WO1998010638A1 - Therapeutic molecules - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to therapeutic molecules. More particularly, the present invention provides therapeutic molecules capable of interacting with Interleukin-13 (IL-13) and to genetic sequences encoding these therapeutic molecules. The therapeutic molecules of the present invention are useful in modulating the action of IL-13 in vivo.

Description

THERAPEUTIC MOLECULES

The present invention relates generally to therapeutic molecules. More particularly, the present invention provides therapeutic molecules capable of interacting with Interleukin- 13 (IL-13) and to genetic sequences encoding these therapeutic molecules. The therapeutic molecules of the present invention are useful in modulating the action of IL-13 in vivo.

Bibliographic details of the publications referred to by author in this specification are collected at the end of the description. Sequence Identity Numbers (SEQ ID NOs.) for the amino acid sequences referred to in the specification are defined following the bibliography.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

The increasing sophistication of recombinant DNA technology is greatly facilitating research in the medical and allied health fields. A particularly important area of research is in the field of cytokines since these molecules are involved in a host of regulatory mechanisms including roles in immune potentiation, cell differentiation and proliferation and in modulating haemopoietic potentiation activities.

One important cytokine is Interleukin- 13 (IL-13) which is produced by activated T-cells and is involved in regulation of the immune response by, for example, inducing immunoglobulin class switching to IgGl and IgE isotypes and in inhibiting release of inflammatory mediators by macrophages. EL-13 is structurally related to another, functionally similar cytokine, interleukin 4 (IL-4) and both cytokines share common receptor components (Howard and Harada, 1994; McKenzie and Zurawski, 1994; Zurawski and deVries, 1994).

The H-,-13 receptor α-chain (IL-13Rα) has recently been cloned (Hilton et al, 1996). Analysis of IL-13Rα together with other cloned receptors indicates that IL-13 may first bind IL-13Rα and then recruit IL-4Rα to form a high affinity receptor. IL-2Rγ does not appear to play a central role in IL-13 receptor function, whereas in the case of IL-4, binding occurs initially with IL-4Rα and this complex may interact with either IL-2Rγ or IL-13Rα to yield a high affinity receptor capable of signal transduction.

The pleiotropic properties of many cytokines such as IL-13 may cause difficulties during treatment regimes. It would be useful to administer IL-13 or a related cytokine to effect a particular response and then to administer a blocking agent to prevent further activity at the localised area. This is also important if the IL-13 administered is capable of inducing an adverse immune response against itself or native IL- 13. There are also a range of conditions aggravated by EL- 13 such as allergic conditions. The ability to reduce IL-13 action would provide a valuable therapeutic tool in treating these conditions.

In work leading up to the present invention, a high affinity binding protein for IL-13 has been identified in mammalian bodily fluid. The protein is functionally, structurally and antigenicaliy distinct from cloned, soluble IL-13Rα and acts as a potent antagonist of IL-13 action.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides an isolated proteinaceous molecule or a recombinant or synthetic form thereof capable of interacting with EL- 13 or a related cytokine with greater affinity than soluble IL-13Rα.

The proteinaceous molecule may be a peptide, polypeptide or protein and may be naturally or non-naturally glycosylated or unglycosylated. Differential glycosylation patterns may be obtained depending on the host cell which synthesises the proteinaceous molecule. When a recombinant form of the molecule is produced in prokaryotic cells, for example, the molecule would be substantially non-glycosylated. All forms of glycosylation including substantial absence of glycosylation of the subject proteinaceous molecule are encompassed by the present invention.

The proteinaceous molecule and the IL-13 may be derived from the same animal species (ie homologous) or both molecules may be derived for different species (ie heterologous). Animal species contemplated by the present invention include but are not limited to humans, livestock animals (eg sheep, cattle, horses, donkeys, pigs, goats), laboratory test animals (eg rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice), companion animals (eg dogs, cats), and captive wild animals (eg foxes, deer, kangaroos and other marsupials, dingoes). Preferably, the proteinaceous molecule is from humans or murine animals. 5

The proteinaceous molecule of the present invention may be a naturally occurring molecule in isolated form or may be a functional derivative thereof. A "functional derivative" means that the molecule retains its ability to interact with IL-13 or a related cytokine or a derivative of EL- 13. Derivatives contemplated by the present invention include mutants, fragments, parts, portions,

10 truncated forms, fused forms, hybrid forms, homologues and analogues as well as glycosylation variants. All such forms are within the scope of the present invention and are encompassed by the terms "derivative" and "derivatives". The proteinaceous molecule of the present invention is hereinafter referred to as "EL- 13 binding protein" (IL- 13BP) which includes naturally occurring, recombinant, synthetic and derivative forms thereof.

15

Reference herein to "isolated" forms of EL- 13BP includes reference to a biologically pure preparation of the molecule. Such a purified molecule has undergone at least one purification step from a mixture. Conveniently, a biologically pure preparation is a preparation containing at least about 1%, more particularly at least about 10%, even more particularly at least about

20 20%, still even more particularly greater than about 30%, eg. 40-50%, 60-70% or above of EL- 13BP or its derivative as determined by, for example, weight, binding activity, antagonising ability, immunointeractivity or other convenient means.

Mutants include single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or additions to the 25 naturally occurring IL-13BP amino acid sequence.

Hybrid forms include but are not limited to hybrids between IL-13BP and IL-4BP which hybrid being capable of interacting with both IL-13 and IL-4. Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention provides a polypeptide having first and second portions wherein one of said 30 first and second portions is IL- 13BP or a functional derivative thereof and the other of said first and second portions is IL-4BP or a functional derivative thereof wherein said polypeptide is capable of modulating biological processes involving EL- 13 and/or IL-4. In one embodiment, there is an amino acid spacer between said first and second portions. The spacer may range from one amino acid to 100 amino acids, more preferably between three amino acids and twenty amino acids and even more preferably between five and fifteen amino acids. The hybrid polypeptide may not necessarily modulate equally EL- 13 and IL-4 biological processes but may, for example, be 60-80% effective for EL- 13 processes and only 20-50% effective for EL-4 processes or vice versa.

Another particularly preferred hybrid comprises IL-13BP or derivative forms thereof and EL- 13 receptor α-chain (IL-13Rα) or its derivatives. Such a hybrid may be particularly useful in modulating activities of related molecules such as, but not limited to, IL-13, IL-13BP, IL-13Rα, IL-4, IL-4BP and IL-4 receptor α-chain (IL-4Rα). The IL-13Rα is disclosed in Hilton et al, 1996.

Still further hybrids include hybrids between IL-13BPs from different species. For example, a hybrid between all or a functional part of human and murine IL-13BPs.

Analogues of IL-13BP contemplated herein include, but are not limited to, modification to side chains, incorporating unnatural amino acids and/or their derivatives during peptide, polypeptide or protein synthesis and the use of crosslinkers and other methods which impose conformational constraints on the proteinaceous molecule or their analogues.

Examples of side chain modifications contemplated by the present invention include modifications of amino groups such as by reductive alkylation by reaction with an aldehyde followed by reduction with NaBH^, amidination with methylacetimidate; acylation with acetic anhydride; carbamoylation of amino groups with cyanate; trinitrobenzylation of amino groups with 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS); acylation of amino groups with succinic anhydride and tetrahydrophthalic anhydride; and pyridoxylation of lysine with pyridoxal-5- phosphate followed by reduction with NaBHφ

The guanidine group of arginine residues may be modified by the formation of heterocyclic condensation products with reagents such as 2,3-butanedione, phenylglyoxal and glyoxal.

The carboxyl group may be modified by carbodiimide activation via O-acylisourea formation followed by subsequent derivitisation, for example, to a corresponding amide.

Sulphydryl groups may be modified by methods such as carboxymethylation with iodoacetic acid or iodoacetamide; performic acid oxidation to cysteic acid; formation of mixed disulphides with other thiol compounds; reaction with maleimide, maleic anhydride or other substituted maleimide; formation of mercurial derivatives using 4-chloromercuribenzoate, 4- chloromercuriphenylsulphonic acid, phenylmercury chloride, 2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol and other mercurials; carbamoylation with cyanate at alkaline pH.

Tryptophan residues may be modified by, for example, oxidation with N-bromosuccinimide or alkylation of the indole ring with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide or sulphenyl halides. Tyrosine residues on the other hand, may be altered by nitration with tetranitromethane to form a 3-nitrotyrosine derivative.

Modification of the imidazole ring of a histidine residue may be accomplished by alkylation with iodoacetic acid derivatives or N-carbethoxylation with diethylpyrocarbonate.

Examples of incorporating unnatural amino acids and derivatives during peptide synthesis include, but are not limited to, use of norleucine, 4-amino butyric acid, 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5- phenylpentanoic acid, 6-aminohexanoic acid, t-butylglycine, norvaline, phenylglycine, ornithine, sarcosine, 4-amino-3-hydroxy-6-methylheptanoic acid, 2-thienyl alanine and/or D-isomers of amino acids. A list of unnatural amino acid, contemplated herein is shown in Table 1.

Crosslinkers can be used, for example, to stabilise 3D conformations, using homo-bifunctional crosslinkers such as the bifunctional imido esters having (CH2)_n spacer groups with n=l to n=6, glutaraldehyde, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters and hetero-bifunctional reagents which usually contain an amino-reactive moiety such as N-hydroxysuccinimide and another group specific- reactive moiety such as maleimido or dithio moiety (SH) or carbodiimide (COOH). In addition, peptides can be conformationally constrained by, for example, incorporation of C_α and N_α- methylamino acids, introduction of double bonds between C_α and C_p atoms of amino acids and the formation of cyclic peptides or analogues by introducing covalent bonds such as forming an amide bond between the N and C termini, between two side chains or between a side chain and the N or C terminus.

These types of modifications may be important to stabilise IL-13BP if administered to an individual or for use as a diagnostic reagent.

The present invention further contemplates chemical analogues of IL-13BP capable of acting as antagonists or agonists of EL- 13BP or which can act as functional analogues of EL-13BP which are capable of acting as antagonists of EL- 13 activity. Chemical analogues may not necessarily be derived from EL-13BP but may share certain conformational similarities to the molecule as a whole or to its active site(s). Alternatively, chemical analogues may be specifically designed to mimic certain physiochemical properties of EL- 13BP. Chemical analogues may be chemically synthesised or may be detected following, for example, natural product screening.

TABLE 1

Non-conventional Code Non-conventional Code amino acid amino acid

α-aminobutyric acid Abu L-N-methylalanine Nmala α-amino-α-methylbutyrate Mgabu L-N-methylarginine Nmarg aminocyclopropane- Cpro L-N-methylasparagine Nmasn carboxylate L-N-methylaspartic acid Nmasp aminoisobutyric acid Aib L-N-methylcysteine Nmcys aminonorbornyl- Norb L-N-methylglutamine Nmgln carboxylate L-N-methylglutamic acid Nmglu cyclohexylalanine Chexa L-N-methylhistidine Nmhis cyclopentylalanine Cpen L-N-methylisolleucine Nmile D-alanine Dal L-N-methylleucine Nmleu

D-arginine Darg L-N-methyllysine Nmlys

D-aspartic acid Dasp L-N-methylmethionine Nmmet

D-cysteine Dcys L-N-methylnorleucine Nmnle

D-glutamine Dgln L-N-methylnorvaline Nmnva D-glutamic acid Dglu L-N-methylornithine Nmorn

D-histidine Dhis L-N-methylphenylalanine Nmphe

D-isoleucine Dile L-N-methylproline Nmpro

D-leucine Dleu L-N-methylserine Nmser

D-lysine Dlys L-N-methylthreonine Nmthr D-methionine Dmet L-N-methyltryptophan Nmtrp

D-ornithine Dorn L-N-methyltyrosine Nmtyr

D-phenylalanine Dphe L-N-methylvaline Nmval

D-proline Dpro L-N-methylethylglycine Nmetg

D-serine Dser L-N-methyl-t-butylglycine Nmtbug D-threonine Dthr L-norleucine Nle

D-tryptophan Dtrp L-norvaline Nva D-tyrosine Dtyr α-methyl-aminoisobutyrate Maib

D-valine Dval α-methyl-γ-aminobutyrate Mgabu

D-α-methylalanine Dmala α-methylcyclohexylalanine Mchexa

D-α-methylarginine Dmarg α-methylcylcopentylalanine Mcpen D-α-methylasparagine Dmasn α-methyl-α-napthylalanine Manap

D-α-methylaspartate Dmasp α-methylpenicillamine Mpen

D-α-methylcysteine Dmcys N-(4-aminobutyl)glycine Nglu

D-α-methylglutamine Dmgln N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine Naeg

D-α-methylhistidine Dmhis N-(3-aminopropyl)glycine Norn D-α-methylisoIeucine Dmile N-amino-α-methylbutyrate Nmaabu

D-α-methylleucine Dmleu α-napthylalanine Anap

D-α-methyllysine Dmlys N-benzylglycine Nphe

D-α-methylmethionine Dmmet N-(2-carbamylethyl)glycine Ngln

D-α-methylornithine D orn N-(carbamylmethyl)glycine Nasn D-α-methylphenylalanine Dmphe N-(2-carboxyethyl)glycine Nglu

D-α-methylproline Dmpro N-(carboxymethyl)glycine Nasp

D-α-methylserine Dmser N-cyclobutylglycine Ncbut

D-α-methylthreonine Dmthr N-cycloheptylglycine Nchep

D-α-methyltryptophan Dmtrp N-cyclohexylglycine Nchex D-α-methyltyrosine Dmty N-cyclodecylglycine Ncdec

D-α-methylvaline Dmval N-cylcododecylglycine Ncdod

D-N-methylalanine Dnmala N-cyclooctylglycine Ncoct

D-N-methylarginine Dnmarg N-cyclopropylglycine Ncpro

D-N-methylasparagine Dnmasn N-cycloundecylglycine Ncund D-N-methylaspartate Dnmasp N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)glycine Nbhm

D-N-methylcysteine Dnmcys N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)glycine Nbhe

D-N-methylglutamine Dnmgln N-(3-guanidinopropyl)glycine Narg

D-N-methylglutamate Dnmglu N-(l-hydroxyethyl)glycine Nthr

D-N-methylhistidine Dn his N-(hydroxyethyl))glycine Nser D-N-methylisoleucine Dnmile N-(imidazolylethyl))glycine Nhis

D-N-methylleucine Dnmleu N-(3-indolylyethyl)glycine Nhtφ D-N-methyllysine Dnmlys N-methyl-γ-aminobutyrate Nmgabu

N-methylcyclohexylalanine Nmchexa D-N-methylmethionine Dnmmet

D-N-methylornithine Dnmorn N-methylcyclopentylalanine Nmcpen

N-methylglycine Nala D-N-methylphenylalanine Dnmphe N-methylaminoisobutyrate Nmaib D-N-methylproline Dnmpro

N-( 1 -methylpropyl)glycine Nile D-N-methylserine Dnmser

N-(2-methylpropyl)glycine Nleu D-N-methylthreonine Dnmthr

D-N-methyltryptophan Dnmtφ N-(l-methylethyl)glycine Nval

D-N-methyltyrosine Dn tyr N-methyla-napthylalanine Nmanap D-N-methylvaline Dnmval N-methylpenicillamine Nmpen γ-aminobutyric acid Gabu N-(p-hydroxyphenyl)glycine Nhtyr

L-t-butylglycine Tbug N-(thiomethyl)glycine Ncys

L-ethylglycine Etg penicillamine Pen

L-homophenylalanine Hphe L-α-methylalanine Mala L-α-methylarginine Marg L-α-methylasparagine Masn

L-α-methylaspartate Masp L-α-methyl-t-butylglycine Mtbug

L-α-methylcysteine Mcys L-methylethylglycine Metg

L-α-methylglutamine Mgln L-α-methylglutamate Mglu

L-α-methylhistidine Mhis L-α-methylhomophenylalanine Mhphe L-α-methylisoleucine Mile N-(2-methylthioethyl)glycine Nmet

L-α-methylleucine Mleu L-α-methyllysine Mlys

L-α-methylmethionine Mmet L-α-methylnorleucine Mnle

L-α-methylnorvaline Mnva L-α-methylornithine Morn

L-α-methylphenylalanine Mphe L-α-methylproline Mpro L-α-methylserine Mser L-α-methylthreonine Mthr

L-α-methyltryptophan Mtφ L-α-methyltyrosine Mtyr L-α-methylvaline Mval L-N-methylhomophenylalanine Nmhphe

N-(N-(2,2-diphenylethyl) Nnbhm N-(N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl) Nnbhe carbamylmethyl)glycine carbamylmethyl)glycine l-carboxy-l-(2,2-diphenyl- Nmbc ethylamino)cyclopropane

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the interaction between IL-13BP and EL- 13 results in antagonism of IL-13 activity. The antagonism may be from mild to substantial in relation to at least one property attributable to IL-13. For example, the antagonism may result in about 1- 10% reduction or about 10-30% reduction or about 30-50% reduction or about 50-70% or greater (eg >90%) relative to at least one property attributable to IL- 13 or a related cytokine. In a particularly preferred embodiment, EL-13BP binds to EL- 13 with a greater than 50-fold higher affinity compared to EL-13Rα.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method for purifying IL-13BP or its derivatives or hybrid forms from a biological sample including body fluid or cell culture medium, said method comprising contacting said biological sample with immobilised IL- 13 (or an IL-13 IL-4 hybrid) or a binding derivative thereof for a time and under conditions sufficient for a complex to form between said IL- 13 (or IL- 13/TL-4) and its binding protein, eluting said IL- 13BP (or IL- 13/IL-4) from the immobilised IL- 13 (or IL- 13 IL-4) and collecting said eluted IL-13BP.

Preferably, the eluate is subjected to further purification on an HPLC or equivalent chromatography.

Preferably, the HPLC or equivalent chromatographic purified samples are further purified or analysed on SDS-PAGE.

The IL-13BP is antigenicaliy, structurally and functionally distinct from IL- 13Rα. IL-13BP is isolatable from biological fluid such as from urine or other excretable fluid, circulatory fluid such as from serum, whole blood, plasma or lymph fluid or respiratory fluid such as sputum, nasal secretion and saliva. The biological fluid may also comprise medium conditioned by human or animals cells, cell lines, organs and/or tissues. Preferably, the IL-13BP is isolatable from urine or serum.

Native soluble IL-13BP has an apparent molecular mass of approximately 40,000 to 60,000 daltons and more preferably about 55,000 ±5,000 daltons. Conveniently, the molecule weight may be determined by SDS-PAGE.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an isolated proteinaceous molecule comprising the following properties:

(i) has a molecular weight in its native soluble form of from about 40,000 to about

60,000 daltons; (ii) is isolatable in its native soluble form from urine or serum; (iii) is capable in its native soluble form of binding to IL- 13 with greater affinity than

IL-13Rα; (iv) is antigenicaliy and structurally distinct from IL-13Rα; and (v) migrates as a single band on SDS-PAGE; or a derivative of said proteinaceous molecule.

Preferably, the proteinaceous molecule is an antagonist of at least one property attributable to EL-13.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an isolated EL-13BP comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIXDPGXLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:l] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides an isolated IL-13BP comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIXDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: 13] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof. Even yet another aspect of the present invention provides an isolated IL-13BP comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEILDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:21] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

In yet a further aspect of the present invention provides an isolated IL-13BP comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIVDPGYLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:22] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides an isolated IL-13BP having an amino acid sequence set forth in one of SEQ ID NO:6 or 7 or 8 (N-terminal sequence) or SEQ ID NO: 10 or 1 1 or 12 (C-terminal sequence) or comprises at least about 50% similarity and more preferably at least about 60%, still more preferably at least about 75-80% similarity to at least one of SEQ ID NO:6 or 7 or 8 or 10 or 1 1 or 12.

Reference herein to N- or C-terminal sequences include reference to a region at the N- or C- terminal portion of the molecule. It does not, for example, imply any limitation as to including the initiating methione although such a methione may be included in said N-terminal sequence.

In still yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an isolated human IL-13BP having the amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:20 or a sequence having at least about 50% similarity thereto.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides which encodes or is complementary to a sequence which encodes a proteinaceous molecule capable of interacting with EL- 13 or a related cytokine with greater affinity than soluble EL- 13Rα.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides which encodes or is complementary to a sequence which encodes a proteinaceous molecule comprising the following properties:

(i) has a molecular mass in its native soluble form of from about 40,000 to about 60,000 daltons; (ϋ) is isolatable in its native soluble form from urine or serum; (iϋ) is capable in its native soluble form of binding to EL- 13 with greater affinity than EL- 13Rα; (iv) is antigenicaliy and structurally distinct from IL-13Rα; and

(v) migrates as a single band on SDS-PAGE; or a derivative of said proteinaceous molecule.

Sub paragraph (i) above is not intended to limit the molecule of the present invention to a soluble form of from 40,000 to 60,000 daltons but rather the native soluble form of the molecule would have these characteristics.

Preferably, the proteinaceous molecule is an antagonist of at least one property attributable to IL-13.

Preferably, the nucleic acid molecule is capable of hybridising with low stringency conditions to one or both of 5' ATGGCTTTCGTTTGCTTGGCTATC3 ' [SEQ ID NO:2] and/or 5'CAACATTCGCAAGAAAAATTCAGTTTATT3' [SEQ ID NO:3] or complementary forms thereof. Preferably, the nucleic acid molecule encodes a proteinaceous molecule comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: l or 13 or 21 or 22. Alternatively or in addition, a preferred nucleic acid molecule encodes an N-terminal amino acid sequence as set forth in one of SEQ ID NO:6 or 7 or 8 or a C-terminal amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10 or 11 or 12.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the amino acid sequence is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 19.

Even more preferably the nucleic acid molecule comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 and/or SEQ ID NO:9 and/or 19 or a nucleic acid molecule capable of hybridizing under low stringency conditions at 42°C and/or is a nucleic acid molecule having at least about 50% nucleotide sequence similarity thereto. Preferred similarities include at least about 60%, at least about 75% and at least about 85-90% to all or preferably to at least 20 contiguous base pairs of the nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 and/or SEQ ID NO:9 and/or SEQ ID NO: 19.

Reference herein to a low stringency at 42°C includes and encompasses from at least about 1 % v/v to at least about 15% v/v formamide and from at least about 1M to at least about 2M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 1M to at least about 2M salt for washing conditions. Alternative stringency conditions may be applied where necessary, such as medium stringency, which includes and encompasses from at least about 16% v/v to at least about 30% v/v formamide and from at least about 0.5M to at least about 0.9M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 0.5M to at least about 0.9M salt for washing conditions, or high stringency, which includes and encompasses from at least about 31% v/v to at least about 50% v/v formamide and from at least about 0.01M to at least about 0.15M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 0.01M to at least about 0.15M salt for washing conditions.

The nucleic acid molecule may be genomic DNA in isolated form or cDNA or mRNA or hybrid forms thereof. The nucleotide sequence may correspond to the native genomic sequence or the cDNA sequence or may comprise single or multiple nucleotide substitutions, deletions and/or additions.

The nucleic acid molecules are generally in isolated form but may also be integrated into or ligated to or otherwise fused or associated with other genetic molecules such as vector molecules and in particular expression vector molecules. Vectors and expression vectors are generally capable of replication and, if applicable, expression in one or both of a prokaryotic cell or a eukaryotic cell. Preferably, prokaryotic cells include E. coli, Bacillus sp and Pseudomonas sp. Preferred eukaryotic cells include yeast, fungal, mammalian and insect cells.

Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention contemplates a genetic construct comprising a vector portion and a mammalian EL-13BP gene portion or a derivative thereof, which IL-13BP gene portion encodes an IL-13BP peptide, polypeptide or protein or a functional or immunologically interactive derivative thereof capable of binding to EL- 13. Preferably, the IL-13BP gene portion of the genetic construct is operably linked to a promoter, such as on the vector, such that said promoter is capable of directing expression of said IL- 13BP gene portion in an appropriate cell.

In addition, the IL- 13BP gene portion of the genetic construct may comprise all or part of the gene fused to another genetic sequence such as a nucleotide sequence encoding glutathione-S- transferase or part thereof.

The IL-13BP of the present invention or its derivatives are contemplated to be useful, inter alia, in the antagonism of at least one IL- 13 activity. This may be important for IL- 13 mediated conditions such as certain allergic conditions such as asthma or to inactivate locally administered IL- 13 after IL- 13 treatment.

Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of treatment comprising administering to a patient an IL-13 antagonising effective amount of an EL-13BP or its derivative for a time and under conditions sufficient to antagonise at least one property of IL-13. For example, DL-13 may have the effect of increasing the level of receptors for rhinoviruses. Antagonising IL-13 would have the effect of reducing adverse rhinovirus interaction such as interaction leading to asthma.

In one embodiment, the treatment is for an allergic response or allergic reaction.

In an alternative embodiment, there may be circumstances where IL-13BP complexes with IL- 13 can, in fact, enhance cytokine mediated processes. Accordingly, this embodiment is encompassed by the present invention.

The present invention contemplates, therefore, a pharmaceutical composition comprising IL- 13BP or a derivative thereof or a modulator of EL- 13BP gene expression or IL-13BP activity and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents. These components are referred to as the "active ingredients". The pharmaceutical forms suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol and liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. The preventions of the action of microorganisms can be brought about by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thimerosal and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absoφtion of the injectable compositions can be brought about by the use in the compositions of agents delaying absoφtion, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incoφorating the active compounds in the required amount in the appropriate solvent with various of the other ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incoφorating the various sterilized active ingredient into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and the freeze-drying technique which yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

When the active ingredients are suitably protected they may be orally administered, for example, with an inert diluent or with an assimilable edible carrier, or it may be enclosed in hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, or it may be compressed into tablets, or it may be incoφorated directly with the food of the diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the active compound may be incoφorated with excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. Such compositions and preparations should contain at least 1% by weight of active compound. The percentage of the compositions and preparations may, of course, be varied and may conveniently be between about 5 to about 80% of the weight of the unit. The amount of active compound in such therapeutically useful compositions in such that a suitable dosage will be obtained. Preferred compositions or preparations according to the present invention are prepared so that an oral dosage unit form contains between about 0.1 μg and 2000 mg of active compound. Alternative dosage amounts include from about 1 μg to about 1000 mg, from about 10 g to above 800 mg and from about 20 μg to about 500 mg.

The tablets, troches, pills, capsules and the like may also contain the components as listed hereafter. A binder such as gum, acacia, com starch or gelatin; excipients such as dicalcium phosphate; a disintegrating agent such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid and the like; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; and a sweetening agent such a sucrose, lactose or saccharin may be added or a flavouring agent such as peppermint, oil of wintergreen, or cherry flavouring. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it may contain, in addition to materials of the above type, a liquid carrier. Various other materials may be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the dosage unit. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules may be coated with shellac, sugar or both. A syrup or elixir may contain the active compound, sucrose as a sweetening agent, methyl and propylparabens as preservatives, a dye and flavouring such as cherry or orange flavour. Of course, any material used in preparing any dosage unit form should be pharmaceutically pure and substantially non-toxic in the amounts employed. In addition, the active compound(s) may be incoφorated into sustained-release preparations and formulations.

The present invention also extends to forms suitable for topical application such as creams, lotions and gels.

Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absoφtion delaying agents and the like. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutical active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active ingredient, use thereof in the therapeutic compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients can also be incoφorated into the compositions. It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the mammalian subjects to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the novel dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on (a) the unique characteristics of the active material and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and (b) the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active material for the treatment of disease in living subjects having a diseased condition in which bodily health is impaired as herein disclosed in detail.

The principal active ingredient is compounded for convenient and effective administration in effective amounts with a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in dosage unit form as hereinbefore disclosed. A unit dosage form can, for example, contain the principal active compound in amounts ranging from 0.5 μg to about 2000 mg. Expressed in proportions, the active compound is generally present in from about 0.5 μg to about 2000 mg/ml of carrier. In the case of compositions containing supplementary active ingredients, the dosages are determined by reference to the usual dose and manner of administration of the said ingredients.

The effective amount of the active ingredient may be as defined above but must be in an amount effective to have the desired effect. Conveniently, this may be expressed as an amount per kilogram (kg) body weight and includes from about 10 ng to about 2000 mg/kg body weight, about 100 ng to about 1000 ng/kg body weight and about 1-10 μg to above 500 ng/kg body weight.

The pharmaceutical composition may also comprise genetic molecules such as a vector capable of transfecting target cells where the vector carries a nucleic acid molecule capable of modulating IL-13BP gene expression or IL-13BP activity. The vector may, for example, be a viral vector.

Still another aspect of the present invention is directed to antibodies to IL- 13BP and its derivatives. These antibodies may be directed to soluble IL-13BP or cell surface bound IL- 13BP. Antibodies and in particular antibodies directed to the cell surface bound IL-13BP may function as antagonists. The antibodies may be monoclonal or polyclonal and may be selected from naturally occurring antibodies to IL-13BP or may be specifically raised to IL-13BP or derivatives thereof. The antibodies may also be anti-idiotypic antibodies to the active site of IL- 13BP. IL- 13BP or its derivatives may first need to be associated with a carrier molecule in order to generate the antibodies.

The subject antibodies and/or IL-13BP or its derivatives of the present invention are particularly useful as therapeutic or diagnostic agents.

For example, EL- 13BP and its derivatives can be used to screen for naturally occurring antibodies to IL-13BP. These may occur, for example in some autoimmune diseases. Alternatively, specific antibodies can be used to screen for IL-13BP. Techniques for such assays are well known in the art and include, for example, sandwich assays and ELISA. Knowledge of IL-13BP levels may be important for diagnosis of certain disease conditions associated with IL-13. The IL-13BP may also be used to assay for IL-13 directly or via antibodies.

Antibodies to IL-13BP of the present invention may be monoclonal or polyclonal. Alternatively, fragments of antibodies may be used such as Fab fragments. Furthermore, the present invention extends to recombinant and synthetic antibodies and to antibody hybrids. A "synthetic antibody" is considered herein to include fragments and hybrids of antibodies. The antibodies of this aspect of the present invention are particularly useful for immunotherapy and may also be used as a diagnostic tool for assessing, for example, apoptosis or monitoring the program of a therapeutic regimin.

For example, specific antibodies can be used to screen for IL-13BP proteins. The latter would be important, for example, as a means for screening for levels of IL-13BP in a cell extract or other biological fluid or purifying EL- 13BP made by recombinant means from culture supernatant fluid. Techniques for the assays contemplated herein are known in the art and include, for example, sandwich assays and ELISA.

It is within the scope of this invention to include any second antibodies (monoclonal, polyclonal or fragments of antibodies or synthetic antibodies) directed to the first mentioned antibodies discussed above. Both the first and second antibodies may be used in detection assays or a first antibody may be used with a commercially available anti-immunoglobulin antibody. An antibody as contemplated herein includes any antibody specific to any region of 1L-13BP.

Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are obtainable by immunization with the enzyme or protein and either type is utilizable for immunoassays. The methods of obtaining both types of sera are well known in the art. Polyclonal sera are less preferred but are relatively easily prepared by injection of a suitable laboratory animal with an effective amount of IL-13BP, or antigenic parts thereof, collecting serum from the animal, and isolating specific sera by any of the known immunoadsorbent techniques. Although antibodies produced by this method are utilizable in virtually any type of immunoassay, they are generally less favoured because of the potential heterogeneity of the product.

The use of monoclonal antibodies in an immunoassay is particularly preferred because of the ability to produce them in large quantities and the homogeneity of the product. The preparation of hybridoma cell lines for monoclonal antibody production derived by fusing an immortal cell line and lymphocytes sensitized against the immunogenic preparation can be done by techniques which are well known to those who are skilled in the art.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method for detecting EL- 13BP in a biological sample from a subject said method comprising contacting said biological sample with an antibody specific for IL-13BP or its derivatives or homologues for a time and under conditions sufficient for an antibody-IL-13BP complex to form, and then detecting said complex.

The presence of IL-13BP may be detected in a number of ways such as by Western blotting and ELISA procedures. A wide range of immunoassay techniques are available as can be seen by reference to US Patent Nos. 4,016,043, 4, 424,279 and 4,018,653. These, of course, include both single-site and two-site or "sandwich" assays of the non-competitive types, as well as in the traditional competitive binding assays. These assays also include direct binding of a labelled antibody to a target.

Sandwich assays are among the most useful and commonly used assays and are favoured for use in the present invention. A number of variations of the sandwich assay technique exist, and all are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Briefly, in a typical forward assay, an unlabelled antibody is immobilized on a solid substrate and the sample to be tested brought into contact with the bound molecule. After a suitable period of incubation, for a period of time sufficient to allow formation of an antibody-antigen complex, a second antibody specific to the antigen, labelled with a reporter molecule capable of producing a detectable signal is then added and incubated, allowing time sufficient for the formation of another complex of antibody- antigen- labelled antibody. Any unreacted material is washed away, and the presence of the antigen is determined by observation of a signal produced by the reporter molecule. The results may either be qualitative, by simple observation of the visible signal, or may be quantitated by comparing with a control sample containing known amounts of hapten. Variations on the forward assay include a simultaneous assay, in which both sample and labelled antibody are added simultaneously to the bound antibody. These techniques are well known to those skilled in the art, including any minor variations as will be readily apparent. In accordance with the present invention the sample is one which might contain IL-13BP including cell extract, tissue biopsy or possibly serum, saliva, mucosal secretions, lymph, tissue fluid and respiratory fluid. The sample is, therefore, generally a biological sample comprising biological fluid but also extends to fermentation fluid and supernatant fluid such as from a cell culture.

In the typical forward sandwich assay, a first antibody having specificity for the EL- 13BP or antigenic parts thereof, is either covalently or passively bound to a solid surface. The solid surface is typically glass or a polymer, the most commonly used polymers being cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene. The solid supports may be in the form of tubes, beads, discs of microplates, or any other surface suitable for conducting an immunoassay. The binding processes are well-known in the art and generally consist of cross-linking covalently binding or physically adsorbing, the polymer-antibody complex is washed in preparation for the test sample. An aliquot of the sample to be tested is then added to the solid phase complex and incubated for a period of time sufficient (e.g. 2-40 minutes or overnight if more convenient) and under suitable conditions (from about room temperature to about 40°C, eg. 25-37°C) to allow binding of any subunit present in the antibody. Following the incubation period, the antibody subunit solid phase is washed and dried and incubated with a second antibody specific for a portion of the hapten. The second antibody is linked to a reporter molecule which is used to indicate the binding of the second antibody to the hapten.

An alternative method involves immobilizing the target molecules in the biological sample and then exposing the immobilized target to specific antibody which may or may not be labelled with a reporter molecule. Depending on the amount of target and the strength of the reporter molecule signal, a bound target may be detectable by direct labelling with the antibody. Alternatively, a second labelled antibody, specific to the first antibody is exposed to the target- first antibody complex to form a target-first antibody-second antibody tertiary complex. The complex is detected by the signal emitted by the reporter molecule.

Another particularly useful alternative is to use IL-13 or a hybrid form thereof (eg. IL-13 IL-4) immobilised to a solid support to bind to IL-13BP and then to use an antibody to IL-13BP to detect binding to the immobilised EL- 13. The antibody may be labelled or an anti- immunoglobulin or an anti-immunoglobulin antibody labelled with a reporter molecule could be used.

By "reporter molecule" as used in the present specification, is meant a molecule which, by its chemical nature, provides an analytically identifiable signal which allows the detection of antigen-bound antibody. Detection may be either qualitative or quantitative. The most commonly used reporter molecules in this type of assay are either enzymes, fluorophores or radionuclide containing molecules (i.e. radioisotopes) and chemiluminescent molecules.

In the case of an enzyme immunoassay, an enzyme is conjugated to the second antibody, generally by means of glutaraldehyde or periodate. As will be readily recognized, however, a wide variety of different conjugation techniques exist, which are readily available to the skilled artisan. Commonly used enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase, beta- galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase, amongst others. The substrates to be used with the specific enzymes are generally chosen for the production, upon hydrolysis by the corresponding enzyme, of a detectable colour change. Examples of suitable enzymes include alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase. It is also possible to employ fluorogenic substrates, which yield a fluorescent product rather than the chromogenic substrates noted above. In all cases, the enzyme-labelled antibody is added to the first antibody hapten complex, allowed to bind, and then the excess reagent is washed away. A solution containing the appropriate substrate is then added to the complex of antibody-antigen-antibody. The substrate will react with the enzyme linked to the second antibody, giving a qualitative visual signal, which may be further quantitated, usually spectrophotometrically, to give an indication of the amount of hapten which was present in the sample. "Reporter molecule" also extends to use of cell agglutination or inhibition of agglutination such as red blood cells on latex beads, and the like.

Alternately, fluorescent compounds, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, may be chemically coupled to antibodies without altering their binding capacity. When activated by illumination with light of a particular wavelength, the fluorochrome-labelled antibody adsorbs the light energy, inducing a state to excitability in the molecule, followed by emission of the light at a characteristic colour visually detectable with a light microscope. As in the EIA, the fluorescent labelled antibody is allowed to bind to the first antibody-hapten complex. After washing off the unbound reagent, the remaining tertiary complex is then exposed to the light of the appropriate wavelength the fluorescence observed indicates the presence of the hapten of interest. Immunofluorescence and EIA techniques are both very well established in the art and are particularly preferred for the present method. However, other reporter molecules, such as radioisotope, chemiluminescent or bioluminescent molecules, may also be employed.

The present invention also contemplates genetic assays such as involving PCR analysis to detect IL-13BP gene or its derivatives. Alternative methods or methods used in conjunction include direct nucleotide sequencing or mutation scanning such as single stranded conformation polymoφhoms analysis (SSCP) as specific oligonucleotide hybridisation, as methods such as direct protein truncation tests.

The present invention also extends to immobilised IL-13 or derivatives thereof useful in the purification of IL- 13BP. Biological fluid is contacted with the immobilised EL- 13 for a time and under conditions for a IL-13-EL-13BP complex to form. The IL-13BP is then eluted from the immobilised IL-13 and subjected to further purification steps.

A further aspect of the present invention contemplates an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:l or 13 or 21 or 22 or an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 or 7 or 8 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 20 or having at least about 30% similarity to any one or more thereof. Preferred percentage similarities include at least about 40-50%, more preferably at least about 60-70%, and even more preferably at least about 80- 90% or above. The polypeptide of this aspect of the present invention preferably has IL-13BP properties or is a derivative thereof or is a hybrid form thereof.

The present invention further contemplates knockout animals such as mice or other murine species for the EL-13BP gene including homozygous and heterozygous knockout animals. Such animals provide a particularly useful live in vivo model for studying the effects of EL- 13BP as well as screening for agents capable of acting as agonists or antagonists of IL- 13BP.

According to this embodiment there is provided a transgenic animal comprising a mutation in at least one allele of the gene encoding IL-13BP. Additionally, the present invention provides a transgenic animal comprising a mutation in two alleles of the gene encoding EL- 13BP. Preferably, the transgenic animal is a murine animal such as a mouse or rat.

The present invention is further described by the following non-limiting Figures and Examples.

In the Figures:

Figure 1 is a graphical representation of EL- 13 binding to EL-I3BP in mouse urine and serum and soluble IL-13Rα by gel filtration chromatography. The gel filtration column was equilibrated and run in TBS at 0.5 ml/rnin as described in the Examples. Panel A: ¹²⁵I-IL-13 alone (20,000 cpm); Panels C, E and G: ¹²⁵I-IL-13 (20,000 cpm) + 100 μl DBA/2J mouse serum or in the presence of either 1 μg ml unlabelled IL-13 or IL-4, respectively; Panel B: ¹²⁵I- 5 IL-13 alone (50,000 cpm); Panels D, F and H: ¹²⁵I-IL-13 (50,000 cpm) + 100 μl NodLVJax mouse urine or in the presence of either 1 μg/ml unlabelled IL-13 or BL-4, respectively.

Figure 2 is a graphical representation of ¹²⁵I-IL-13 binding to soluble IL-13Rα and IL-13BP by gel filtration chromatography. Panel A: ¹²⁵I-IL-13 (50,000 cm) + 10 μg/ml soluble IL- 10 13Rα; Panel B: ¹²⁵I-IL-13 (50,000 cpm) + 10 μg ml soluble IL-13Rα + 0.5 μg ml soluble IL- 4Rα.

Figure 3 is a graphical representation showing a comparison of the ability of IL- 13BP and soluble IL-13Rα to inhibit the binding of IL-13 to its cell surface receptor. 10⁵ cpm of ¹²⁵I-IL-

15 13 and ¹²⁵I-GM-CSF were incubated for 40 min at 4°C with indicated dilution of partially purified urinary IL-13BP (A) or with the indicated concentration of soluble IL-13Rα (B). The labelled ligand and the soluble IL-13Rα or 1L-13BP were then added to 50 μl of medium containing 1.5xl0⁶ peritoneal cells from a GM-CSF transgenic mouse. Incubation was continued for a further 2 hr at 4°C before cell-associated and free ^{1 5}I-IL-13 or ¹²⁵I-GM-CSF 0 were separated by centrifugation of cells through 200 μl of foetal calf serum. The resulting cell pellets and supernatants were then counted in a γ-counter and specific binding was calculated as the difference between the ^l25I-ligand bound in the absence and presence of the unlabelled competitor, in turn this was expressed as a percentage of that observed in the absence of either soluble IL-13Rα or EL-13BP(»). As a control both soluble IL-13Rα and IL-13BP showed no 5 inhibition of ¹²⁵I-GM-CSF binding (O) to peritoneal cells. The following single and three letter abbreviations are used for amino acid residues:

Amino Acid Three-letter One-letter Abbreviation Symbol

Alanine Ala A

Arginine Arg R

Asparagine Asn N Aspartic acid Asp D

Cysteine Cys C

Glutamine Gin Q

Glutamic acid Glu E

Glycine Gly G Histidine His H

Isoleucine He I

Leucine Leu L

Lysine Lys K

Methionine Met M Phenylalanine Phe F

Proline Pro P

Serine Ser S

Threonine Thr T

Tryptophan Tφ w Tyrosine Tyr Y

Valine Val V

Any residue Xaa X SUMMARY OF SEQ ID NOs.

SEQUENCE SEQ ID NOs:

Amino acid sequence of N-terminal IL-13BP [generic] 1

Oligonucleotide capable of hybridising to human IL-13BP DNA (or 2 complementary form thereof)

Oligonucleotide capable of hybridising to human EL- 13BP DNA (or complementary form thereof)

FLAG peptide 4

Nucleotide sequence of N-terminal region of human EL- 13BP (R52795) 5

Amino acid sequence of N-terminal region of human IL-13 BP 6

Amino acid sequence of N-terminal region of human EL- 13 BP 7

Amino acid sequence of N-terminal region of human EL- 13 BP 8

Nucleotide sequence of C-terminal region of human EL- 13BP (R52796) 9

Amino acid sequence of C-terminal region of human EL- 13BP 10

Amino acid sequence of C-terminal region of human IL-13BP 11

Amino acid sequence of C-terminal region of human IL-13BP 12

Amino acid sequence of N-terminal region of EL-13BP [partially generic] 13

Putative signal sequence in human IL-13BP 14

Oligonucleotide primers for PCR cloning of human IL-13BP 15

Oligonucleotide primers for PCR cloning of human IL-13BP 16

Nucleotide sequence of construct containing human IL-13BP cDNA 17

Amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17 18

Nucleotide sequence of human EL- 13BP 19

Amino acid sequence of human EL- 13BP 20

Amino acid sequence of N-terminal EL- 13BP [murine] 21

Amino acid sequence of N-terminal EL- 13BP [human] 22 EXAMPLE 1 REAGENTS

Recombinant murine IL-13 was produced as a FLAG-tagged protein in Pichia pastoris. 5 Recombinant mouse DL-4 were purchased from R & D Systems. Recombinant soluble mouse IL-4Rα was from Genzyme. N-Glycosidase F and protease V8 (sequencing grade) were obtained from Boehringer. BS³ (Bis (Sulfosuccimidyl) suberate) was from Pierce. FLAG peptide (DYKDDDDK [SEQ ID NO:4]) and anti-FLAG M2 affinity gel were purchased from Scientific Imaging Systems. Soluble mouse IL-13 receptor α-chain (IL-13Rα) which was N- 10 terminally-tagged with a FLAG epitope was expressed in CHO cells and purified from CHO cell-conditioned medium on an anti-FLAG M2 affinity column by affinity elution with free FLAG peptide. Anti-EL-13Rα polyclonal antiserum was prepared by injecting purified soluble IL-13Rα into rabbits which were bled after 3 months.

15 EXAMPLE 2

GEL FILTRATION CHROMATOGRAPHY

Aliquots of samples were incubated with ¹²⁵I-IL-13 in the presence or absence of a competitor for at least 30 min at 4°C in a final volume of 200 μl. The mixtures were applied to a Superdex 20 200 10/30 column (Pharmacia), equilibrated in 20 mM Tris-buffered saline, pH 7.0, containing 0.02% (v/v) Tween-20 and 0.02% (w/v) sodium azide. Samples were eluted with TBS at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min, and 0.5-ml fractions were collected and counted in a γ-counter.

EXAMPLE 3 25 CROSSLINKING ASSAY

Aliquots of 10- to 20-fold concentrated mouse urine were incubated with ¹²⁵IL-13 or ¹²⁵I-IL-4 in the presence or absence of a competitor in a final volume of 20 μl for at least 30 min at 40°C. Then 5 μl of a 12 mM BS³ solution in PBS containing 0.02% (v/v) Tween-20 was added and 30 the mixtures were incubated for 30 min at 4°C. Samples were mixed with 8 μl of four-time concentrated SDS sample buffer and analysed by 13% (w/v) SDS/PAGE under non-reducing conditions. The gels were dried and visualised by either autoradiography or Phosphorlmager.

EXAMPLE 4 ¹²⁵I-IL-13 SATURATION BINDING ASSAY

Binding of ¹²⁵I-IL-13 to COS-7 cells expressing IL-13Rα was performed as previously described (Hilton et al, 1996). Binding of ¹²⁵I-DL-13 to soluble proteins in mouse serum and urine was determined by a gel filtration-based assay using Sephadex G-50 minicolumns (Nick column, Pharmacia) to separate free from bound ligand. Briefly, 50 μl of serum or 90 μl of urine per tube was incubated for at least 30 min at 4°C with different amounts of ^I25I-IL-13 in a final volume of 100 μl. The mixtures were applied to 1.2 ml Sephadex G-50 columns previously washed with 20 mM Tris-buffered saline, pH 7.0, containing 0.02% (v/v) Tween-20 and 0.02% (w/v) sodium azide. After washing the columns with 350 μl of column buffer, bound ¹²⁵I-IL-13 was eluted with 300 μl of buffer, whereas free ¹²⁵I-IL-13 was eluted with 600 μl of buffer. Specific binding was calculated by subtracting the cpm bound in the presence of 0.5 μg/ml unlabelled IL-13 (nonspecific binding) from the cpm bound in its absence (total binding). Scatchard analyses of saturation binding isotherms were performed using the curve- fitting program Ligand (McPherson, 1985; Munson and Rodbard, 1980).

EXAMPLE 5

DEGLYCOSYLATION AND V8 DIGESTION

After SDS/PAGE, the gel, which contained ¹²⁵I-IL-13 crosslinked to either IL-13BP from mouse urine or purified soluble IL-13Rα, was sliced according to pre-stained molecular weight markers. The gel pieces were added with 10 μl of Milli-Q water and 15 μl of 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 10 mM EDTA, 0.1% (w/v) SDS, 0.01% (v/v) β- mercaptoethanol and minced into small pieces with a pair of tweezers. Then 15 μl of 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 10 mM EDTA was added to the minced-gel mixtures. After 1 hr incubation at 37 °C, the mixtures were heated for 1 min at 95 °C, cooled down, 4 μl of 10% v/v β-octylglucoside added, and treated with N-glycosidase F (0.5 unit in 2.5 μl) overnight at 37°C to complete the deglycosylation. The deglycosylated sample mixtures were then centrifuged and the gel pieces removed. The recovered liquid portions of the deglycosylated samples were further digested with protease V8 at concentrations ranging from 5 to 60 μg/ml for 3 hr at 37°C. The samples were analysed by a 15% (w/v) SDS/PAGE under non-reducing conditions.

EXAMPLE 6 IMMUNOPRECIPATATION

Aliquots of 10- fold concentrated mouse urine or 3 μg/ml purified soluble IL-13Rα were incubated with ¹²⁵I-IL-13 in the presence or absence of 0.5 μg/ml unlabelled IL-13 and crosslinking was then performed as described above. The crosslinking reaction was terminated by adding 1M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) to a final concentration of 40 mM. The crosslinked samples were then mixed with 1:50 diluted control rabbit serum or anti-IL-13Rα antiserum which had been pre-incubated with or without FLAG peptide at a concentration of 100 μg/ml in order to eliminate false immunoreaction with potential anti-FLAG antibody in the anti-IL-

13Rα polyclonal antiserum. After 30-min incubation at 4°C, the mixtures were added with 40 μl of 50% (v/v) protein G-Sepharose gel slurry (Pharmacia) and incubated for 30 min at 4°C.

The samples were centrifuged and the protein G-Sepharose beads were washed 3 x 0.5 ml PBS, mixed with 40 μl of two-time concentrated SDS sample buffer and heated for 2 min at 95 °C. The supematants were then analysed by a 13% (w/v) SDS/PAGE under non-reducing conditions.

EXAMPLE 7 PRODUCTION AND PREPARATION OF mIL-13 AFFINITY SUPPORT

Mouse IL-13 was produced as a N-terminally FLAG-tagged fusion protein in Pichia pastoris and applied to an anti-FLAG antibody (M2) affinity column, non-binding proteins were washed from the column with phosphate-buffered saline containing 0.02% (v/v) Tween 20 after which the proteins that bound to the column, including the FLAG-tagged IL-13, were eluted with free FLAG peptide. The IL- 13 was further purified by RP-HPLC. To prepare mIL- 13 affinity support, the FLAG-tagged mlL-13 was first coupled to anti-FLAG antibody M2 affinity beads (Kodak) and then covalently linked to the M2 beads by the chemical cross-linker, BS³ (Pierce).

EXAMPLE 8 PURIFICATION OF mIL-13 BINDING PROTEIN

5

100 ml of concentrated mouse urine was incubated with mIL-13 affinity beads for 2 hr at room temperature. After removing unbound protein by centrifugation, the mIL- 13 affinity beads were washed extensively with phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.0, containing 0.02% (v/v) Tween-20 and 0.02% (w/v) sodium azide. The bound protein was eluted with Actisep elution medium 10 (Sterogenes Bioseparations). The eluates containing the active IL-13 binding protein was loaded onto a C8 reversed-phase HPLC column to achieve further purification. Aliquots of fractions eluted from the RP-HPLC column was further analysed by SDS-PAGE, after which the gel was silver stained. Fractions were also analysed for their ability to bind to ¹²⁵I-IL-13 using the cross-linking protocol described above. 15

EXAMPLE 9 IDENTIFICATION OF IL-13BP

Given the expression of transmembrane and secreted forms of many members of the 20 haemopoietin receptor family from alternatively spliced transcripts, the inventors sought to determine if this was the case for the JL-13Rα.

Using an analytical gel filtration-based assay, mouse serum and urine were examined for the presence of an IL-13 binding protein (referred to hereon as "IL-13BP"). Analytical gel

25 filtration chromatography of ^l25I-IL-13 alone resulted in elution of radioactivity in fractions 35 to 39 (Figures 1A and IB). Prior addition of mouse serum or mouse urine to the ^I25I-IL-13 resulted in the presence of an addition peak of ^l25I-IL-13 eluting earlier in fractions 27 to 30 (Figure 1C and ID), this higher molecular weight peak was competed for by the addition of an excess of unlabelled IL-13 but not unlabelled IL-4, demonstrating that the interaction with EL-

30 13BP was specific (Figures IE and IF). In contrast to crude mouse urine, purified soluble IL-13Rα, appeared unable to bind IL-13 as assessed by gel filtration chromatography (Figure 2A). The very low affinity of IL-13 for the IL-13Rα (Hilton et al, 1996) suggested that the serum and urine IL-13BP were either distinct from the IL-13Rα or contained other components in addition to EL-13Rα. One candidate for a protein capable of interaction with IL-13Rα to generate a high affinity IL-3 receptor is the IL- 4Rα. The presence of IL-4Rα in urine and serum has been described in a number of previous studies. This result was confirmed by gel filtration chromatography, however, despite the presence of an JL-4 binding protein in urine and serum, addition of purified IL-4Rα to purified IL-13Rα did not recapitulate the properties of the EL- 13BP found in serum and urine as assessed by gel filtration chromatography (Figure 2B).

In order to assess the size of the EL- 13BP and its relationship to the IL-4 binding protein, mouse urine was fractionated on a preparative gel filtration column. Aliquots from each fraction were then mixed with ¹²⁵I-IL-13 or ^l25I-IL-4 in the presence or absence of an excess of unlabelled IL-4 or EL- 13 and subject to cross-linking using the bi-functional reagent dimethyl succinimydyl suberate (DSS). The products of the cross-linking reaction were then resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis and visualised by autoradiography. Cross-linking of ^I25I-EL-13 to unfractionated mouse urine revealed the presence of a major band that electrophoresed with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 70,000 daltons. Given ¹²⁵I- IL-13 electrophoreses with an apparent molecular mass of 15,000 daltons, this would suggest the JL-13BP has an apparent molecular mass of 55,000 daltons. Cross-linking to the IL-13BP was specific since it was in competition with unlabelled IL-13 but not IL-4. The Mr 55,000 dalton IL-13BP eluted from the gel filtration column in fractions 27 to 29, consistent with its molecular weight estimated from the cross-linking experiment. Additional non-specific lower molecular radioactive products were also observed in the cross-linking studies with ^{1 5}I-IL-13. One of these eluted from the gel filtration column in fractions 29 and 30, after the Mr 55,000 dalton IL-13BP, but in a similar position to an IL-4 binding protein. Cross-linking of ¹²⁵I-IL-4 to the IL-4 binding protein resulted in a species migrating with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 55,000 daltons, suggesting the binding protein itself had a molecular mass of 35,000 daltons. The specificity of the Mr 55,000 dalton EL-13BP to purified receptor components was examined further using cross-linking. Although binding of ¹²⁵I-IL-13 to purified IL-13Rα was not detected by gel filtration chromatography, an interaction was observed using cross-linking. Consistent with previous studies (Hilton et al, 1996), this interaction was competed for by unlabelled IL- 13 but not unlabelled EL-4. Cross-linking studies were performed using ^12SI-IL- 13 and purified IL-4Rα and a product with an apparent molecular weight 55,000 was observed. Suφrisingly, cross-linking of ^L25I-LL- 13 to IL-4Rα was in competition with unlabelled IL-4 but not IL-13. Combining purified EL-13Rα and EL-4Rα with ¹²⁵I-IL-13 resulted in the generation of species similar in molecular weight and specificity to reactions containing each receptor alone. No higher molecular weight complexes were observed suggesting that formation of ternary IL-13/IL-13Rα/IL-4Rα complexes or their capture with the cross-linker occurred inefficiendy in solution, even at high concentrations of each component. Consistent with the initial experiment, crude mouse urine contained a major Mr 55,000 dalton IL-13BP. Cross- linking of ^I25I-IL-13 to this species was in competition with unlabelled IL-13 but not unlabelled EL-4. The lower molecular species observed in our initial experiment, was again observed. As before, cross-linking of ¹²⁵I-IL-13 to this protein was not in competition with unlabelled IL-13; however, like cross-linking ¹²⁵I-IL-13 to purified IL-4Rα, cross-linking to this protein was competed for by IL-4. Although the addition of purified IL-4Rα to purified IL-13Rα did not alter the pattern of cross-linking observed to either component alone, the inventors sought to determine whether purified EL-4Rα could interact with partially purified 50,000 Mr EL-13BP from mouse urine. As with the purified receptor components, no effect of adding IL-4Rα was observed.

While interaction between EL-13 and both purified soluble IL-13Rα and the Mr 55,000 dalton IL- 13BP was demonstratable by cross-linking, only the interaction with the IL-13BP was detectable using analytical gel filtration chromatography. These results suggested that the affinity of EL- 13 for the EL- 13BP was higher than for soluble EL- 13Rα. In order to test this formally, saturation binding experiments were performed. Scatchard transformations reveal that, consistent with previous studies (Hilton et al, 1996), the affinity of EL-13 for the IL-13Rα expressed by CHO cells was approximately 10 nM. However, the affinity of IL-13 for serum and urinary IL-13BP was 100 to 300-fold higher, ranging from 20 to 90 pM. The difference in affinity was confirmed in cross-linking experiments in which ¹²⁵I-IL-13 was mixed with increasing concentrations of unlabelled IL-13 prior to cross-linking to soluble EL-13Rα or urinaiy IL-13BP. Densitometric analysis of these data demonstrates that half-maximal inhibition of binding to soluble IL-13Rα occurred with approximately 100 ng/ml IL-13, a 40- fold higher concentration than required to inhibit fifty percent of the cross-linking to the Mr 55,000 dalton urinary IL-13BP.

The structural relationship between soluble DL-13Rα and the Mr 55,000 dalton urinary IL-13BP was examined by cross-linking ^{1 5}I-IL-13 to both proteins and isolating the resultant complexes. Each complex was then subject to exhaustive deglycosylation using N-glycosidase F and digestion with various concentrations of V8 protease. The products of these treatments were then resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The untreated and deglycosylated complex of IL-13 and the soluble ^l25I-IL-13 appeared larger than the corresponding complex with the urinary IL-13BP. In addition, the products of V8 proteolysis of the two complexes were clearly different, emphasising the structural difference between the L- 13Rα and the Mr 55,000 dalton urinary IL-13BP.

A polyclonal antisera to the IL-13Rα was raised in rabbits. This antisera was capable of immunoprecipitating the cross-linked product of ¹²⁵I-IL-13 with IL-13Rα, while no immunoprecipitation was observed with a pre-immune rabbit sera. Immunoprecipitation of the complex was not inhibited by the FLAG peptide but was inhibited by an excess of EL-13Rα. In contrast to the IL-13R complex, the complex between the Mr 55,000 dalton urinary IL-13BP and ^l25I-IL-13 was not recognised by the rabbit antisera to IL-13Rα suggesting that these proteins are antigenicaliy, as well as structurally and functionally distinct.

Soluble receptors for a variety of cytokines have been described. In some cases these act to augment a biological response, while in other situations they may inhibit the biological effect. In order to determine whether the purified soluble IL-13Rα or the urinary IL-13BP could influence an IL-13 response, the inventors examined their effects on peritoneal macrophages. Figure 3 demonstrates that although both the urinary IL-13BP and soluble recombinant IL- 13Rα can inhibit the binding of IL-13 to cell surface receptors expressed by macrophages, IL- 13BP is more efficient.

The purification of IL-13BP from mouse urine was shown following SDS-PAGE. The IL- 13BP was purified on an IL- 13 affinity column and then applied to a RP-HPLC column. The protein was eluted with a gradient of increasing acetonitrile. Each fraction was examined by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. The results illustrated a silver-stained band with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 45,000 daltons which co-fractionates and is of a similar size to the IL-13BP detected by cross linking.

EXAMPLE 10

CLONING OF MURINE IL-13BP

The partial amino sequence of purified murine EL-13BP is determined. N-terminal, C-terminal and/or internal sequence is generally used. These data are used to generate oligonucleotide probes or primers to clone out the murine IL-13BP. Alternative cloning protocols include screening for murine IL-13BP expression using anti-EL-13BP antibodies. A variety of murine cell lines may be used as a source of EL-13BP DNA.

EXAMPLE 11 CLONING OF HUMAN IL-13BP

Methods similar to those in Example 10 are used to clone the human EL-13BP gene. Alternative methods include cross hybridization using the murine EL-13BP nucleotide sequence. A variety of human cell lines may be used as a source of human IL-13BP DNA. EXAMPLE 12 N-TERMINAL AMINO ACID SEQUENCE

The IL-13BP isolated according to Example 8 was subjected to N-terminal amino acid sequencing and the sequence is set forth substantially as follows:

EIKVNPPQDFEEXDPGXLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: 1].

More particularly the N-terminal sequence is EIKVNPPQDFEIXDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: 13].

Even more particularly the N-terminal sequence is EIKVNPPQDFEILDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:21]

EXAMPLE 13

CLONING OF HUMAN IL-13BP

The N-terminal amino acid sequence of murine IL-13BP (Example 12) was used to scan gene EST databases.

In EST R52795, the region of homology with murine IL-13BP appeared to be C-terminal of an initiation methionine residue which was followed by a putative signal sequence, at the end of which was a canonical von Heijne signal sequence cleavage point. The region of homology, therefore, occurred at the beginning of the mature coding region, consistent with the EST encoding a secreted protein that was the human homologue of the murine IL-13BP. Additionally, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the mouse IL-13BP shared significant homology with both the murine and human the EL-5 receptor α-chains, members of the haemopoietin receptor family which are known to bind to four-alpha helical cytokines such as IL-13.

The nucleotide sequence of R52795 (see SEQ ID NO:5, encodes N-terminal region of IL- 13BP) was obtained by sequencing the 5' end of a cDNA clone from a human infant brain library. The clone number was YG99F10. The 3' end of this clone was also sequenced. Translation of SEQ ID NO:5 in each of three reading frames is shown in SEQ ID NOs. 6, 7 and 8, respectively. Referring to SEQ ID NO:5, a region identical to murine IL-13BP N-terminal amino acid sequence is the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIXDPGXLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:l] which is in SEQ ID NO:6 and begins at nucleotide 211 and ends at nucleotide 282 of SEQ ID NO:5. A possible initiator methione can be seen at nucleotide 127 of SEQ ID NO:5 and a putative signal sequence follows with the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:6 of:

AFVCLAIGCLYTFLISTTFGCTSSS [SEQ ID NO: 14].

The putative signal sequence cleaving point would be between S and D at nucleotide positions 202 to 207. The three putative amino acid translations given at SEQ ID NOs: 6-8 have been translated from nucleotide 1, 5 and 3 of SEQ ID NO:5, respectively.

These results indicate that the IL-13BP is a member of the haemopoietin receptor family and, moreover, provides a means of cloning the cDNA using oligonucleotides designed from the 5' and 3' ESTs of clone YG99F10. An example of suitable oligonucleotides is 5' ATGGCTTTCGTTTGCTTGGCTATC3' [SEQ ID NO:2] nucl 127-150 of R52795 and 5'CAACATTCGCAAGAAAAATTCAGTTTATT3' [SEQ ID NO:3] nucl 12-40 of R52796.

The nucleotide sequence of R52796 is shown in SEQ ID NO:9 (encoding C-terminal region of EL-13BP) and three putative translations in different reading frames are shown in SEQ ID

NOs: 10, 1 1 and 12, respectively. The reading frame showing a WSXWS motif is shown in

SEQ ID NO: 12 (nucleotides 171-185). The three putative reading frames given in SEQ ID NOs: 10-12 have been translated from nucleotides 1, 2 and 3, respectively of SEQ ID NO:9. The cloning product (eg. PCR product) is cloned into a mammalian expression vector such as pEF-BOS (Mizushima and Nagata, 1990), and the ability of the clone to encode the IL-13BP tested by transfection into COS cells and testing the ability of transfected cells to bind IL-13 with high affinity. EXAMPLE 14 CLONING OF FULL LENGTH HUMAN IL-13BP

The EST YG99F10 was obtained from ATCC and sequenced in full. 5

PCR was carried out on the ATCC plasmid using the following primers, with conventional conditions.

FORWARD 5' ATGCGGCGCGCCAGGAGATAAAAGTTAACCCT 3 ' [SEQ ID NO: 15] 10 REVERSE 5'AGCTACGCGTTCAACGTAGCAAAGTTTTCrTCGATAG3'[SEQ ID NO: 16]

The resultant product was digested with Asc I and Mlu I and cloned into the Mlu I site of pEF/FLAG/IL-3SS to yield a cDNA encoding the mouse IL-3 signal sequence, an N-terminal FLAG epitope tag and the mature extracellular domain (EIKVNP..to..KKTLLR) of human IL- 15 13BP. This nucleotide sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 17. The amino acid sequence alone is shown in SEQ ID NO: 18.

With reference to SEQ ID NO: 17, the amino acid sequence from residue 1 (Met) to residue 33 (Gin) comprises the initiating methione and signal sequence of murine IL-3. The Flag epitope 0 sequence follows (DYKDDDK-[SEQ ID NO:4]) and then the sequence of the mature IL-13 BP in which transcription has been terminated prior to the transmembrane domain to generate a soluble form.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to 25 variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Alexander et al, (1995) EMBO, 14:5569-551%.

Contreras, M.A., Bale, .W.F. and Spar, I.L. (1983) Methods in Enzymol. 92: 277-292.

Dugaiczyk et al., (1983) Biochemistry, 22. 1605-1613.

He, Y-W., Adkins, B., Furse, R.K. and Malek, T.R. (1995) J. Immunol. 154: 1596-1605.

Hilton, D.J., and Nicola, N.A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267: 10238-10247.

Hilton, et al, (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93(1): 497-501.

Howard, M. and Harada, N. (1994) In (Nicola, N.A. Ed) Guidebook to cytokines and their receptors. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

Lin, J-X., Migone, T-S., Tsang, M., Friedmann, M., Weatherbee, J.A., Zhou, L., Yamaauchi, A., Bloom, E.T., Mietz, J., John, S. and Leonard, W.J. (1995) Immunity 2: 331-339.

Matthews, D.J., Clark, P.A., Herbert, J., Morgan, G., Armitage, R.J., Kinnon, C, Minty, A., Grabstein, K.H., Caput, D. and Callard, R. (1995) Blood 85: 38-42.

McKenzie, A.N.J. and Zurawski, G. (1994) In (Nicola, N.A. Ed) Guidebook to cytokines and their receptors. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

Mizushima, S. and Nagata, S. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18: 5322.

Mosley, B., Beckmann, M.P., March, C.J., Idzerda, R.L., Gimpel, S.D., VandenBox, T., Friend, D., Alpert, A., Anderson, D., Jackson, J., Wignall, J.M., Smith, C, Gallis, B., Sims, J.E., Urdal, D., Cosman, D. and Park, L.S. (1989) Cell 89: 335-348.

Obiri, N.I., Debinski, W., Leonard, W.J., Puri, R.K. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270: 8797-8804.

Smerz-Bertling, C. and Durschl, A. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270: 966-970.

Takeita, T., Asano, H., Ohtani, K., Ishii, N., Kumaki, S., Tanaka, N., Munakata, H., Nakamura, M. and Sugamura, K. (1992) Science 257: 379-382.

Vita, N., Lefort, S., Laurent, P., Caput, D. and Ferrara, P. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270: 3512- 3517.

Zurawski, S.M., Vega, F., Huyghe, B. and Zurawski, G. (1993) EMBO J. 12: 2663-2670.

Zurawski, G. and de Vries, J.E. (1994) Immunol. Today 15: 19-26.

Zurawski, S.M., Chormarat, P., Djossou, O., Bidaud, C, McKenzie, A.N.J., Miossec, P., Banchereau, J. and Zurawski, G. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270: 13869-13878.

SEQUENCE LISTING

(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:

(0 APPLICANT: (Other than US) AMRAD OPERATIONS PTY LTD

(US only)NICOLA, Nocos Antony, HILTON Douglas James, ZHANG Jian-Guo and

SIMPSON, Richard John (li) TITLE OF INVENTION: THERAPEUTIC MOLECULES

(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 22

(iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS:

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(D) SOFTWARE: Patentin Release #1.0, Version #1.25

(vu) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA:

(A) APPLICATION NUMBER: PCT INTERNAΗONAL

(B) FILING DATE: 10-SEP-1997

(vi) PRIOR APPLICATION DATA:

(A) APPLICATION NUMBER: P05374

(B) FILING DATE: 27-FEB-1997

(vii) PRIOR APPLICATION DATA:

(A) APPLICATION NUMBER: P02262

(B) FILING DATE: 10-SEP-1996

(vui) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION: (A) NAME: HUGHES DR. E JOHN L

(C) REFERENCE/DOCKET NUMBER: EJH/AF

(IX) TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION:

(A) TELEPHONE: +61 3 9254 2777

(B) TELEFAX: +61 3 9254 2770 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:l:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 24 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:l:

Glu He Lys Val Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe Glu He Xaa Asp

5 10

Pro Gly Xaa Leu Gly Tyr Leu Tyr Leu Gin 15 20

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 2 :

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 24 base pairs

(B) TYPE: nucleic acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA

( i) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 2 :

ATGGCTTTCG TTTGCTTGGC TATC 24

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 29 base pairs

(B) TYPE: nucleic acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 3 :

CAACATTCGC AAGAAAAATT CAGTTTATT 29

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 4 :

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 8 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 4 :

Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys

5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 473 base pairs

(B) TYPE: nucleic acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS : single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 5 :

GTAAGAACAC TCTCGTGAGT nCTAACGGTC TTCCGGATGA AGGCTATTTG AAGTCGCCAT 60

AACCTGGTCA GAAGTGTGCC TGTCGGCGGG GAGAGAGGCA ATATCAAGGT TTTAAATCTC 120

GGAGAAATGG CTTTCGTTTG CTTGGCTATC GGATGCTTAT ATACCTTTCT GATAAGCACA 180

ACATTTGGCT GTACTTCATC TTCAGACACC GAGATAAAAG TTAACCCTCC TCAGGATTTT 240

GAGATAGTGG ATCCCGGATA CTTAGGTTAT CTCTATTTGC AATGGCAACC CCCACTGTCT 300 CTGGATCATT TTAAGGAATG CACAGTGGAA TATGAACTAA AATACCGAAA CATTGGTAGT 360 GAAACATGGG AAGGACCATC ATTACTAAGA ATCTACATTT ACAAAGGATG GGGTTTGGAT 420 CnTTAACAAG GGGCATTGAA GGCGAAGGTT ACACACGGTT TTTACCCTGG GGC 473

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 6:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 157 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(ix) FEATURE: CDS, nucleotides 1-471 of SEQ ID NO : 5

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 6 : Val Arg Thr Leu Ser * Xaa Leu Thr Val Phe Arg Met Lys Ala He 1 5 10 15

* Ser Arg His Asn Leu Val Arg Ser Val Pro Val Gly Gly Glu Arg 20 25 30

Gly Asn He Lys Val Leu Asn Leu Gly Glu Met Ala Phe Val Cys Leu 35 40 45

Ala He Gly Cys Leu Tyr Thr Phe Leu He Ser Thr Thr Phe Gly Cys 50 55 60

Thr Ser Ser Ser Asp Thr Glu He Lys Val Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe 65 70 75 80

Glu He Val Asp Pro Gly Tyr Leu Gly Tyr Leu Tyr Leu Gin Trp Gin 85 90 95

Pro Pro Leu Ser Leu Asp His Phe Lys Glu Cys Thr Val Glu Tyr Glu 100 105 110

Leu Lys Tyr Arg Asn He Gly Ser Glu Thr Trp Glu Gly Pro Ser Leu 115 120 125

Leu Arg He Tyr He Tyr Lys Gly Trp Gly Leu Asp Xaa * Gin Gly 130 135 140

Ala Leu Lys Ala Lys Val Thr His Gly Phe Tyr Pro Gly 145 150 155

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 7 :

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 156 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(ix) FEATURE: CDS, nucleotides 5-473 of SEQ ID NO: 5

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 7 :

Glu His Ser Arg Glu Xaa * Arg Ser Ser Gly * Arg Leu Phe Glu

1 5 10 15

Val Ala He Thr Trp Ser Glu Val Cys Leu Ser Ala Gly Arg Glu Ala 20 25 30

He Ser Arg Phe * He Ser Glu Lys Trp Leu Ser Phe Ala Trp Leu 35 40 45 Ser Asp Ala Tyr He Pro Phe * * Ala Gin His Leu Ala Val Leu 50 55 60

His Leu Gin Thr Pro Arg * Lys Leu Thr Leu Leu Arg He Leu Arg 65 70 75 80

* Trp He Pro Asp Thr * Val He Ser He Cys Asn Gly Asn Pro

85 90 95

His Cys Leu Trp He He Leu Arg Asn Ala Gin Trp Asn Met Asn * 100 105 110

Asn Thr Glu Thr Leu Val Val Lys His Gly Lys Asp His His Tyr * 115 120 125

Glu Ser Thr Phe Thr Lys Asp Gly Val Trp He Xaa Asn Lys Gly His 130 135 140

* Arg Arg Arg Leu His Thr Val Phe Thr Leu Gly 145 150 155

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 8 :

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 157 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(ix) FEATURE: CDS, nucleotides 3-473 of SEQ ID NO : 5

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 8 :

Lys Asn Thr Leu Val Ser Xaa Asn Gly Leu Pro Asp Glu Gly Tyr Leu 1 5 10 15

Lys Ser Pro * Pro Gly Gin Lys Cys Ala Cys Arg Arg Gly Glu Arg 20 25 30

Gin Tyr Gin Gly Phe Lys Ser Arg Arg Asn Gly Phe Arg Leu Leu Gly 35 40 45

Tyr Arg Met Leu He Tyr Leu Ser Asp Lys His Asn He Trp Leu Tyr 50 55 60

Phe He Phe Arg His Arg Asp Lys Ser * Pro Ser Ser Gly Phe * 65 70 75 80

Asp Ser Gly Ser Arg He Leu Arg Leu Ser Leu Phe Ala Met Ala Thr 85 90 95

Pro Thr Val Ser Gly Ser Phe * Gly Met His Ser Gly He * Thr 100 105 110 Lys He Pro Lys His Trp * * Asn Met Gly Arg Thr He He Thr 115 120 125

Lys Asn Leu His Leu Gin Arg Met Gly Phe Gly Xaa Leu Thr Arg Gly 130 135 140

He Glu Gly Glu Gly Tyr Thr Arg Phe Leu Pro Trp Gly 145 150 155

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 9:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 465 base pairs

(B) TYPE: nucleic acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS : single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA

(ix) FEATURE:

(A) NAME/KEY: CDS

(B) LOCATION: 1..465

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 9 : GGTGTTTTGG ATTATGGAAA TTGGnGACCA GAGAAGATGG ATACCTACCT TGGTGACTGC 60 CTACAGTTGA AAATGAAACA TACACCCTTG AAAACAACAA ATGAAACCCG ACAATTATGC 120

CTTTGTAGTA AGAAGCAAAG TGAATATTTA TTGCCTCAGA TGACGGAATT TGGAGTGAGT 180

GGAGTGATAA ACAATGCTGG GAAGGTGAAG ACCTATCGAA GAAAACTTTG CCTACGTTTC 240

TGGCTACCAT TTGGTTTCAT CTTAATATTA GTTATATTTG TAACCGGTCT GCTTTTGCGT 300

AAGCCAAACA CCTACCCAAA AATGATTCCA GAATTTTTCT GTGATACATG AAGACTTTCC 360

ATATCAAGAG ACATGGTATT GACTCAACAG TTTCCAGTCA TGGCCAAATG TTCAAAATAA 420

GTCTCAATAA ACTGAATTTT TCTTGCGAAT GTTGAAAAAA AAAAA 465

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 10:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 155 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (ix) FEATURE: CDS, nucleotides 1-465 of SEQ ID NO: 9

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 10:

Gly Val Leu Asp Tyr Gly Asn Trp Xaa Pro Glu Lys Met Asp Thr Tyr 1 5 10 15

Leu Gly Asp Cys Leu Gin Leu Lys Met Lys His Thr Pro Leu Lys Thr 20 25 30

Thr Asn Glu Thr Arg Gin Leu Cys Leu Cys Ser Lys Lys Gin Ser Glu 35 40 45

Tyr Leu Leu Pro Gin Met Thr Glu Phe Gly Val Ser Gly Val He Asn 50 55 60

Asn Ala Gly Lys Val Lys Thr Tyr Arg Arg Lys Leu Cys Leu Arg Phe 65 70 75 80

Trp Leu Pro Phe Gly Phe He Leu He Leu Val He Phe Val Thr Gly 85 90 95

Leu Leu Leu Arg Lys Pro Asn Thr Tyr Pro Lys Met He Pro Glu Phe 100 105 110

Phe Cys Asp Thr * Arg Leu Ser He Ser Arg Asp Met Val Leu Thr 115 120 125

Gin Gin Phe Pro Val Met Ala Lys Cys Ser Lys * Val Ser He Asn 130 135 140

* He Phe Leu Ala Asn Val Glu Lys Lys Lys 145 150 155

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 11:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 154 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(ix) FEATURE: CDS, nucleotides 2-463 of SEQ ID NO: 9

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 11:

Val Phe Trp He Met Glu He Xaa Asp Gin Arg Arg Trp He Pro Thr 1 5 10 15

Leu Val Thr Ala Tyr Ser * Lys * Asn He His Pro * Lys Gin 20 25 30

Gin Met Lys Pro Asp Asn Tyr Ala Phe Val Val Arg Ser Lys Val Asn 35 40 45 He Tyr Cys Leu Arg * Arg Asn Leu Glu * Val Glu * * Thr 50 55 60

Met Leu Gly Arg * Arg Pro He Glu Glu Asn Phe Ala Tyr Val Ser 65 70 75 80

Gly Tyr His Leu Val Ser Ser * Tyr * Leu Tyr Leu * Pro Val 85 90 95

Cys Phe Cys Val Ser Gin Thr Pro Thr Gin Lys * Phe Gin Asn Phe 100 105 110

Ser Val He His Glu Asp Phe Pro Tyr Gin Glu Thr Trp Tyr * Leu 115 120 125

Asn Ser Phe Gin Ser Trp Pro Asn Val Gin Asn Lys Ser Gin * Thr 130 135 140

Glu Phe Phe Leu Arg Met Leu Lys Lys Lys 145 150

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 12:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 154 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(ix) FEATURE: CDS, nucleotides 3-464 of SEQ ID NO: 9

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 12:

Cys Phe Gly Leu Trp Lys Leu Xaa Thr Arg Glu Asp Gly Tyr Leu Pro 1 5 10 15

Trp * Leu Pro Thr Val Glu Asn Glu Thr Tyr Thr Leu Glu Asn Asn 20 25 30

Lys * Asn Pro Thr He Met Pro Leu * * Glu Ala Lys * He 35 40 45

Phe He Ala Ser Asp Asp Gly He Trp Ser Glu Trp Ser Asp Lys Gin 50 55 60

Cys Trp Glu Gly Glu Asp Leu Ser Lys Lys Thr Leu Pro Thr Phe Leu 65 70 75 80

Ala Thr He Trp Phe His Leu Asn He Ser Tyr He Cys Asn Arg Ser 85 90 95

Ala Phe Ala * Ala Lys His Leu Pro Lys Asn Asp Ser Arg He Phe 100 105 110 Leu * Tyr Met Lys Thr Phe His He Lys Arg His Gly He Asp Ser 115 120 125

Thr Val Ser Ser His Gly Gin Met Phe Lys He Ser Leu Asn Lys Leu 130 135 140

Asn Phe Ser Cys Glu Cys * Lys Lys Lys

145 150

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 13:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 24 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 13:

Glu He Lys Val Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe Glu He Xaa Asp Pro Gly Leu Leu Gly

5 10 15

Tyr Leu Tyr Leu Gin 20

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 14:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 25 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 14:

Ala Phe Val Cys Lys Ala He Gly Cys Leu Tyr Thr Phe Leu He Ser Thr Thr Phe

5 10 15

Gly Cys Thr Ser Ser Ser 20 25

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 15:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 32 base pairs

(B) TYPE: nucleic acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS : single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 15:

ATGCGGCGCG CCAGGAGATA AAAGTTAACC CT ₃2

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 16:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 37 base pairs

(B) TYPE: nucleic acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION. SEQ ID NO: 16: AGCTACGCGT TCAACGTAGC AAAGTTTTCT TCGATAG 37

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 17:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 1080 base pairs

(B) TYPE: nucleic acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS' single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ll) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA

(ix) FEATURE:

(A) NAME/KEY: CDS

(B) LOCATION: 1..1080

(x ) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION- SEQ ID NO: 17-

ATG GTT CTT GCC AGC TCT ACC ACC AGC ATC CAC ACC ATG CTG CTC CTG 48

Met Val Leu Ala Ser Ser Thr Thr Ser He His Thr Met Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15

CTC CTG ATG CTC TTC CAC CTG GGA CTC CAA GCT TCA ATC TCG GCG CGC 96

Leu Leu Met Leu Phe His Leu Gly Leu Gin Ala Ser He Ser Ala Arg 20 25 30

CAG GAC TAC AAG GAC GAC GAT GAC AAG ACG CGC CAG GAG ATA AAA GTT 144

Gin Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys Thr Arg Gin Glu He Lys Val 35 40 45

AAC CCT CCT CAG GAT TTT GAG ATA GTG GAT CCC GGA TAC TTA GGT TAT 192 Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe Glu He Val Asp Pro Gly Tyr Leu Gly Tyr 50 55 60

CTC TAT TTG CAA TGG CAA CCC CCA CTG TCT CTG GAT CAT TTT AAG GAA 240 Leu Tyr Leu Gin Trp Gin Pro Pro Leu Ser Leu Asp His Phe Lys Glu 65 70 75 80

TGC ACA GTG GAA TAT GAA CTA AAA TAC CGA AAC ATT GGT AGT GAA ACA 288 Cys Thr Val Glu Tyr Glu Leu Lys Tyr Arg Asn He Gly Ser Glu Thr 85 90 95

TGG AAG ACC ATC ATT ACT AAG AAT CTA CAT TAC AAA GAT GGG TTT GAT 336 Trp Lys Thr He He Thr Lys Asn Leu His Tyr Lys Asp Gly Phe Asp 100 105 110

CTT AAC AAG GGC ATT GAA GCG AAG ATA CAC ACG CTT TTA CCA TGG CAA 384 Leu Asn Lys Gly He Glu Ala Lys He His Thr Leu Leu Pro Trp Gin 115 120 125

TGC ACA AAT GGA TCA GAA GTT CAA AGT TCC TGG GCA GAA ACT ACT TAT 432 Cys Thr Asn Gly Ser Glu Val Gin Ser Ser Trp Ala Glu Thr Thr Tyr 130 135 140

TGG ATA TCA CCA CAA GGA ATT CCA GAA ACT AAA GTT CAG GAT ATG GAT 480 Trp He Ser Pro Gin Gly He Pro Glu Thr Lys Val Gin Asp Met Asp 145 150 155 160

TGC GTA TAT TAC AAT TGG CAA TAT TTA CTC TGT TCT TGG AAA CCT GGC 528 Cys Val Tyr Tyr Asn Trp Gin Tyr Leu Leu Cys Ser Trp Lys Pro Gly 165 170 175

ATA GGT GTA CTT CTT GAT ACC AAT TAC AAC TTG TTT TAC TGG TAT GAG 576 He Gly Val Leu Leu Asp Thr Asn Tyr Asn Leu Phe Tyr Trp Tyr Glu 180 185 190

GGC TTG GAT CAT GCA TTA CAG TGT GTT GAT TAC ATC AAG GCT GAT GGA 624 Gly Leu Asp His Ala Leu Gin Cys Val Asp Tyr He Lys Ala Asp Gly 195 200 205

CAA AAT ATA GGA TGC AGA TTT CCC TAT TTG GAG GCA TCA GAC TAT AAA 672 Gin Asn He Gly Cys Arg Phe Pro Tyr Leu Glu Ala Ser Asp Tyr Lys 210 215 220

GAT TTC TAT ATT TGT GTT AAT GGA TCA TCA GAG AAC AAG CCT ATC AGA 720 Asp Phe Tyr He Cys Val Asn Gly Ser Ser Glu Asn Lys Pro He Arg 225 230 235 240

TCC AGT TAT TTC ACT TTT CAG CTT CAA AAT ATA GTT AAA CCT TTG CCG 768 Ser Ser Tyr Phe Thr Phe Gin Leu Gin Asn He Val Lys Pro Leu Pro 245 250 255

CCA GTC TAT CTT ACT TTT ACT CGG GAG AGT TCA TGT GAA ATT AAG CTG 816 Pro Val Tyr Leu Thr Phe Thr Arg Glu Ser Ser Cys Glu He Lys Leu 260 265 270

AAA TGG AGC ATA CCT TTG GGA CCT ATT CCA GCA AGG TGT TTT GAT TAT 864 Lys Trp Ser He Pro Leu Gly Pro He Pro Ala Arg Cys Phe Asp Tyr 275 280 285

GAA ATT GAG ATC AGA GAA GAT GAT ACT ACC TTG GTG ACT GCT ACA GTT 912 Glu He Glu He Arg Glu Asp Asp Thr Thr Leu Val Thr Ala Thr Val 290 295 300

GAA AAT GAA ACA TAC ACC TTG AAA ACA ACA AAT GAA ACC CGA CAA TTA 960 Glu Asn Glu Thr Tyr Thr Leu Lys Thr Thr Asn Glu Thr Arg Gin Leu 305 310 315 320

TGC TTT GTA GTA AGA AGC AAA GTG AAT ATT TAT TGC TCA GAT GAC GGA 1008 Cys Phe Val Val Arg Ser Lys Val Asn He Tyr Cys Ser Asp Asp Gly 325 330 335

ATT TGG AGT GAG TGG AGT GAT AAA CAA TGC TGG GAA GGT GAA GAC CTA 1056 He Trp Ser Glu Trp Ser Asp Lys Gin Cys Trp Glu Gly Glu Asp Leu 340 345 350

TCG AAG AAA ACT TTG CTA CGT TG 1080

Ser Lys Lys Thr Leu Leu Arg

355 360

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 18:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 359 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 18:

Met Val Leu Ala Ser Ser Thr Thr Ser He His Thr Met Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15

Leu Leu Met Leu Phe His Leu Gly Leu Gin Ala Ser He Ser Ala Arg 20 25 30

Gin Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys Thr Arg Gin Glu He Lys Val 35 40 45

Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe Glu He Val Asp Pro Gly Tyr Leu Gly Tyr 50 55 60

Leu Tyr Leu Gin Trp Gin Pro Pro Leu Ser Leu Asp His Phe Lys Glu 65 70 75 80

Cys Thr Val Glu Tyr Glu Leu Lys Tyr Arg Asn He Gly Ser Glu Thr 85 90 95

Trp Lys Thr He He Thr Lys Asn Leu His Tyr Lys Asp Gly Phe Asp 100 105 110 Leu Asn Lys Gly He Glu Ala Lys He His Thr Leu Leu Pro Trp Gin 115 120 125

Cys Thr Asn Gly Ser Glu Val Gin Ser Ser Trp Ala Glu Thr Thr Tyr 130 135 140

Trp He Ser Pro Gin Gly He Pro Glu Thr Lys Val Gin Asp Met Asp 145 150 155 160

Cys Val Tyr Tyr Asn Trp Gin Tyr Leu Leu Cys Ser Trp Lys Pro Gly 165 170 175

He Gly Val Leu Leu Asp Thr Asn Tyr Asn Leu Phe Tyr Trp Tyr Glu 180 185 190

Gly Leu Asp His Ala Leu Gin Cys Val Asp Tyr He Lys Ala Asp Gly 195 200 205

Gin Asn He Gly Cys Arg Phe Pro Tyr Leu Glu Ala Ser Asp Tyr Lys 210 215 220

Asp Phe Tyr He Cys Val Asn Gly Ser Ser Glu Asn Lys Pro He Arg 225 230 235 240

Ser Ser Tyr Phe Thr Phe Gin Leu Gin Asn He Val Lys Pro Leu Pro 245 250 255

Pro Val Tyr Leu Thr Phe Thr Arg Glu Ser Ser Cys Glu He Lys Leu 260 265 270

Lys Trp Ser He Pro Leu Gly Pro He Pro Ala Arg Cys Phe Asp Tyr 275 280 285

Glu He Glu He Arg Glu Asp Asp Thr Thr Leu Val Thr Ala Thr Val 290 295 300

Glu Asn Glu Thr Tyr Thr Leu Lys Thr Thr Asn Glu Thr Arg Gin Leu 305 310 315 320

Cys Phe Val Val Arg Ser Lys Val Asn He Tyr Cys Ser Asp Asp Gly 325 330 335

He Trp Ser Glu Trp Ser Asp Lys Gin Cys Trp Glu Gly Glu Asp Leu 340 345 350

Ser Lys Lys Thr Leu Leu Arg 355

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 19:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 948 base pairs

(B) TYPE: nucleic acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA

(ix) FEATURE:

(A) NAME/KEY: CDS

(B) LOCATION: 1..948

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 19:

GAG ATA AAA GTT AAC CCT CCT CAG GAT TTT GAG ATA GTG GAT CCC GGA 48 Glu He Lys Val Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe Glu He Val Asp Pro Gly 1 5 10 15

TAC TTA GGT TAT CTC TAT TTG CAA TGG CAA CCC CCA CTG TCT CTG GAT 96 Tyr Leu Gly Tyr Leu Tyr Leu Gin Trp Gin Pro Pro Leu Ser Leu Asp 20 25 30

CAT TTT AAG GAA TGC ACA GTG GAA TAT GAA CTA AAA TAC CGA AAC ATT 144 His Phe Lys Glu Cys Thr Val Glu Tyr Glu Leu Lys Tyr Arg Asn He 35 40 45

GGT AGT GAA ACA TGG AAG ACC ATC ATT ACT AAG AAT CTA CAT TAC AAA 192 Gly Ser Glu Thr Trp Lys Thr He He Thr Lys Asn Leu His Tyr Lys 50 55 60

GAT GGG TTT GAT CTT AAC AAG GGC ATT GAA GCG AAG ATA CAC ACG CTT 240 Asp Gly Phe Asp Leu Asn Lys Gly He Glu Ala Lys He His Thr Leu 65 70 75 80

TTA CCA TGG CAA TGC ACA AAT GGA TCA GAA GTT CAA AGT TCC TGG GCA 288 Leu Pro Trp Gin Cys Thr Asn Gly Ser Glu Val Gin Ser Ser Trp Ala 85 90 95

GAA ACT ACT TAT TGG ATA TCA CCA CAA GGA ATT CCA GAA ACT AAA GTT 336 Glu Thr Thr Tyr Trp He Ser Pro Gin Gly He Pro Glu Thr Lys Val 100 105 110

CAG GAT ATG GAT TGC GTA TAT TAC AAT TGG CAA TAT TTA CTC TGT TCT 384 Gin Asp Met Asp Cys Val Tyr Tyr Asn Trp Gin Tyr Leu Leu Cys Ser 115 120 125

TGG AAA CCT GGC ATA GGT GTA CTT CTT GAT ACC AAT TAC AAC TTG TTT 432 Trp Lys Pro Gly He Gly Val Leu Leu Asp Thr Asn Tyr Asn Leu Phe 130 135 140

TAC TGG TAT GAG GGC TTG GAT CAT GCA TTA CAG TGT GTT GAT TAC ATC 480 Tyr Trp Tyr Glu Gly Leu Asp His Ala Leu Gin Cys Val Asp Tyr He 145 150 155 160

AAG GCT GAT GGA CAA AAT ATA GGA TGC AGA TTT CCC TAT TTG GAG GCA 528 Lys Ala Asp Gly Gin Asn He Gly Cys Arg Phe Pro Tyr Leu Glu Ala 165 170 175

TCA GAC TAT AAA GAT TTC TAT ATT TGT GTT AAT GGA TCA TCA GAG AAC 576 Ser Asp Tyr Lys Asp Phe Tyr He Cys Val Asn Gly Ser Ser Glu Asn 180 185 190

AAG CCT ATC AGA TCC AGT TAT TTC ACT TTT CAG CTT CAA AAT ATA GTT 624 Lys Pro He Arg Ser Ser Tyr Phe Thr Phe Gin Leu Gin Asn He Val 195 200 205

AAA CCT TTG CCG CCA GTC TAT CTT ACT TTT ACT CGG GAG AGT TCA TGT 672 Lys Pro Leu Pro Pro Val Tyr Leu Thr Phe Thr Arg Glu Ser Ser Cys 210 215 220

GAA ATT AAG CTG AAA TGG AGC ATA CCT TTG GGA CCT ATT CCA GCA AGG 720 Glu He Lys Leu Lys Trp Ser He Pro Leu Gly Pro He Pro Ala Arg 225 230 235 240

TGT TTT GAT TAT GAA ATT GAG ATC AGA GAA GAT GAT ACT ACC TTG GTG 768 Cys Phe Asp Tyr Glu He Glu He Arg Glu Asp Asp Thr Thr Leu Val 245 250 255

ACT GCT ACA GTT GAA AAT GAA ACA TAC ACC TTG AAA ACA ACA AAT GAA 816 Thr Ala Thr Val Glu Asn Glu Thr Tyr Thr Leu Lys Thr Thr Asn Glu 260 265 270

ACC CGA CAA TTA TGC TTT GTA GTA AGA AGC AAA GTG AAT ATT TAT TGC 864 Thr Arg Gin Leu Cys Phe Val Val Arg Ser Lys Val Asn He Tyr Cys 275 280 285

TCA GAT GAC GGA ATT TGG AGT GAG TGG AGT GAT AAA CAA TGC TGG GAA 912 Ser Asp Asp Gly He Trp Ser Glu Trp Ser Asp Lys Gin Cys Trp Glu 290 295 300

GGT GAA GAC CTA TCG AAG AAA ACT TTG CTA CGT TG 948

Gly Glu Asp Leu Ser Lys Lys Thr Leu Leu Arg 305 310 315

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 20:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 315 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 20:

Glu He Lys Val Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe Glu He Val Asp Pro Gly 1 5 10 15

Tyr Leu Gly Tyr Leu Tyr Leu Gin Trp Gin Pro Pro Leu Ser Leu Asp 20 25 30

His Phe Lys Glu Cys Thr Val Glu Tyr Glu Leu Lys Tyr Arg Asn He 35 40 45

Gly Ser Glu Thr Trp Lys Thr He He Thr Lys Asn Leu His Tyr Lys 50 55 60

Asp Gly Phe Asp Leu Asn Lys Gly He Glu Ala Lys He His Thr Leu 65 70 75 80

Leu Pro Trp Gin Cys Thr Asn Gly Ser Glu Val Gin Ser Ser Trp Ala 85 90 95

Glu Thr Thr Tyr Trp He Ser Pro Gin Gly He Pro Glu Thr Lys Val 100 105 110

Gin Asp Met Asp Cys Val Tyr Tyr Asn Trp Gin Tyr Leu Leu Cys Ser 115 120 125

Trp Lys Pro Gly He Gly Val Leu Leu Asp Thr Asn Tyr Asn Leu Phe 130 135 140

Tyr Trp Tyr Glu Gly Leu Asp His Ala Leu Gin Cys Val Asp Tyr He 145 150 155 160

Lys Ala Asp Gly Gin Asn He Gly Cys Arg Phe Pro Tyr Leu Glu Ala 165 170 175

Ser Asp Tyr Lys Asp Phe Tyr He Cys Val Asn Gly Ser Ser Glu Asn 180 185 190

Lys Pro He Arg Ser Ser Tyr Phe Thr Phe Gin Leu Gin Asn He Val 195 200 205

Lys Pro Leu Pro Pro Val Tyr Leu Thr Phe Thr Arg Glu Ser Ser Cys 210 215 220

Glu He Lys Leu Lys Trp Ser He Pro Leu Gly Pro He Pro Ala Arg 225 230 235 240

Cys Phe Asp Tyr Glu He Glu He Arg Glu Asp Asp Thr Thr Leu Val 245 250 255

Thr Ala Thr Val Glu Asn Glu Thr Tyr Thr Leu Lys Thr Thr Asn Glu 260 265 270

Thr Arg Gin Leu Cys Phe Val Val Arg Ser Lys Val Asn He Tyr Cys 275 280 285

Ser Asp Asp Gly He Trp Ser Glu Trp Ser Asp Lys Gin Cys Trp Glu 290 295 300

Gly Glu Asp Leu Ser Lys Lys Thr Leu Leu Arg 305 310 315

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 21:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 24 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ιi) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 21:

Glu He Lys Val Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe Glu He Leu Asp Pro Gly Leu Leu Gly

5 10 15

Tyr Leu Tyr Leu Gin 20

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 22:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 24 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 22:

Glu He Lys Val Asn Pro Pro Gin Asp Phe Glu He Val Asp Pro Gly Tyr Leu Gly

5 10 15

Tyr Leu Tyr Leu Gin 20

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An isolated proteinaceous molecule or a recombinant or synthetic form thereof capable of interacting with IL-13 or a related cytokine with greater affinity than soluble IL-13Rα.

2. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to claim 1 having a molecular weight in its native soluble form as determined by SDS-PAGE of from about 40,000 daltons to about 60,000 daltons.

3. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to claim 2 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIXDPGXLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: l] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

4. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to claim 2 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEDCDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: 13] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

5. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to claim 2 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEILDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:21] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

6. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to claim 2 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIVDPGYLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:22] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

7. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to claim 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 comprising an N-terminal amino acid sequence set forth in one of SEQ ID NO:6 or 7 or 8.

8. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to claim 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 comprising a C-terminal amino acid sequence set forth in one of SEQ ID NO: 10 or 1 1 or 12.

9. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to claim 6 comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:20.

10. An isolated proteinaceous molecule according to any one of claims 2 to 6 encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:9 or SEQ ID NO: 19 or a nucleotide sequence having at least about 50% similarity thereto and which is capable of hybridising thereto under low stringency conditions at 42°C.

11. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides which encodes or is complementary to a sequence which encodes a proteinaceous molecule capable of interacting with IL-13 or a related cytokine with greater affinity than soluble IL-13R .

12. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 11 wherein said encoded proteinaceous molecule in its native form has a molecular weight of from about 40,000 daltons to about 60,000 daltons as determined by SDS-PAGE.

13. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 12 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIXDPGXLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: l] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

14. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 12 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIXDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: 13] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

15. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 12 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEILDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:21] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

16. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 12 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIVDPGYLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:22] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

17. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 encoding an N-terminal amino acid sequence set forth in at least one of SEQ ID NO:6 or 7 or 8 or an amino acid sequence having at least 50% similarity to one of SEQ ID NO: 6 or 7 or 8.

18. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 encoding a C-terminal amino acid sequence as set forth in at least one of SEQ ID NO: 10 or 1 1 or 12.

19. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 16 encoding an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:20.

20. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1 1 comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 or 9 or 19 or a nucleotide sequence having at least about 50% similarity thereto and which is capable of hybridising thereto under low stringency conditions at 42°C.

21. An expression vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule as defined in any one of claims 1 1 to 20.

22. A method for purifying IL-13BP or its derivatives from a biological sample including body fluid or cell culture medium, said method comprising contacting said biological sample with immobilised IL- 13 or an IL-13/IL-4 hybrid or a binding derivative thereof for a time and under conditions sufficient for a complex to form between said IL-3 and its binding protein, eluting said IL-13BP or IL-13/IL-4 from the immobilised IL-13 and collecting said eluted IL-13BP or IL-13/IL-4.

23. A peptide having first and second portions wherein one of said first and second portions is IL-13BP or a functional derivative thereof and the other of said first and second portions is IL-4BP or a functional derivative thereof wherein said polypeptide is capable of modulating biological processes involving IL-13 and/or IL-4.

24. A polypeptide according to claim 23 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFED DPGXLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: 1] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

25. A polypeptide according to claim 23 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIXDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO: 13] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

26. A polypeptide according to claim 23 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEILDPGLLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:21] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

27. A polypeptide according to claim 23 comprising the amino acid sequence EIKVNPPQDFEIVDPGYLGYLYLQ [SEQ ID NO:22] or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof.

28. A polypeptide according to claim 23 comprising an amino acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NO:6 or 7 or 8.

29. A polypeptide according to claim 23 comprising an amino acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NO: 10 or 1 1 or 12.

30. A polypeptide according to claim 23 comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:20.

31. A method of treatment comprising administering to a patient an IL-13 antagonising effective amount of an IL-13BP or its derivative for a time and under conditions sufficient to antagonise at least one property of IL-13.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the treatment is for an allergic reaction.

33. A composition comprising a proteinaceous molecule according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents.

34. An antibody to a proteinaceous molecule according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

35. An antibody according to claim 34 wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

36. A transgenic animal comprising a mutation in at least one allele of the gene encoding IL-13BP.

37. A transgenic animal according to claim 36 comprising a mutation in two alleles of the gene encoding IL-13BP.

38. A transgenic animal according to claim 36 or 37 wherein said animal is a murine animal.