Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Micro-organism – tissue cell culture or enzyme using process... – Recombinant dna technique included in method of making a...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2003-11-18
Kunz, Gary (Department: 1647)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Micro-organism, tissue cell culture or enzyme using process...
Recombinant dna technique included in method of making a...
C435S252300, C435S320100, C536S023100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06649371
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to novel potassium channels and genes encoding these channels. More specifically the invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding the KCNQ5 potassium channel subunit, cells transformed with these polynucleotides, transgenic animals comprising genetic mutations, and the use of the transformed cells and the transgenic animals for the in vitro and in vivo screening of chemical compounds affecting KCNQ5 subunit containing potassium channels.
BACKGROUND ART
Potassium channels participate in the regulation of electrical signalling in excitable cells, and regulates the ionic composition of biological fluids. Mutations in the four known genes of the KCNQ branch of the K
+
-channel gene family underlie inherited cardiac arrhythmia's, in some cases associated with deafness, neonatal epilepsy, and the progressive hearing loss of the elderly (presbyacusis).
Ion channels play important roles in signal transduction and in the regulation of the ionic composition of intra- and extracellular fluids. KCNQ1 is a typical member of the voltage-gated potassium channel superfamily with 6 transmembrane domains and a pore region situated between the fifth and the sixth transmembrane domain. The minK protein (also known as KCNE1 or lsK) has a single transmembrane span and cannot form potassium channels on its own. However, as a &bgr;-subunit it enhances and modifies currents mediated by KCNQ1. These heteromeric channels participate in the repolarization of the heart action potential. Certain mutations in either KCNQ1 or KCNE1 cause a form of the autosomal dominant long QT syndrome (LQTS), a disease characterised by repolarization anomalies of cardiac action potentials resulting in arrhythmias and sudden death. Interestingly, other mutations in either gene lead to the recessive Jervell and Lange-Nielsen (JLN) syndrome that combines LQTS with congenital deafness. In order to cause deafness, KCNQ1/minK currents must be reduced below levels that are already sufficiently low to cause cardiac arrhythmia.
Mutated and non-mutated KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 potassium channels have been disclosed in WO 99/07832, WO 99/21875 and WO 99/31232.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have now cloned and characterised KCNQ5, a novel member of the KCNQ family of potassium channel proteins. KCNQ5 forms heteromeric channels with other KCNQ channel subunits, in particular KCNQ3 and KCNQ4.
The present invention has important implications for the characterisation and exploitation of this interesting branch of the potassium channel super family.
Accordingly, in its first aspect, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence which is capable of hybridising under at least medium stringency conditions with the polynucleotide sequence presented as SEQ ID NO: 1, its complementary strand, or a sub-sequence thereof.
In another aspect the invention provides a recombinantly produced polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of the invention.
In a third aspect the invention provides a cell genetically manipulated by the incorporation of a heterologous polynucleotide of the invention.
In a fourth aspect the invention provides a method of screening a chemical compound for inhibiting or activating or otherwise modulating the activity on a potassium channel comprising at least one KCNQ5 channel subunit, which method comprises the steps of subjecting a KCNQ5 channel subunit containing cell to the action of the chemical compound; and monitoring the membrane potential, the current, the potassium flux, or the secondary calcium influx of the KCNQ5 channel subunit containing cell.
In a fifth aspect the invention relates to the use of a polynucleotide sequence of the invention for the screening of genetic materials from humans suffering from neurological diseases for mutations in the KCNQ5 gene.
In a sixth aspect the invention relates to the chemical compound identified by the method of the invention, in particular to the use of such compounds for diagnosis, treatment or alleviation of a disease related to diseases or adverse conditions of the CNS, including affective disorders, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, ataxia, CNS damage caused by trauma, stroke or neurodegenerative illness, cognitive deficits, compulsive behaviour, dementia, depression, Huntington's disease, mania, memory impairment, memory disorders, memory dysfunction, motion disorders, motor disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's disease and Parkinson-like motor disorders, phobias, Pick's disease, psychosis, schizophrenia, spinal cord damage, stroke, tremor, seizures, convulsions and epilepsy.
In a seventh aspect the invention provides a transgenic animal comprising a knock-out mutation of the endogenous KCNQ5 gene, a replacement by or an additional expression of a mutated KCNQ5 gene, or genetically manipulated in order to over-express the KCNQ5 gene or to over-express mutated KCNQ5 gene.
In an eighth aspect the invention relates to the use of the transgenic animal of the invention for the in vivo screening of therapeutic compounds.
Other objects of the invention will be apparent to the person skilled in the art from the following detailed description and examples.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides novel potassium channels and genes encoding these channels. The invention also provides cells transformed with these genes, transgenic animals comprising genetic mutations, and the use of the transformed cells and the transgenic animals for the in vitro and in vivo screening of drugs affecting KCNQ5 containing potassium channels.
Polynucleotides
In its first aspect, the invention relates to novel nuceic acid molecules encoding a polypeptide comprising all or a portion of a KCNQ5 protein.
In a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotides of the invention are such which have a nucleic acid sequence capable of hybridising under at least medium stringency conditions with the polynucleotide sequence presented as SEQ ID NO: 1, its complementary strand, or a sub-sequence thereof.
The polynucleotides of the invention include DNA, cDNA and RNA sequences, as well as anti-sense sequences, and include naturally occurring, synthetic, and intentionally manipulated polynucleotides. The polynucleotides of the invention also include sequences that are degenerate as a result of the genetic code.
As defined herein, the term “polynucleotide” refers to a polymeric form of nucleotides of at least 10 bases in length, preferably at least 15 bases in length. By “isolated polynucleotide” is meant a polynucleotide that is not immediately contiguous with both of the coding sequences with which it is immediately contiguous (one on the 5′ end and one on the 3′ end) in the naturally occurring genome of the organism from which it is derived. The term therefore includes recombinant DNA which is incorporated into an expression vector, into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote, or which exists as a separate molecule, e.g. a cDNA, independent from other sequences.
The polynucleotides of the invention also include allelic variants and “mutated polynucleotides” having a nucleotide sequence that differs from the sequence presented as SEQ ID NO: 1 at one or more nucleotide positions. The mutated polynucleotide may in particular be a polynucleotide of the invention having a nucleotide sequence as in SEQ ID NO: 1, which sequence, however, differs from SEQ ID NO: 1 so as to effect the expression of a variant polypeptide. The mutated polynucleotide may be a polynucleotide of the invention having a nucleotide sequence encoding a potassium channel having an amino acid sequence that has been changed at one or more positions. The mutated polynucleotide may in particular be a polynucleotide of the invention having a nucleotide sequence encoding a potassium channel having an amino acid sequence that has been changed at one or more positions located in the conserved regions, as defined by Table 1, below.
Hybridisation Protocol
The polynu
Kunz Gary
NeuroSearch A/S
Turner Sharon
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