Other

University of California

Lori Sussel

Michael S German

Graeme I Bell

Dennis J Hartigan-O'Connor

John L Rubenstein

Hiroto Furuta

Juanito J Meneses

Roger A Pedersen

Maike Sander

The present invention features a human Nkx-2.2 polypeptide and nucleotide sequences encoding Nkx-2.2 polypeptides. In a particular aspect, the polynucleotide is the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. In addition, the invention features polynucleotide sequences that hybridize under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO:1. In related aspects the invention features expression vectors and host cells comprising polynucleotides that encode a human Nkx-2.2 polypeptide. The present invention also relates to antibodies that bind specifically to a human Nkx-2.2 polypeptide, and methods for producing human Nkx-2.2 polypeptides.

Human Nkx-2.2 polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequences

The present invention features mouse models for Nkx-2.2 gene function and for Nkx-6.1 gene function, wherein the transgenic mouse is characterized by having a defect in Nkx-2.2 gene function or a defect in Nkx-6.1 gene function (where, because Nkx-2.2 acts upstream of Nkx-6.1, a defect in Nkx-2.2 gene function affects Nkx-6.1 gene function) and by having a decreased number of insulin-producing cells relative to a normal mouse. Where the transgenic mouse contains a defect in Nkx-2.2 gene function, the mouse is further characterized by a decreased number of serotonin-producing cells relative to a normal mouse. The transgenic mice may be either homozygous or heterozygous for the Nkx-2.2 or Nkx-6.1 defect.

NKX-2.2 and NKX-6.1 transgenic mouse models for diabetes, depression,

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Lori Sussel