Von willebrand factor (vWF) cleaving protease polypeptide, nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and use of polypeptide in treating thrombosis disorders

摘要

A von Willebrand Factor cleaving protease polypeptide is described which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs:1-5. Also described is the nucleic acid sequence encoding it, methods of production of vWF-cp protease polypeptide, methods of purification of vWF and vWF-cp, methods of detection of vWF-cp in a sample and methods of producing vWF-cp binding molecules. The vWF-cp can be used in the production of a pharmaceutical composition for treating and preventing thrombosis and thromboembolic disease, such as thrombotic thrombocytic purpura (TTP), Henock-Schonlein purpura, preeclampsia, neonatal thrombocytopenia or hemolyticuremic syndrome