The Medical College of Hampton Roads

Mcgill University

Ronit Rafaeloff-Phail

Aaron I Vinik

Gary L Pittenger

Lawrence Rosenberg

Scott W Barlow

Jean T S Duguid

Removal of the nucleotide sequence encoding the signal peptide from the INGAP coding sequence allows cultured cells to express substantial amounts of INGAP activity. Previous attempts have provided only low yields of INGAP, possibly because the signal sequence of INGAP is toxic to the cells.

High level of expression of INGAP in bacterial and eukaryotic cells

Cellophane wrapping (CW) of hamster pancreas induces proliferation of duct epithelial cells followed by endocrine cell differentiation and islet neogenesis. Using the mRNA differential display technique a cDNA clone expressed in cellophane wrapped but not in control pancreata was identified. Using this cDNA as a probe, a cDNA library was screened and a gene not previously described was identified and named INGAP.

INGAP protein involved in pancreatic islet neogenesis

High level of expression of ingap in bacterial and euraryotic cells

Growing community of inventors

Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Ronit Rafaeloff-Phail