The Rockefeller University

The Rockfeller University

Yiying Zhang

Jeffrey M Friedman

Ricardo Proenca

Margherita Maffei

Stephen K Burley

Ketan Gajiwala

Jeffrey L Halaas

The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to nucleic acids encoding materials identified herein as modulators of weight. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to the elucidation and discovery of nucleotide sequences, and proteins putatively expressed by such nucleotides, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleotide sequences in object represent the genes corresponding to the murine and human ob gene, that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. Preliminary data, presented herein, suggests that the polypeptide product of the gene in question functions as a hormone. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes, or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, i.e., synthetic or natural oligonucleotides.

Nucleic acids encoding modulators of body weight

Modulators of weight, including, for example, two isoforms of murine and human ob polypeptides, are provided, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic uses and methods comprising such. Also provided are nucleotide sequences, degenerate variations thereof, and proteins expressed by such.

Modulators of body weight, corresponding nucleic acids and proteins

Modulators of weight, including, for example, two isoforms of murine and human ob polypeptides, are provided, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic uses and methods comprising such. Also provided are nucleotide sequences, degenerate variations thereof, and proteins expressed by such. Such materials are useful, for example, as molecular probes, as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, as well as for the generation of antibodies. Also provided are vectors comprising such nucleotide sequences, including bacterial, insect, and mammalian expression vectors, which nucleotide sequences are operatively associated with an expression control sequence. Cells transformed or transfected with such vectors, and the use of such in the preparation of disclosed modulators, are also provided.

Methods of detecting, measuring, and evaluating modulators of body weight in biological samples, and diagnostic, monitoring, and therapeutic uses thereof

The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of body weight, and to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of such modulators. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences corresponding to the murine and human OB gene, and two isoforms thereof, and proteins expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight and that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In further aspects, the present invention provides cloning vectors and mammalian expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The invention further relates to host cells transfected or transformed with an appropriate expression vector and to their use in the preparation of the modulators of the invention. Also provided are antibodies to the OB polypeptide. Moreover, a method for modulating body weight of a mammal is provided.

Modulators of body weight, corresponding nucleic acids and proteins, and diagnostic and therapeutic uses thereof

The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of weight, and to the diagnostic and therapeutic uses to which such modulators may be put. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to the elucidation and discovery of nucleotide sequences, and proteins putatively expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleotide sequences in object represent the genes corresponding to the murine and human ob gene, that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. Preliminary data, presented herein, suggests that the polypeptide product of the gene in question functions as a hormone. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes, or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, i.e., synthetic or natural oligonucleotides. In further aspects, the present invention provides a cloning vector, which comprises the nucleic acids of the invention; and a bacterial, insect, or a mammalian expression vector, which comprises the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, operatively associated with an expression control sequence. Accordingly, the invention further relates to a bacterial cell or a mammalian transfected or transformed with an appropriate expression vector, and correspondingly, to the use of the above mentioned constructs in the preparation of the modulators of the invention. Also provided are antibodies to the ob polypeptide. Moreover, a method for modulating body weight of a mammal is provided. In specific examples, genes encoding two isoforms of both the murine and human ob polypeptides are provided.

Methods of treating diabetes mellitus with OB polypeptides

OB polypeptides, modified forms and compositions

The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of weight, and of the diagnostic and therapeutic uses to such modulators. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to the elucidation and discovery of nucleotide sequences, and proteins putatively expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleotide sequences in object represent the genes corresponding to the murine and human ob gene, that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. Preliminary data, presented herein, suggests that the polypeptide product of the gene in question functions as a hormone. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes, or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, i.e., synthetic or natural oligonucleotides. In further aspects, the present invention provides a cloning vector, which comprises the nucleic acids of the invention; and a bacterial, insect, or a mammalian expression vector, which comprises the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, operatively associated with an expression control sequence. Accordingly, the invention further relates to a bacterial or a mammalian cell transfected or transformed with an appropriate expression vector, and correspondingly, to the use of the above mentioned constructs in the preparation of the modulators of the invention. Also provided are antibodies to the ob polypeptide. Moreover, a method for modulating body weight of a mammal is provided.

Ob polypeptides, modified forms and compositions thereto

OB polypeptides, modified forms and derivatives

The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of body weight, and to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of such modulators. In one of its broadest aspects, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences corresponding to the murine and human OB gene, and two isoforms thereof, and proteins expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight and that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In further aspects, the present invention provides cloning vectors and mammalian expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The invention further relates to host cells transfected or transformed with an appropriate expression vector and to their use in the preparation of the modulators of the invention. Also provided are antibodies to the OB polypeptide. Moreover, a method for modulating body weight of a mammal is provided.

OB polypeptides and modified forms as modulators of body weight

The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of weight, and to the diagnostic and therapeutic uses to which such modulators may be put. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to the elucidation and discovery of nucleotide sequences, and proteins putatively expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleotide sequences in object represent the genes corresponding to the murine and human ob gene, that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. Preliminary data, presented herein, suggests that the polypeptide product of the gene in question functions as a hormone. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes, or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, i.e., synthetic or natural oligonucleotides. In further aspects, the present invention provides a cloning vector, which comprises the nucleic acids of the invention; and a bacterial, insect, or a mammalian expression vector, which comprises the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, operatively associated with an expression control sequence. Accordingly, the invention further relates to a bacterial or a mammalian cell transfected or transformed with an appropriate expression vector, and correspondingly, to the use of the above mentioned constructs in the preparation of the modulators of the invention. Also provided are antibodies to the ob polypeptide. Moreover, a method for modulating body weight of a mammal is provided. In specific examples, genes encoding two isoforms of both the murine and human ob polypeptides are provided.

Nucleic acid primers and probes for the mammalian OB gene

OB polypeptide antibodies and method of making

OB polypeptides as modulators of body weight

The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of body weight, and to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of such modulators. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences corresponding to the murine and human OB gene, and two isoforms thereof, and proteins expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability co participate in the control of mammalian body weight and that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In further aspects, the present invention provides cloning vectors and mammalian expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The invention further relates to host cells transfected or transformed with an appropriate expression vector and to their use in the preparation of the modulators of the invention. Also provided are antibodies to the OB polypeptide. Moreover, a method for modulating body weight of a mammal is provided.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Yiying Zhang