New PRAX-1 polypeptide that interact with peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, used to treat e.g. immune, central nervous or endocrine disorders

摘要

Purified polypeptides (I), designated PRAX-1 (peripheral benzodiazepine receptor associated protein-1) is new. Purified polypeptides (I), designated PRAX-1 (peripheral benzodiazepine receptor associated protein-1) is (i) a 1857 amino acid (aa) sequence (1); (ii) a biologically active derivative of (2), or (iii) a fragment of (2) with biological activity or immunoreactivity similar to (2). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) nucleic acid (II) encoding (I); (2) cloning and/or expression vector containing (II); (3) host cells transfected with this vector; (4) nucleic acid (IIa), useful as probes and primers, that can hybridize specifically to (II), its complements, or the corresponding mRNA or genes; (5) primer pairs containing (IIa); (6) recombinant production of (I) or its fragments by culturing cells of (c); (7) mono- or poly-clonal antibodies (Ab), or their fragments, chimeras or immunoconjugates, specific for (I); (8) diagnostic kits containing Ab, optionally immobilized, and reagents for detecting complex formation; and (9) pharmaceutical composition containing (I) or an activator/inhibitor of either (I) activity or of any protein-protein interaction that involves PRAX-1.