferred inhibitors include natural compounds such as staurosporine (Omura S, et al. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 1995 Jul;48(7):535-48), produced by a marine organism, and synthetic compounds such as PD 153035, which also potently inhibits the EGF receptor protein kinase (Fry DW et al. Science 1994 Aug 19;265(5175): 1093-5). Members of the tyrphostin family of synthetic protein kinase inhibitors are also useful; these include compounds which are pure ATP competitors, compounds which are pure substrate competitors, and compounds which are mixed competitors: compete with both ATP and substrate (Levitzki A and Gazit A, Science 1995 Mar 24;267(5205): 1782-8). Additional IKK inhibitors include peptide-based substrate competitors endogenously made by the mammalian cell, e.g. PKI (protein kinase inhibitor, Seasholtz AF et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1995 Feb 28;92(5): 1734-8 ), or proteins inhibiting cdc kinases (Correa-Bordes J and Nurse P, Cell 1995 Dec 15;83(6): 1001-9). Additional small peptide based substrate competitive kinase inhibitors and allosteric inhibitors (inhibitory mechanisms independent of ATP or substrate competition) are readily generated by established methods (Hvalby O, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1994 May 24;91(11):4761-5; Barja P, et al., Cell Immunol 1994 Jan;153(l):28-38; Villar-Palasi C, Biochim Biophys Acta 1994 Dec 30;1224(3):384-8; Liu WZ, et al., Biochemistry 1994 Aug 23;33(33): 10120-6). TABLE II. Selected Small Molecule LKK Kinase Inhibitors HA-100 1 Iso-H7 12 A-3 18 Chelerythrine 2 PKC 19-31 HA1004 19 ' 20 Staurosporine 3 ' 4 ' 5 ττ_ -713,3,14 K-252a 16 ' 5 Calphostin C 6 ' 7 ' 8 ' 9 H-89 15 KT5823 16 K-252b 10 KT5720 16 ML-9 21 PKC 19-36 11 cAMP-depPKinhib 17 KT5926 22 Citations 1. Hagiwara, M,. et al. Mol. Pharmacol. 32: 7 (1987) 2. Herbert, J. M., et al. Biochem Biophys Res Com 172: 993 (1990) 3. Schachtele, C, et al. Biochem Biophys Res Com 151 : 542 (1988) 4. Tamaoki, T., et al. Biochem Biophys Res Com 135: 397 (1986) 5. Tischler, A. S., et al. J. Neurochemistry 55: 1159 (1990) 6. Bruns, R. F., et al. Biochem Biophys Res Com 176: 288 (1991) J. Kobayashi, E., et al. Biochem Biophys Res Com 159: 548 (1989) 8. Tamaoki, T.,et al Adv2nd Mass Phosphoprotein Res 24:497(1990) 9. Tamaoki, T., et al. Biotechnology 8: 732 (1990) 10. Yasuzawa, T. J. Antibiotics 39: 1972 (1986) 11. House, C, et al. Science 238: 1726 (1987) 12. Quick, J., et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Com. 167: 657 (1992) 13. Bouli, N. M. and Davis, M. Brain Res. 525: 198 (1990) 14. Takahashi, I., et al. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 255: 1218 (1990) 15. Chijiwa, T., et al. J. Biol. Chem. 265: 5267 (1990) 16. Kase, H., et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Com. 142: 436 (1987) 17. Cheng, H. C, et al. J. Biol. Chem. 261 : 989 (1986) 18. Inagaki, M., et al. Mol. Pharmacol. 29: 577 (1986) 19. Asano, T. and Hidaka, H. J Pharmaco. Exp Ther 231 :141 (1984) 20. Hidaka, H., et al. Biochemistry 23: 5036 (1984) 21. Nagatsu, T., et al. Biochem Biophys Res Com 143: 1045 (1987) 22. Nakanishi, S., et al. Mol. Pharmacol. 37: 482 (1990) TABLE III. Selected Peptidyl IKK Kinase Inhibitors hLKBα, residues 24-39, 32Ala hLKK-α, Δ5-203 hlKBα, residues 29-47, 36Ala hLKK-α, Δl-178 hIκBα, residues 26-46, 32/36Ala hLKK-α, Δ368-756 hlKBβ, residues 25-38, 32Ala hIKK-α, Δ460-748 hIκBβ, residues 30-41, 36Ala hLKK-α, Δl-289 hlt Bβ, residues 26-46, 32/36Ala hLKK-α, Δ 12-219 hlKBe, residues 24-40, 32Ala hLKK-α, Δ307-745 hLi Be, residues 31-50, 36Ala hLKK-α, Δ319-644 hIκBe, residues 27-44, 32/36Ala Accordingly, the invention provides methods for modulating signal transduction involving IκB in a cell comprising the step of modulating LKK kinase activity, e.g. by contacting the cell with a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor. The cell may reside in culture or in situ, i.e. within the natural host. Preferred inhibitors are orally active in mammalian ghosts. For diagnostic uses, the inhibitors or other LKK binding agents are frequently labeled, such as with fluorescent, radioactive, chemiluminescent, or other easily detectable molecules, either conjugated directly to the binding agent or conjugated to a probe specific for the binding agent. The amino acid sequences of the disclosed LKK-α polypeptides are used to back- translate LKK-α polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids optimized for selected expression systems (Holler et al. (1993) Gene 136, 323-328; Martin et al. (1995) Gene 154, 150-166) or used to generate degenerate oligonucleotide primers and probes for use in the isolation of natural IKK-α-encoding nucleic acid sequences ("GCG" software, Genetics Computer Group, Inc, Madison WI). IKK-α-encoding nucleic acids used in LKK-α-expression vectors and incorporated into recombinant host cells, e.g. for expression and screening, transgenic animals, e.g. for functional studies such as the efficacy of candidate drugs for disease associated with LKK-α-modulated cell function, etc. The invention also provides nucleic acid hybridization probes and replication / amplification primers having a IKK-α cDNA specific sequence comprising at least 12, preferably at least 24, more preferably at least 36 and most preferably at least contiguous 96 bases of a strand of SEQ ID NO:3, particularly of SEQ ID NO: 2, nucleotides 1-1913, and preferably including at least one of bases 1-92, 1811, 1812, 1992, 1995, 2034, 2035, 2039, 2040, 2050, 2055 and 2060, and sufficient to specifically hybridize with a second nucleic acid comprising the complementary strand of SEQ LD NO:3 in the presence of a third nucleic acid comprising (SEQ LD NO:5). Demonstrating specific hybridization generally requires stringent conditions, for example, hybridizing in a buffer comprising 30% formamide in 5 x SSPE (0.18 M NaCl, 0.01 M NaPO 4 , pH7.7, 0.001 M EDTA) buffer at a temperature of 42°C and remaining bound when subject to washing at 42°C with 0.2 x SSPE; preferably hybridizing in a buffer comprising 50% formamide in 5 x SSPE buffer at a temperature of 42°C and remaining bound when subject to washing at 42°C with 0.2 x SSPE buffer at 42°C. LKK-α nucleic acids can also be distinguished using alignment algorithms, such as BLASTX (Altschul et al. (1990) Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, J Mol Biol 215, 403-410). The subject nucleic acids are of synthetic/non-natural sequences and/or are isolated, i.e. unaccompanied by at least some of the material with which it is associated in its natural state, preferably constituting at least about 0.5%o, preferably at least about 5% .by weight of total nucleic acid present in a given fraction, and usually recombinant, meaning they comprise a non-natural sequence or a natural sequence joined to nucleotide(s) other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome. Recombinant nucleic acids comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ LD NO: 3, or requisite fragments thereof, contain such sequence or fragment at a terminus, immediately flanked by (i.e. contiguous with) a sequence other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome, or flanked by a native flanking region fewer than 10 kb, preferably fewer than 2 kb, which is at a terminus or is immediately flanked by a sequence other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome. While the nucleic acids are usually RNA or DNA, it is often advantageous to use nucleic acids comprising other bases or nucleotide analogs to provide modified stability, etc. The subject nucleic acids find a wide variety of applications including use as translatable transcripts, hybridization probes, PCR primers, diagnostic nucleic acids, etc.; use in detecting the presence of LKK-α genes and gene transcripts and in detecting or amplifying nucleic acids encoding additional LKK-α homologs and structural analogs. In diagnosis, LKK-α hybridization probes find use in identifying wild-type and mutant LKK-α alleles in clinical and laboratory samples. Mutant alleles are used to generate allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probes for high-throughput clinical diagnoses. In therapy, therapeutic IKK-α nucleic acids are used to modulate cellular expression or intracellular concentration or availability of active LKK-α. The invention provides efficient methods of identifying agents, compounds or lead compounds for agents active at the level of a LKK modulatable cellular function. Generally, these screening methods involve assaying for compounds which modulate LKK interaction with a natural LKK binding target, in particular, LKK phosphorylation of IκB- derived substrates, particularly IκB and NLK substrates. A wide variety of assays for binding agents are provided including labeled in vitro protein-protein binding assays, immunoassays, cell based assays, etc. The methods are amenable to automated, cost- effective high throughput screening of chemical libraries for lead compounds. Identified reagents find use in the pharmaceutical industries for animal and human trials; for example, the reagents may be derivatized and rescreened in in vitro and in vivo assays to optimize activity and minimize toxicity for pharmaceutical development. In vitro binding assays employ a mixture of components including an LKK polypeptide, which may be part of a fusion product with another peptide or polypeptide, e.g. a tag for detection or anchoring, etc. The assay mixtures comprise a natural intracellular LKK binding target. In a particular embodiment, the binding target is a substrate comprising IκB serines 32 and/or 36. Such substrates comprise a IκBα, β or e peptide including the serine 32 and/or 36 residue and at least 5, preferably at least 10, and more preferably at least 20 naturally occurring immediately flanking residues on each side (e.g. for serine 36 peptides, residues 26-46, 22-42, or 12-32 or 151-171 for IκBα, β or e - derived substrates, respectively). While native full-length binding targets may be used, it is frequently preferred to use portions (e.g. peptides) thereof so long as the portion provides binding affinity and avidity to the subject IKK polypeptide conveniently measurable in the assay. The assay mixture also comprises a candidate pharmacological agent. Candidate agents encompass numerous chemical classes, though typically they are organic compounds; preferably small organic compounds and are obtained from a wide variety of sources including libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. A variety of other reagents may also be included in the mixture. These include reagents like ATP or ATP analogs (for kinase assays), salts, buffers, neutral proteins, e.g. albumin, detergents, protease inhibitors, nuclease inhibitors, antimicrobial agents, etc. may be used. The resultant mixture is incubated under conditions whereby, but for the presence of the candidate pharmacological agent, the IKK polypeptide specifically binds the cellular binding target, portion or analog with a reference binding affinity. The mixture components can be added in any order that provides for the requisite bindings and incubations may be performed at any temperature which facilitates optimal binding. Incubation periods are likewise selected for optimal binding but also minimized to facilitate rapid, high-throughput screening. After incubation, the agent-biased binding between the LKK polypeptide and one or more binding targets is detected by any convenient way. For LKK kinase assays, 'binding' is generally detected by a change in the phosphorylation of a LKK-α substrate. In this embodiment, kinase activity may quantified by the transfer to the substrate of a labeled phosphate, where the label may provide for direct detection as radioactivity, luminescence, optical or electron density, etc. or indirect detection such as an epitope tag, etc. A variety of methods may be used to detect the label depending on the nature of the label and other assay components, e.g. through optical or electron density, radiative emissions, .nonradiative energy transfers, etc. or indirectly detected with antibody conjugates, etc. A difference in the binding affinity of the LKK polypeptide to the target in the absence of the agent as compared with the binding affinity in the presence of the agent indicates that the agent modulates the binding of the LKK polypeptide to the KK binding target. Analogously, in the cell-based assay also described below, a difference in LKK-α- dependent transcriptional activation in the presence and absence of an agent indicates the agent modulates LKK function. A difference, as used herein, is statistically significant and preferably represents at least a 50%, more preferably at least a 90% difference. The following experimental section and examples are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. EXPERIMENTAL Identification of IKK-α To investigate the mechanism of NLK-mediated NF-κB activation, we identified proteins that associate directly with NLK by yeast two-hybrid protein interaction cloning (Fields and Song, 1989). An expression vector was generated that encodes NLK fused to the DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcription factor GAL4. This vector was used as bait in a two-hybrid screen of a human B cell cDNA library. From approximately six million transformants, eight positive clones were obtained, as determined by activation of his and lacZ reporter genes. Of these clones, three encoded a member of the TRAF family, TRAF3 (Hu et al., 1994; Cheng et al., 1995; Mosialos et al., 1995; Sato et al., 1995) and one encoded a novel protein we call LKK-α. Retransformation into yeast cells verified the interaction between NIK and LKK-α. A full-length human LKK-α clone was isolated by screening a Jurkat cDNA library with a probe generated from the 5'-end of the LKK-α two-hybrid clone. LKK-α comprises an N-terminal serine-threonine kinase catalytic domain, a C-terminal helix-loop- helix domain and a leucine zipper-like amphipathic α-helix juxtaposed in between the helix- loop-helix and kinase domain. Interaction of IKK-α and NLK in Human Cells The interaction of LKK-α with NLK was confirmed in mammalian cell coimmunoprecipitation assays. Human LKK-α containing an N-terminal Flag epitope tag was transiently coexpressed in 293 human embryonic kidney cells with Myc epitope-tagged NLK or HA epitope-tagged TRAF proteins. Cell lysates were immunoprecipitated using a .monoclonal antibody against the Flag epitope, and coprecipitating NIK or TRAF proteins were detected by immunoblot analysis with an anti-Myc or anti-HA monoclonal antibodies. In this assay, LKK-α was able to coprecipitate NLK confirming the interaction between both proteins as detected for LKK-α by yeast two-hybrid analysis. Also, a deletion mutant LKK-α protein lacking most of the N-terminal kinase domain (LKK-αp 07 - 7 45 ) ) was able to associate with NLK, indicating that the α-helical C-terminal half of IKK-α mediates the interaction with NIK. In contrast to N K, LKK-α failed to associate with either TRAF2 or TRAF3. However, when NLK was coexpressed with LKK-α and TRAF2, strong coprecipitation of TRAF2 with LKK-α was detected, indicating the formation of a ternary complex between LKK-α, NLK and TRAF2. Effect of IKK-α and IKK-α Mutants on NF-κB Activation To investigate a possible role for LKK-α in NF-κB activation, we examined if transient overexpression of LKK-α might activate an NF-κB-dependent reporter gene. An E-selectin- luciferase reporter construct (Schindler and Baichwal, 1994) and a LKK-α expression vector were cotransfected into HeLa cells. IKK-α expression activated the reporter gene in a dose- dependent manner, with a maximal induction of luciferase activity of about 6 to 7-fold compared to vector control. Similar results were obtained in 293 cells, where IKK-α overexpression induced reporter gene activity approximately 4-fold. TNF treatment did not stimulate the weak NF-κB-inducing activity of overexpressed IKK-α in reporter gene assays. Thus, IKK-α induces NF-κB activation when overexpressed. We next determined the effect of overexpression of kinase-inactive LKK-α 30 7- 745) that still associates with NLK on signal-induced NF-κB activation in reporter gene assays in 293 cells. blocked TNF- and LL-1 -induced reporter gene activation similar to overexpression of NLK 6 24_ 947 TKK- ^ Q - j .- j ^ was also found to inhibited NF-κB -dependent reporter gene activity elicited by overexpression of TRAF2, TRAF6 and NLK. Taken together these results demonstrate that a catalytically inactive IKK-α mutant is a dominant-negative inhibitor of TNF-, LL-1, TRAF- and NLK-induced NF-κB activation. This indicates that LKK-α functions as a common mediator of NF-κB activation by TNF and LL-1 downstream of NIK. Parenthetical References Ansieau, S., et al. (1996). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 3, 14053-14058. Baeuerle, P. A., and Henkel, T. (1994). Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12, 141-179. _Beg, A. A., et al. (1993). Mol. Cell. Biol. 13, 3301-3310. 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Mosialos, G., et al. (1995). Cell 80, 389-399. Nakano, H., et al. (1996). J. Biol. Chem. 271, 14661-14664. Osborn, L., Kunkel, S., and Nabel, G. J. (1989). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 2336-2340. Rothe, M., Sarma, V., Dixit, V. M., and Goeddel, D. V. (1995). Science 269, 1424-1427. Rothe, M., Wong, S. C, Henzel, W. J., and Goeddel, D. V. (1994). Cell 78, 681-692. Sato, T., Lrie, S., and Reed, J. C. (1995). FEBS Lett. 358, 113-118. Schindler, U., and Baichwal, V. R (1994). Mol. Cell. Biol. 14, 5820-5831. Smith, C. A., Farrah, T., and Goodwin, R. G. (1994). Cell 76, 959-962. Song, H. Y., and Dormer, D. B. (1995). Biochem. J. 809, 825-829. Thanos, D., and Maniatis, T. (1995). Cell 80, 529-532. Verma, I. M., et al. (1995). Genes Dev. 9, 2723-2735. EXAMPLES 1. Protocol for at LKK-α - IκBα phosphorylation assay. A. Reagents: - Neutralite Avidin: 20 μg/ml in PBS. - kinase: 10 "8 - 10 "5 M LKK-α (SEQ LD NO:4) at 20 μg/ml in PBS. - substrate: 10 "7 - 10 "4 M biotinylated substrate (21 residue peptide consisting of residues 26-46 of human IκBα) at 40 μg/ml in PBS. - Blocking buffer: 5% BSA, 0.5% Tween 20 in PBS; 1 hour at room temperature. - Assay Buffer: 100 mM KC1, 10 mM MgCl 2 , 1 mM MnCl 2 , 20 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 0.25 mM EDTA, 1% glycerol, 0.5% NP-40, 50 mM BME, 1 mg/ml BSA, cocktail of protease inhibitors. -[ 32 P]γ-ATP l Ox stock: 2 x 10 "5 M cold ATP with 100 μCi [ 32 P]γ-ATP. Place in the 4°C microfridge during screening. - Protease inhibitor cocktail flOOOX): 10 mg Trypsin Inhibitor (BMB # 109894), 10 mg Aprotinin (BMB # 236624), 25 mg Benzamidine (Sigma # B-6506), 25 mg Leupeptin (BMB # 1017128), 10 mg APMSF (BMB # 917575), and 2mM NaVo 3 (Sigma # S-6508) in 10 ml of PBS. B . Preparation of assay plates: - Coat with 120 μl of stock N Avidin per well overnight at 4°C. - Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS. - Block with 150 μl of blocking buffer. - Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS. C. Assay: - Add 40 μl assay buffer/well. - Add 40 μl biotinylated substrate (2-200 pmoles/40 ul in assay buffer) - Add 40 μl kinase (0.1-10 pmoles/40 ul in assay buffer) - Add 10 μl compound or extract. - Add 10 μl [ 32 P]γ-ATP lOx stock. - Shake at 25 °C for 15 minutes. - Incubate additional 45 minutes at 25 °C. - Stop the reaction by washing 4 times with 200 μl PBS. - Add 150 μl scintillation cocktail. - Count in Topcount. D. Controls for all assays (located on each plate): a. Non-specific binding b. cold ATP at 80% inhibition. 2. Protocol for high throughput LKK-α-NLK binding assay. A. Reagents: - Neutralite Avidin: 20 μg/ml in PBS. - Blocking buffer: 5% BSA, 0.5% Tween 20 in PBS; 1 hour at room temperature. - Assay Buffer: 100 mM KC1, 20 mM HEPES pH 7.6, 1 mM MgCl 2 , 1% glycerol, 0.5%) NP-40, 50 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 1 mg/ml BSA, cocktail of protease inhibitors. - -P TKK-α polypeptide I Qx stock: 10 "8 - 10 "6 M "cold" LKK-α supplemented with 200,000-250,000 cpm of labeled LKK-α (Beckman counter). Place in the 4°C microfridge during screening. - Protease inhibitor cocktail (1000X : 10 mg Trypsin Inhibitor (BMB # 109894), 10 mg Aprotinin (BMB # 236624), 25 mg Benzamidine (Sigma # B-6506), 25 mg Leupeptin (BMB # 1017128), 10 mg APMSF (BMB # 917575), and 2mM NaVO 3 (Sigma # S-6508) in 10 ml of PBS. -NLK: 10 "7 - 10 "5 M biotinylated NLK in PBS. B. Preparation of assay plates: - Coat with 120 μl of stock N-Avidin per well overnight at 4°C. - Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS. - Block with 150 μl of blocking buffer. - Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS. C. Assay: - Add 40 μl assay buffer/well. - Add 10 μl compound or extract. - Add 10 μl 33 P-LKK-α (20-25,000 cpm/0.1-10 pmoles/well =10 "9 - 10 "7 M final cone). - Shake at 25°C for 15 minutes. - Incubate additional 45 minutes at 25°C. - Add 40 μM biotinylated NLK (0.1-10 pmoles/40 ul in assay buffer) - Incubate 1 hour at room temperature. - Stop the reaction by washing 4 times with 200 μM PBS. - Add 150 μM scintillation cocktail. - Count in Topcount. D. Controls for all assays (located on each plate): a. Non-specific binding b. Soluble (non-biotinylated NIK) at 80% inhibition. All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An isolated polypeptide comprising SEQ LD NO:4, or at least a 10 residue domain thereof comprising at least one of Cys30, Leu604, Thr679, Ser680, Pro684, Thr686 and Ser678. 2. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein said polypeptide has an activity selected from at least one of: a kinase or kinase inhibitory activity, a NLK-binding or binding inhibitory activity, an IκB-binding or binding inhibitory activity and an NFKB activating or inhibitory activity. 3. An isolated or recombinant first nucleic acid comprising a strand of SEQ LD NO:3, or a portion thereof having at least 24 contiguous bases of SEQ ID NO:3 and including at least one of bases 1-92, 1811, 1812, 1992, 1995, 2034, 2035, 2039, 2040, 2050, 2055 and 2060, sufficient to specifically hybridize with a second nucleic acid comprising the complementary strand of SEQ LD NO: 3 in the presence of a third nucleic acid comprising (SEQ LD NO:5). 4. A recombinant nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide according to claim 1. 5. A cell comprising a nucleic acid according to claim 4. 6. A method of making an isolated polypeptide according to claim 1, said method comprising steps: introducing a nucleic acid according to claim 4 into a host cell or cellular extract, incubating said host cell or extract under conditions whereby said nucleic acid is expressed as a transcript and said transcript is expressed as a translation product comprising said polypeptide, and isolating said translation product. 7. A method of screening for an agent which modulates the interaction of an LKK polypeptide to a binding target, said method comprising the steps of: incubating a mixture comprising: an isolated polypeptide according to claim 1, a binding target of said polypeptide, and a candidate agent; under conditions whereby, but for the presence of said agent, said polypeptide specifically binds said binding target at a reference affinity; detecting the binding affinity of said polypeptide to said binding target to determine an agent-biased affinity, wherein a difference between the agent-biased affinity and the reference affinity indicates that said agent modulates the binding of said polypeptide to said binding target. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said binding target is a natural intracellular substrate and said reference and agent-biased binding affinity is detected as phosphorylation of said substrate. 9. A method of screening for an agent which modulates the interaction of an LKK polypeptide to a binding target, said method comprising the steps of: incubating a mixture comprising: an isolated polypeptide comprising SEQ LD NO: 2 or 4, or a deletion mutant thereof retaining IκB kinase activity, an IκB polypeptide comprising at least a six residue domain of a natural IκB comprising at least one of Ser32 and Ser 36, and a candidate agent; under conditions whereby, but for the presence of said agent, said polypeptide specifically phosphorylates said IκB polypeptide at at least one of said Ser32 and Serf 6 at a reference activity; detecting the polypeptide-induced phosphorylation of said IκB polypeptide at at least one of said Ser32 and Ser36 to determine an agent-biased activity, wherein a difference between the agent-biased activity and the reference activity indicates that said agent modulates the ability of said polypeptide to specifically phosphorylate a IκB polypeptide. 10. A method for modulating signal transduction involving IκB in a cell, said method comprising the step of modulating LKK-α (SEQ ID NO:4) kinase activity. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said modulating step comprises contacting the cell with a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor. SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (1) APPLICANT: Rothe, Mike Cao , Zhaodan Regnier, Catherine (n) TITLE OF INVENTION: IKK-α Proteins, Nucleic Acids and Methods (ill) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 5 (lv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: (A) ADDRESSEE: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LAW GROUP (B) STREET: 268 BUSH STREET, SUITE 3200 (C) CITY: SAN FRANCISCO (D) STATE: CALIFORNIA (E) COUNTRY: USA (F) ZIP: 94104 (v) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: Patentin Release #1.0, Version #1.30 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: (A) APPLICATION NUMBER: (B) FILING DATE: (C) CLASSIFICATION: (vm) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION: (A) NAME: OSMAN, RICHARD A (B) REGISTRATION NUMBER: 36,627 (C) REFERENCE/DOCKET NUMBER: T97-006-1 ( x) TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION: (A) TELEPHONE: (415) 343-4341 (B) TELEFAX: (415) 343-4342 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:l: (l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 2268 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS : double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi ) SEQUENCE DESCRI PTION : SEQ ID NO : l : ATGAGCTGGT CACCTTCCCT GACAACGCAG ACATGTGGGG CCTGGGAAAT GAAAGAGCGC 60 CTTGGGACAG GGGGATTTGG AAATGTCATC CGATGGCACA ATCAGGAAAC AGGTGAGCAG 120 ATTGCCATCA AGCAGTGCCG GCAGGAGCTC AGCCCCCGGA ACCGAGAGCG GTGGTGCCTG 180 GAGATCCAGA TCATGAGAAG GCTGACCCAC CCCAATGTGG TGGCTGCCCG AGATGTCCCT 240 GAGGGGATGC AGAACTTGGC GCCCAATGAC CTGCCCCTGC TGGCCATGGA GTACTGCCAA 300 GGAGGAGATC TCCGGAAGTA CCTGAACCAG TTTGAGAACT GCTGTGGTCT GCGGGAAGGT 360 GCCATCCTCA CCTTGCTGAG TGACATTGCC TCTGCGCTTA GATACCTTCA TGAAAACAGA 420 ATCATCCATC GGGATCTAAA GCCAGAAAAC ATCGTCCTGC AGCAAGGAGA ACAGAGGTTA 480 ATACACAAAA TTATTGACCT AGGATATGCC AAGGAGCTGG ATCAGGGCAG TCTTTGCACA 540 TCATTCGTGG GGACCCTGCA GTACCTGGCC CCAGAGCTAC TGGAGCAGCA GAAGTACACA 600 GTGACCGTCG ACTACTGGAG CTTCGGCACC CTGGCCTTTG AGTGCATCAC GGGCTTCCGG 660 CCCTTCCTCC CCAACTGGCA GCCCGTGCAG TGGCATTCAA AAGTGCGGCA GAAGAGTGAG 720 GTGGACATTG TTGTTAGCGA AGACTTGAAT GGAACGGTGA AGTTTTCAAG CTCTTTACCC 780 TACCCCAATA ATCTTAACAG TGTCCTGGCT GAGCGACTGG AGAAGTGGCT GCAACTGATG 840 CTGATGTGGC ACCCCCGACA GAGGGGCACG GATCCCACGT ATGGGCCCAA TGGCTGCTTC 900 AAGGCCCTGG ATGACATCTT AAACTTAAAG CTGGTTCATA TCTTGAACAT GGTCACGGGC 960 ACCATCCACA CCTACCCTGT GACAGAGGAT GAGAGTCTGC AGAGCTTGAA GGCCAGAATC 1020 CAACAGGACA CGGGCATCCC AGAGGAGGAC CAGGAGCTGC TGCAGGAAGC GGGCCTGGCG 1080 TTGATCCCCG ATAAGCCTGC CACTCAGTGT ATTTCAGACG GCAAGTTAAA TGAGGGCCAC 1140 ACATTGGACA TGGATCTTGT TTTTCTCTTT GACAACAGTA AAATCACCTA TGAGACTCAG 1200 ATCTCCCCAC GGCCCCAACC TGAAAGTGTC AGCTGTATCC TTCAAGAGCC CAAGAGGAAT 1260 CTCGCCTTCT TCCAGCTGAG GAAGGTGTGG GGCCAGGTCT GGCACAGCAT CCAGACCCTG 1320 AAGGAAGATT GCAACCGGCT GCAGCAGGGA CAGCGAGCCG CCATGATGAA TCTCCTCCGA 1380 AACAACAGCT GCCTCTCCAA AATGAAGAAT TCCATGGCTT CCATGTCTCA GCAGCTCAAG 1440 GCCAAGTTGG ATTTCTTCAA AACCAGCATC CAGATTGACC TGGAGAAGTA CAGCGAGCAA 1500 ACCGAGTTTG GGATCACATC AGATAAACTG CTGCTGGCCT GGAGGGAAAT GGAGCAGGCT 1560 GTGGAGCTCT GTGGGCGGGA GAACGAAGTG AAACTCCTGG TAGAACGGAT GATGGCTCTG 1620 CAGACCGACA TTGTGGACTT ACAGAGGAGC CCCATGGGCC GGAAGCAGGG GGGAACGCTG 1680 GACGACCTAG AGGAGCAAGC AAGGGAGCTG TACAGGAGAC TAAGGGAAAA ACCTCGAGAC 1740 CAGCGAACTG AGGGTGACAG TCAGGAAATG GTACGGCTGC TGCTTCAGGC AATTCAGAGC 1800 TTCGAGAAGA AAGTGCGAGT GATCTATACG CAGCTCAGTA AAACTGTGGT TTGCAAGCAG 1860 AAGGCGCTGG AACTGTTGCC CAAGGTGGAA GAGGTGGTGA GCTTAATGAA TGAGGATGAG 1920 AAGACTGTTG TCCGGCTGCA GGAGAAGCGG CAGAAGGAGC TCTGGAATCT CCTGAAGATT 1980 GCTTGTAGCA AGGTCCGTGG TCCTGTCAGT GGAAGCCCGG ATAGCATGAA TGCCTCTCGA 2040 CTTAGCCAGC CTGGGCAGCT GATGTCTCAG CCCTCCACGG CCTCCAACAG CTTACCTGAG 2100 CCAGCCAAGA AGAGTGAAGA ACTGGTGGCT GAAGCACATA ACCTCTGCAC CCTGCTAGAA 2160 AATGCCATAC AGGACACTGT GAGGGAACAA GACCAGAGTT TCACGGCCCT AGACTGGAGC 2220 TGGTTACAGA CGGAAGAAGA AGAGCACAGC TGCCTGGAGC AGGCCTCA 2268 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 2 : (l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH. 756 ammo acids ' (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (n) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2: Met Ser Trp Ser Pro Ser Leu Thr Thr Gin Thr Cys Gly Ala Trp Glu 1 5 10 15 Met Lys Glu Arg Leu Gly Thr Gly Gly Phe Gly Asn Val He Arg Trp 20 25 30 His Asn Gin Glu Thr Gly Glu Gin He Ala He Lys Gin Cys Arg Gin 35 40 45 Glu Leu Ser Pro Arg Asn Arg Glu Arg Trp Cys Leu Glu He Gin He 50 55 60 Met Arg Arg Leu Thr His Pro Asn Val Val Ala Ala Arg Asp Val Pro 65 70 75 80 Glu Gly Met Gin Asn Leu Ala Pro Asn Asp Leu Pro Leu Leu Ala Met 85 90 95 Glu Tyr Cys Gin Gly Gly Asp Leu Arg Lys Tyr Leu Asn Gin Phe Glu 100 105 110 Asn Cys Cys Gly Leu Arg Glu Gly Ala He Leu Thr Leu Leu Ser Asp 115 120 125 He Ala Ser Ala Leu Arg Tyr Leu His Glu Asn Arg He He His Arg 130 135 140 Asp Leu Lys Pro Glu Asn He Val Leu Gin Gin Gly Glu Gin Arg Leu 145 150 155 160 He His Lys He He Asp Leu Gly Tyr Ala Lys Glu Leu Asp Gin Gly 165 170 175 Ser Leu Cys Thr Ser Phe Val Gly Thr Leu Gin Tyr Leu Ala Pro Glu 180 185 190 Leu Leu Glu Gin Gin Lys Tyr Thr Val Thr Val Asp Tyr Trp Ser Phe 195 200 205 Gly Thr Leu Ala Phe Glu Cys He Thr Gly Phe Arg Pro Phe Leu Pro 210 215 220 Asn Trp Gin Pro Val Gin Trp His Ser Lys Val Arg Gin Lys Ser Glu 225 230 235 240 Val Asp He Val Val Ser Glu Asp Leu Asn Gly Thr Val Lys Phe Ser 245 250 255 Ser Ser Leu Pro Tyr Pro Asn Asn Leu Asn Ser Val Leu Ala Glu Arg 260 265 270 Leu Glu Lys Trp Leu Gin Leu Met Leu Met Trp His Pro Arg Gin Arg 275 280 285 Gly Thr Asp Pro Thr Tyr Gly Pro Asn Gly Cys Phe Lys Ala Leu Asp 290 295 300 Asp He Leu Asn Leu Lys Leu Val His He Leu Asn Met Val Thr Gly 305 310 315 320 Thr He His Thr Tyr Pro Val Thr Glu Asp Glu Ser Leu Gin Ser Leu 325 330 335 Lys Ala Arg He Gin Gin Asp Thr Gly He Pro Glu Glu Asp Gin Glu 340 345 350 Leu Leu Gin Glu Ala Gly Leu Ala Leu He Pro Asp Lys Pro Ala Thr 355 360 365 Gin Cys He Ser Asp Gly Lys Leu Asn Glu Gly His Thr Leu Asp Met 370 375 380 Asp Leu Val Phe Leu Phe Asp Asn Ser Lys He Thr Tyr Glu Thr Gin 385 390 395 400 He Ser Pro Arg Pro Gin Pro Glu Ser Val Ser Cys He Leu Gin Glu 405 410 415 Pro Lys Arg Asn Leu Ala Phe Phe Gin Leu Arg Lys Val Trp Gly Gin 420 425 430 Val Trp His Ser He Gin Thr Leu Lys Glu Asp Cys Asn Arg Leu Gin 435 440 445 Gin Gly Gin Arg Ala Ala Met Met Asn Leu Leu Arg Asn Asn Ser Cys 450 455 460 Leu Ser Lys Met Lys Asn Ser Met Ala Ser Met Ser Gin Gin Leu Lys 465 470 475 480 Ala Lys Leu Asp Phe Phe Lys Thr Ser He Gin He Asp Leu Glu Lys 485 490 495 Tyr Ser Glu Gin Thr Glu Phe Gly He Thr Ser Asp Lys Leu Leu Leu 500 505 510 Ala Trp Arg Glu Met Glu Gin Ala Val Glu Leu Cys Gly Arg Glu Asn 515 520 525 Glu Val Lys Leu Leu Val Glu Arg Met Met Ala Leu Gin Thr Asp He 530 535 540 Val Asp Leu Gin Arg Ser Pro Met Gly Arg Lys Gin Gly Gly Thr Leu 545 550 555 560 Asp Asp Leu Glu Glu Gin Ala Arg Glu Leu Tyr Arg Arg Leu Arg Glu 565 570 575 Lys Pro Arg Asp Gin Arg Thr Glu Gly Asp Ser Gin Glu Met Val Arg 580 585 590 Leu Leu Leu Gin Ala He Gin Ser Phe Glu Lys Lys Val Arg Val He 595 600 605 Tyr Thr Gin Leu Ser Lys Thr Val Val Cys Lys Gin Lys Ala Leu Glu 610 615 620 Leu Leu Pro Lys Val Glu Glu Val Val Ser Leu Met Asn Glu Asp Glu 625 630 635 640 Lys Thr Val Val Arg Leu Gin Glu Lys Arg Gin Lys Glu Leu Trp Asn 645 650 655 Leu Leu Lys He Ala Cys Ser Lys Val Arg Gly Pro Val Ser Gly Ser 660 665 670 * Pro Asp Ser Met Asn Ala Ser Arg Leu Ser Gin Pro Gly Gin Leu Met 675 680 685 Ser Gin Pro Ser Thr Ala Ser Asn Ser Leu Pro Glu Pro Ala Lys Lys 690 695 700 Ser Glu Glu Leu Val Ala Glu Ala His Asn Leu Cys Thr Leu Leu Glu 705 710 715 720 Asn Ala He Gin Asp Thr Val Arg Glu Gin Asp Gin Ser Phe Thr Ala 725 730 735 Leu Asp Trp Ser Trp Leu Gin Thr Glu Glu Glu Glu His Ser Cys Leu 740 745 750 Glu Gin Ala Ser 755 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO.3: (l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 2238 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear 111 ) MOLECULE TYPE : cDNA (xi ) SEQUENCE DESCRI PTION : SEQ ID NO : 3 : ATGGAGCGGC CCCCGGGGCT GCGGCCGGGC GCGGGCGGGC CCTGGGAGAT GCGGGAGCGG 60 CTGGGCACCG GCGGCTTCGG GAACGTCTGT CTGTACCAGC ATCGGGAACT TGATCTCAAA 120 ATAGCAATTA AGTCTTGTCG CCTAGAGCTA AGTACCAAAA ACAGAGAACG ATGGTGCCAT 180 GAAATCCAGA TTATGAAGAA GTTGAACCAT GCCAATGTTG TAAAGGCCTG TGATGTTCCT 240 GAAGAATTGA ATATTTTGAT TCATGATGTG CCTCTTCTAG CAATGGAATA CTGTTCTGGA 300 GGAGATCTCC GAAAGCTGCT CAACAAACCA GAAAATTGTT GTGGACTTAA AGAAAGCCAG 360 ATACTTTCTT TACTAAGTGA TATAGGGTCT GGGATTCGAT ATTTGCATGA AAACAAAATT 420 ATACATCGAG ATCTAAAACC TGAAAACATA GTTCTTCAGG ATGTTGGTGG AAAGATAATA 480 CATAAAATAA TTGATCTGGG ATATGCCAAA GATGTTGATC AAGGAAGTCT GTGTACATCT 540 TTTGTGGGAA CACTGCAGTA TCTGGCCCCA GAGCTCTTTG AGAATAAGCC TTACACAGCC 600 ACTGTTGATT ATTGGAGCTT TGGGACCATG GTATTTGAAT GTATTGCTGG ATATAGGCCT 660 TTTTTGCATC ATCTGCAGCC ATTTACCTGG CATGAGAAGA TTAAGAAGAA GGATCCAAAG 720 TGTATATTTG CATGTGAAGA GATGTCAGGA GAAGTTCGGT TTAGTAGCCA TTTACCTCAA 780 CCAAATAGCC TTTGTAGTTT AATAGTAGAA CCCATGGAAA ACTGGCTACA GTTGATGTTG 840 AATTGGGACC CTCAGCAGAG AGGAGGACCT GTTGACCTTA CTTTGAAGCA GCCAAGATGT 900 TTTGTATTAA TGGATCACAT TTTGAATTTG AAGATAGTAC ACATCCTAAA TATGACTTCT 960 GCAAAGATAA TTTCTTTTCT GTTACCACCT GATGAAAGTC TTCATTCACT ACAGTCTCGT 1020 ATTGAGCGTG AAACTGGAAT AAATACTGGT TCTCAAGAAC TTCTTTCAGA GACAGGAATT 1080 TCTCTGGATC CTCGGAAACC AGCCTCTCAA TGTGTTCTAG ATGGAGTTAG AGGCTGTGAT 1140 AGCTATATGG TTTATTTGTT TGATAAAAGT AAAACTGTAT ATGAAGGGCC ATTTGCTTCC 1200 AGAAGTTTAT CTGATTGTGT AAATTATATT GTACAGGACA GCAAAATACA GCTTCCAATT 1260 ' ATACAGCTGC GTAAAGTGTG GGCTGAAGCA GTGCACTATG TGTCTGGACT AAAAGAAGAC 1320 TATAGCAGGC TCTTTCAGGG ACAAAGGGCA GCAATGTTAA GTCTTCTTAG ATATAATGCT 1380 AACTTAACAA AAATGAAGAA CACTTTGATC TCAGCATCAC AACAACTGAA AGCTAAATTG 1440 GAGTTTTTTC ACAAAAGCAT TCAGCTTGAC TTGGAGAGAT ACAGCGAGCA GATGACGTAT 1500 GGGATATCTT CAGAAAAAAT GCTAAAAGCA TGGAAAGAAA TGGAAGAAAA GGCCATCCAC 1560 TATGCTGAGG TTGGTGTCAT TGGATACCTG GAGGATCAGA TTATGTCTTT GCATGCTGAA 1620 ATCATGGAGC TACAGAAGAG CCCCTATGGA AGACGTCAGG GAGACTTGAT GGAATCTCTG 1680 GAACAGCGTG CCATTGATCT ATATAAGCAG TTAAAACACA GACCTTCAGA TCACTCCTAC 1740 AGTGACAGCA CAGAGATGGT GAAAATCATT GTGCACACTG TGCAGAGTCA GGACCGTGTG 1800 CTCAAGGAGC TGTTTGGTCA TTTGAGCAAG TTGTTGGGCT GTAAGCAGAA GATTATTGAT 1860 CTACTCCCTA AGGTGGAAGT GGCCCTCAGT AATATCAAAG AAGCTGACAA TACTGTCATG 1920 TTCATGCAGG GAAAAAGGCA GAAAGAAATA TGGCATCTCC TTAAAATTGC CTGTACACAG 1980 AGTTCTGCCC GGTCCCTTGT AGGATCCAGT CTAGAAGGTG CAGTAACCCC TCAGACATCA 2040 GCATGGCTGC CCCCGACTTC AGCAGAACAT GATCATTCTC TGTCATGTGT GGTAACTCCT 2100 CAAGATGGGG AGACTTCAGC ACAAATGATA GAAGAAAATT TGAACTGCCT TGGCCATTTA 2160 AGCACTATTA TTCATGAGGC AAATGAGGAA CAGGGCAATA GTATGATGAA TCTTGATTGG 2220 AGTTGGTTAA CAGAATGA 2238 ( 2 ) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 4 : ( i ) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTI CS : (A) LENGTH : 745 amino acids (B) TYPE : amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 4: Met Glu Arg Pro Pro Gly Leu Arg Pro Gly Ala Gly Gly Pro Trp Glu 1 5 10 15 Met Arg Glu Arg Leu Gly Thr Gly Gly Phe Gly Asn Val Cys Leu Tyr 20 25 30 Gin His Arg Glu Leu Asp Leu Lys He Ala He Lys Ser Cys Arg Leu 35 40 45 Glu Leu Ser Thr Lys Asn Arg Glu Arg Trp Cys His Glu He Gin He 50 55 60 Met Lys Lys Leu Asn His Ala Asn Val Val Lys Ala Cys Asp Val Pro 65 70 75 80 Glu Glu Leu Asn He Leu He His Asp Val Pro Leu Leu Ala Met Glu 85 90 95 Tyr Cys Ser Gly Gly Asp Leu Arg Lys Leu Leu Asn Lys Pro Glu Asn 100 105 110 Cys Cys Gly Leu Lys Glu Ser Gin He Leu Ser Leu Leu Ser Asp He ' 115 120 125 Gly Ser Gly He Arg Tyr Leu His Glu Asn Lys He He His Arg Asp 130 135 140 Leu Lys Pro Glu Asn He Val Leu Gin Asp Val Gly Gly Lys He He 145 150 155 160 His Lys He He Asp Leu Gly Tyr Ala Lys Asp Val Asp Gin Gly Ser 165 170 175 Leu Cys Thr Ser Phe Val Gly Thr Leu Gin Tyr Leu Ala Pro Glu Leu 180 185 190 Phe Glu Asn Lys Pro Tyr Thr Ala Thr Val Asp Tyr Trp Ser Phe Gly 195 200 205 Thr Met Val Phe Glu Cys He Ala Gly Tyr Arg Pro Phe Leu His His 210 215 220 Leu Gin Pro Phe Thr Trp His Glu Lys He Lys Lys Lys Asp Pro Lys 225 230 235 240 Cys He Phe Ala Cys Glu Glu Met Ser Gly Glu Val Arg Phe Ser Ser 245 250 255 His Leu Pro Gin Pro Asn Ser Leu Cys Ser Leu He Val Glu Pro Met 260 265 270 Glu Asn Trp Leu Gin Leu Met Leu Asn Trp Asp Pro Gin Gin Arg Gly 275 280 285 Gly Pro Val Asp Leu Thr Leu Lys Gin Pro Arg Cys Phe Val Leu Met 290 295 300 Asp His He Leu Asn Leu Lys He Val His He Leu Asn Met Thr Ser 305 310 315 320 Ala Lys He He Ser Phe Leu Leu Pro Pro Asp Glu Ser Leu His Ser 325 330 335 Leu Gin Ser Arg He Glu Arg Glu Thr Gly He Asn Thr Gly Ser Gin 340 345 350 Glu Leu Leu Ser Glu Thr Gly He Ser Leu Asp Pro Arg Lys Pro Ala 355 360 365 Ser Gin Cys Val Leu Asp Gly Val Arg Gly Cys Asp Ser Tyr Met Val 370 375 380 Tyr Leu Phe Asp Lys Ser Lys Thr Val Tyr Glu Gly Pro Phe Ala Ser 385 390 395 400 Arg Ser Leu Ser Asp Cys Val Asn Tyr He Val Gin Asp Ser Lys He 405 410 415 Gin Leu Pro He He Gin Leu Arg Lys Val Trp Ala Glu Ala Val His 420 425 430 Tyr Val Ser Gly Leu Lys Glu Asp Tyr Ser Arg Leu Phe Gin Gly Gin 435 440 445 Arg Ala Ala Met Leu Ser Leu Leu Arg Tyr Asn Ala Asn Leu Thr Lys 450 455 460 Met Lys Asn Thr Leu He Ser Ala Ser Gin Gin Leu Lys Ala Lys Leu 465 470 475 480 Glu Phe Phe His Lys Ser He Gin Leu Asp Leu Glu Arg Tyr Ser Glu 485 490 495 Gin Met Thr Tyr Gly He Ser Ser Glu Lys Met Leu Lys Ala Trp Lys 500 505 510 Glu Met Glu Glu Lys Ala He His Tyr Ala Glu Val Gly Val He Gly 515 520 525 Tyr Leu Glu Asp Gin He Met Ser Leu His Ala Glu He Met Glu Leu 530 535 540 Gin Lys Ser Pro Tyr Gly Arg Arg Gin Gly Asp Leu Met Glu Ser Leu 545 550 555 560 Glu Gin Arg Ala He Asp Leu Tyr Lys Gin Leu Lys His Arg Pro Ser 565 570 575 Asp His Ser Tyr Ser Asp Ser Thr Glu Met Val Lys He He Val His 580 585 590 Thr Val Gin Ser Gin Asp Arg Val Leu Lys Glu Leu Phe Gly His Leu 595 600 605 Ser Lys Leu Leu Gly Cys Lys Gin Lys He He Asp Leu Leu Pro Lys 610 615 620 Val Glu Val Ala Leu Ser Asn He Lys Glu Ala Asp Asn Thr Val Met 625 630 635 640 Phe Met Gin Gly Lys Arg Gin Lys Glu He Trp His Leu Leu Lys He 645 650 655 Ala Cys Thr Gin Ser Ser Ala Arg Ser Leu Val Gly Ser Ser Leu Glu 660 665 670 Gly Ala Val Thr Pro Gin Thr Ser Ala Trp Leu Pro Pro Thr Ser Ala 675 680 685 Glu His Asp His Ser Leu Ser Cys Val Val Thr Pro Gin Asp Gly Glu 690 695 700 Thr Ser Ala Gin Met He Glu Glu Asn Leu Asn Cys Leu Gly His Leu 705 710 715 720 Ser Thr He He His Glu Ala Asn Glu Glu Gin Gly Asn Ser Met Met 725 730 735 Asn Leu Asp Trp Ser Trp Leu Thr Glu 740 745 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 2146 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid ( C) STRANDEDNESS : double ( D) TOPOLOGY : l inear ( i i ) MOLECULE TYPE : cDNA ' (xi ) SEQUENCE DESCRI PTION : SEQ ID NO : 5 : GTACCAGCAT CGGGAACTTG ATCTCAAAAT AGCAATTAAG TCTTGTCGCC TAGAGCTAAG 60 TACCAAAAAC AGAGAACGAT GGTGCCATGA AATCCAGATT ATGAAGAAGT TGAACCATGC 120 CAATGTTGTA AAGGCCTGTG ATGTTCCTGA AGAATTGAAT ATTTTGATTC ATGATGTGCC 180 TCTTCTAGCA ATGGAATACT GTTCTGGAGG AGATCTCCGA AAGCTGCTCA ACAAACCAGA 240 AAATTGTTGT GGACTTAAAG AAAGCCAGAT ACTTTCTTTA CTAAGTGATA TAGGGTCTGG 300 GATTCGATAT TTGCATGAAA ACAAAATTAT ACATCGAGAT CTAAAACCTG AAAACATAGT 360 TCTTCAGGAT GTTGGTGGAA AGATAATACA TAAAATAATT GATCTGGGAT ATGCCAAAGA 420 TGTTGATCAA GGAAGTCTGT GTACATCTTT TGTGGGAACA CTGCAGTATC TGGCCCCAGA 480 GCTCTTTGAG AATAAGCCTT ACACAGCCAC TGTTGATTAT TGGAGCTTTG GGACCATGGT 540 ATTTGAATGT ATTGCTGGAT ATAGGCCTTT TTTGCATCAT CTGCAGCCAT TTACCTGGCA 600 TGAGAAGATT AAGAAGAAGG ATCCAAAGTG TATATTTGCA TGTGAAGAGA TGTCAGGAGA 660 AGTTCGGTTT AGTAGCCATT TACCTCAACC AAATAGCCTT TGTAGTTTAA TAGTAGAACC 720 CATGGAAAAC TGGCTACAGT TGATGTTGAA TTGGGACCCT CAGCAGAGAG GAGGACCTGT 780 TGACCTTACT TTGAAGCAGC CAAGATGTTT TGTATTAATG GATCACATTT TGAATTTGAA 840 GATAGTACAC ATCCTAAATA TGACTTCTGC AAAGATAATT TCTTTTCTGT TACCACCTGA 900 TGAAAGTCTT CATTCACTAC AGTCTCGTAT TGAGCGTGAA ACTGGAATAA ATACTGGTTC 960 TCAAGAACTT CTTTCAGAGA CAGGAATTTC TCTGGATCCT CGGAAACCAG CCTCTCAATG 1020 TGTTCTAGAT GGAGTTAGAG GCTGTGATAG CTATATGGTT TATTTGTTTG ATAAAAGTAA 1080 AACTGTATAT GAAGGGCCAT TTGCTTCCAG AAGTTTATCT GATTGTGTAA ATTATATTGT 1140 ACAGGACAGC AAAATACAGC TTCCAATTAT ACAGCTGCGT AAAGTGTGGG CTGAAGCAGT 1200 GCACTATGTG TCTGGACTAA AAGAAGACTA TAGCAGGCTC TTTCAGGGAC AAAGGGCAGC 1260 AATGTTAAGT CTTCTTAGAT ATAATGCTAA CTTAACAAAA ATGAAGAACA CTTTGATCTC 1320 AGCATCACAA CAACTGAAAG CTAAATTGGA GTTTTTTCAC AAAAGCATTC AGCTTGACTT 1380 GGAGAGATAC AGCGAGCAGA TGACGTATGG GATATCTTCA GAAAAAATGC TAAAAGCATG 1440 GAAAGAAATG GAAGAAAAGG CCATCCACTA TGCTGAGGTT GGTGTCATTG GATACCTGGA 1500 GGATCAGATT ATGTCTTTGC ATGCTGAAAT CATGGAGCTA CAGAAGAGCC CCTATGGAAG 1560 ACGTCAGGGA GACTTGATGG AATCTCTGGA ACAGCGTGCC ATTGATCTAT ATAAGCAGTT 1620 AAAACACAGA CCTTCAGATC ACTCCTACAG TGACAGCACA GAGATGGTGA AAATCATTGT 1680 GCACACTGTG CAGAGTCAGG ACCGTGTGCT CAAGGAGCGT TTTGGTCATT TGAGCAAGTT 1740 GTTGGGCTGT AAGCAGAAGA TTATTGATCT ACTCCCTAAG GTGGAAGTGG CCCTCAGTAA 1800 TATCAAAGAA GCTGACAATA CTGTCATGTT CATGCAGGGA AAAAGGCAGA AAGAAATATG 1860 GCATCTCCTT AAAATTGCCT GTACACAGAG TTCTGCCCGC TCTCTTGTAG GATCCAGTCT 1920 AGAAGGTGCA GTAACCCCTC AAGCATACGC ATGGCTGGCC CCCGACTTAG CAGAACATGA 1980 TCATTCTCTG TCATGTGTGG TAACTCCTCA AGATGGGGAG ACTTCAGCAC AAATGATAGA 2040 AGAAAATTTG AACTGCCTTG GCCATTTAAG CACTATTATT CATGAGGCAA ATGAGGAACA 2100 GGGCAATAGT ATGATGAATC TTGATTGGAG TTGGTTAACA GAATGA 2146

Inventors: CAO ZHAODAN, REGNIER CATHERINE, ROTHE MIKE, CAO, ZHAODAN, REGNIER, CATHERINE, ROTHE, MIKE
Applicants: TULARIK INC, TULARIK INC.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: C12N9
IPC codes: A61K38, A61P35, A61P43, C12N1, C12N5, C12N9, C12N15, C12Q1, G01N33