'signalin' family of TGFbeta signal transduction proteins and uses related thereto

Abstract

The present invention concerns the discovery that proteins encoded by a family of vertebrate genes, termed here signalin-related genes, which are involved in a signal transduction induced by members of the TGFβ superfamily. The present invention makes available compositions and methods that can be utilized, for example to generate and / or maintain an array of different vertebrate tissue both in vitro and in vivo.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 095,492, filed Mar. 12, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 580,031, filed Dec. 20, 1995 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,977). The foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.FUNDING [0002] Work described herein was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health. The United States Government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Pattern formation is the activity by which embryonic cells form ordered spatial arrangements of differentiated tissues. The physical complexity of higher organisms arises during embryogenesis through the interplay of cell-intrinsic lineage and cell-extrinsic signaling. Inductive interactions are essential to embryonic patterning in vertebrate development from the earliest establishment of the body plan, to the patterning of the organ systems, to the generation of diverse ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] In certain preferred embodiments, the invention features a purified or recombinant signalin polypeptide having a molecular weight in the range of 45 kd to 70 kd. For instance, preferred signalin polypeptide chains of the α and β subfamilies, described infra, have molecular weights in the range of 45 kd to about 55 kd, even more preferably, in the range of 50-55 kd. In another illustrative example, preferred signalin polypeptide chains of the γ subfamily have molecular weights in the range of 60 kd to about 70 kd, even more preferably in the range of 63-68 kd. It will be understood that certain post-translational modifications, e.g., phosphorylation and the like, can increase the apparent molecular weight of the signalin protein relative to the unmodified polypeptide chain.

Problems solved by technology

This insertion leads to a failure to form the primitive streak in early embryogenesis, a lack of axial mesoderm tissue, and an overproduction of ectoderm and extraembryonic ectoderm (Conlon et al.

Images