GAS6 POLYPEPTIDE VARIANTS, NUCLEIC ACIDS ENCODING THEM, COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING SUCH VARIANTS, METHOD FOR THEIR PREPARATION AND USE THEREOF IN ENHANCING SURVIVAL, PROLIFERATION OR DIFFERENTIATION OF CELLS COMPRISING THE Rse RECEPTOR OR Mer RECEPTOR

摘要

An activator of the Rse and Mer receptor protein tyrosine kinases has been identified. The activator is encoded by growth arrest-specific gene 6 (gas6). Accordingly, the invention provides a method of activating the Rse or Mer receptor using gas6 polypeptide. Furthermore, the invention provides a method of enhancing survival, proliferation or differentiation of cells having the Rse or Mer receptor incorporated in their cell membranes which involves those cells to gas6 polypeptide. The types of cells which can be treated according to the method include glial cells such as Schwann cells and mononuclear cells. Kits and articles of manufacture which include gas6 polypeptide are further provided. The invention also relates to gas6 variants.