Boehringer Mannheim Gmbh

La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation

La Jolla Cancer Research Foun.

Matthias Eckhardt

Minoru Fukuda

Rita Gerardy-Schahn

Jun Nakayama

A protein having polysialyl transferase activity, which a) is a product of a prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression of an exogenous DNA, b) is coded by the DNA sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1, c) is coded by the DNA sequences which hybridize with the sequences SEQ ID No. 1 and/or SEQ ID No. 3, d) is coded by DNA sequences which if there was no degeneracy of the genetic code, would hybridize with the sequences defined in b) to c), and e) catalyzes the polycondensation of .alpha.-2,8-linked sialic acids, and its related nucleic acid molecules and fragments are useful for the production of therapeutic agents for tumor therapy.

Isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode mammalian or rodent 2,8

Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding polysialyl transferases, and the polysialyl transferases themselves are disclosed. SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 7 and 8 present examples of these. The nucleic acid molecules and the proteins can be used diagnostically or therapeutically. Additionally, antisense oligonucleotides and antibodies are described, which can also be used diagnostically or therapeutically.

Isolated polysialyl transferases

Isolated nucleic acid molecules which hybridize to polysialyl

Isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode mammalian .alpha.2,8

Growing community of inventors

Hanover, Germany

Matthias Eckhardt