Therapeutic polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding same, and methods of use

Abstract

Disclosed herein are nucleic acid sequences that encode novel polypeptides. Also disclosed are polypeptides encoded by these nucleic acid sequences, and antibodies that immunospecifically bind to the polypeptide, as well as derivatives, variants, mutants, or fragments of the novel polypeptide, polynucleotide, or antibody specific to the polypeptide. Vectors, host cells, antibodies and recombinant methods for producing the polypeptides and polynucleotides, as well as methods for using same are also included. The invention further discloses therapeutic, diagnostic and research methods for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders involving any one of these novel human nucleic acids and proteins.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to novel polypeptides, and the nucleic acids encoding them, having properties related to stimulation of biochemical or physiological responses in a cell, a tissue, an organ or an organism. More particularly, the novel polypeptides are gene products of novel genes, or are specified biologically active fragments or derivatives thereof. Methods of use encompass diagnostic and prognostic assay procedures as well as methods of treating diverse pathological conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Eukaryotic cells are characterized by biochemical and physiological processes which under normal conditions are exquisitely balanced to achieve the preservation and propagation of the cells. When such cells are components of multicellular organisms such as vertebrates, or more particularly organisms such as mammals, the regulation of the biochemical and physiological processes involves intricate signaling pathways. Frequently, such signaling pathways involve extracellular signaling proteins, cellular receptors that bind the signaling proteins, and signal transducing components located within the cells.

[0004] Signaling proteins may be classified as endocrine effectors, paracrine effectors or autocrine effectors. Endocrine effectors are signaling molecules secreted by a given organ into the circulatory system, which are then transported to a distant target organ or tissue. The target cells include the receptors for the endocrine effector, and when the endocrine effector binds, a signaling cascade is induced. Paracrine effectors involve secreting cells and receptor cells in close proximity to each other, for example two different classes of cells in the same tissue or organ. One class of cells secretes the paracrine effector, which then reaches the second class of cells, for example by diffusion through the extracellular fluid. The second class of cells contains the receptors for the paracrine effector; binding of the effector results in induction of the signaling cascade that elicits the corresponding, biochemical or physiological effect. Autocrine effectors are highly analogous to paracrine effectors, except that the same cell type that secretes the autocrine effector also contains the receptor. Thus the autocrine effector binds to receptors on the same cell, or on identical neighboring cells. The binding process then elicits the characteristic biochemical or physiological effect.

[0005] Signaling processes may elicit a variety of effects on cells and tissues including by way of nonlimiting example induction of cell or tissue proliferation, suppression of growth or proliferation, induction of differentiation or maturation of a cell or tissue, and suppression of differentiation or maturation of a cell or tissue.

[0006] Many pathological conditions involve dysregulation of expression of important effector proteins. In certain classes of pathologies the dysregulation is manifested as diminished or suppressed level of synthesis and secretion of protein effectors. In other classes of pathologies the dysregulation is manifested as increased or LIp-regulated level of synthesis and secretion of protein effectors. In a clinical setting a subject may be suspected of suffering from a condition brought on by altered or mis-regulated levels of a protein effector of interest. Therefore there is a need to assay for the level of the protein effector of interest in a biological sample from such a subject, and to compare the level with that characteristic of a nonpathological condition. There also is a need to provide the protein effector as a product of manufacture. Administration of the effector to a subject in need thereof is useful in treatment of the pathological condition. Accordingly, there is a need for a method of treatment of a pathological condition brought on by a diminished or suppressed levels of the protein effector of interest. In addition, there is a need for a method of treatment of a pathological condition brought on by a increased or up-regulated levels of the protein effector of interest.

[0007] Antibodies are multichain proteins that bind specifically to a given antigen, and bind poorly, or not at all, to substances deemed not to be cognate antigens. Antibodies are comprised of two short chains termed light chains and two long chains termed heavy chains. These chains are constituted of immunoglobulin domains, of which generally there are two classes: one variable domain per chain, one constant domain in light chains, and three or more constant domains in heavy chains. The antigen-specific portion of the immunoglobulin molecules resides in the variable domains; the variable domains of one light chain and one heavy chain associate with each other to generate the antigen-binding moiety. Antibodies that bind immunospecifically to a cognatc or target antigen bind with high affinities. Accordingly, they are useful in assaying specifically for the presence of the antigen in a sample. In addition, they have the potential of inactivating the activity of the antigen.

[0008] Therefore there is a need to assay for the level of a protein effector of interest in a biological sample from such a subject, and to compare this level with that characteristic of a nonpathological condition. In particular, there is a need for such an assay based on the use of an antibody that binds immunospecifically to the antigen. There further is a need to inhibit the activity of the protein effector in cases where a pathological condition arises from elevated or excessive levels of the effector based on the use of an antibody that binds immunospecifically to the effector. Thus, there is a need for the antibody as a product of manufacture. There further is a need for a method of treatment of a pathological condition brought on by an elevated or excessive level of the protein effector of interest based on administering the antibody to the subject.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention is based in part upon the discovery of isolated polypeptides including amino acid sequences selected from mature forms of the amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. The novel nucleic acids and polypeptides are referred to herein as NOVX, or NOV1, NOV2, NOV3, etc., nucleic acids and polypeptides. These nucleic acids and polypeptides, as well as derivatives, homologs, analogs and fragments thereof, will hereinafter be collectively designated as “NOVX” nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences.

[0010] The invention also is based in part upon variants of a mature form of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, wherein any amino acid in the mature form is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 15% of the amino acid residues in the sequence of the mature form are so changed. In another embodiment, the invention includes the amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. In another embodiment, the invention also comprises variants of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 wherein any amino acid specified in the chosen sequence is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 15% of the amino acid residues in the sequence are so changed. The invention also involves fragments of any of the mature forms of the amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or any other amino acid sequence selected from this group. The invention also comprises fragments from these groups in which up to 15% of the residues are changed.

[0011] In another embodiment, the invention encompasses polypeptides that are naturally occurring allelic variants of the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. These allelic variants include amino acid sequences that are the translations of nucleic acid sequences differing by a single nucleotide from nucleic acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. The variant polypeptide where any amino acid changed in the chosen sequence is changed to provide a conservative sobstitution.

[0012] In another embodiment, the invention comprises a pharmaceutical composition involving a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, the invention involves a kit, including, in one or more containers, this pharmaceutical composition.

[0013] In another embodiment, the invention includes the use of a therapeutic in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a syndrome associated with a human disease, the disease being selected from a pathology associated with a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 wherein said therapeutic is the polypeptide selected from this group.

[0014] In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method for determining the presence or amount of a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 in a sample, the method involving providing the sample; introducing the sample to an antibody that binds immunospecifically to the polypeptide; and determining the presence or amount of antibody bound to the polypeptide, thereby determining the presence or amount of polypeptide in the sample.

[0015] In another embodiment, the invention includes a method for determining the presence of or predisposition to a disease associated with altered levels of a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 in a first mammalian subject, the method involving measuring the level of expression of the polypeptide in a sample from the first mammalian subject; and comparing the amount of the polypeptide in this sample to the amount of the polypeptide present in a control sample from a second mammalian subject known not to have, or not to be predisposed to, the disease, wherein an alteration in the expression level of the polypeptide in the first subject as compared to the control sample indicates the presence of or predisposition to the disease.

[0016] In another embodiment, the invention involves a method of identifying an agent that binds to a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, the method including introducing the polypeptide to the agent; and determining whether the agent binds to the polypeptide. The agent could be a cellular receptor or a downstream effector.

[0017] In another embodiment, the invention involves a method for identifying a potential therapeutic agent for use in treatment of a pathology, wherein the pathology is related to aberrant expression or aberrant physiological interactions of a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, the method including providing a cell expressing the polypeptide of the invention and having a property or function ascribable to the polypeptide; contacting the cell with a composition comprising a candidate substance; and determining whether the substance alters the property or function ascribable to the polypeptide; whereby, if an alteration observed in the presence of the substance is not observed when the cell is contacted with a composition devoid of the substance, the substance is identified as a potential therapeutic agent.

[0018] In another embodiment, the invention involves a method for screening for a modulator of activity or of latency or predisposition to a pathology associated with a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, the method including administering a test compound to a test animal at increased risk for a pathology associated with the polypeptide of the invention, wherein the test animal recombinantly expresses the polypeptide of the invention; measuring the activity of the polypeptide in the test animal after administering the test compound; and comparing the activity of the protein in the test animal with the activity of the polypeptide in a control animal not administered the polypeptide, wherein a change in the activity of the polypeptide in the test animal relative to the control animal indicates the test compound is a modulator of latency of, or predisposition to, a pathology associated with the polypeptide of the invention. The recombinant test animal could express a test protein transgene or express the transgene under the control of a promoter at an increased level relative to a wild-type test animal The promoter may or may not be the native gene promoter of the transgene.

[0019] In another embodiment, the invention involves a method for modulating the activity of a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, the method including introducing a cell sample expressing the polypeptide with a compound that binds to the polypeptide in an amount sufficient to modulate the activity of the polypeptide.

[0020] In another embodiment, the invention involves a method of treating or preventing a pathology associated with a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, the method including administering the polypeptide to a subject in which such treatment or prevention is desired in an amount sufficient to treat or prevent the pathology in the subject. The subject could be human.

[0021] In another embodiment, the invention involves a method of treating a pathological state in a mammal, the method including administering to the mammal a polypeptide in an amount that is sufficient to alleviate the pathological state, wherein the polypeptide is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 or a biologically active fragment thereof.

[0022] In another embodiment, the invention involves an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; a variant of a mature form of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 wherein any amino acid in the mature form of the chosen sequence is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 15% of the amino acid residues in the sequence of the mature form are so changed; the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; a variant of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, in which any amino acid specified in the chosen sequence is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 15% of the amino acid residues in the sequence are so changed; a nucleic acid fragment encoding at least a portion of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 or any variant of the polypeptide wherein any amino acid of the chosen sequence is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 10% of the amino acid residues in the sequence are so changed; and the complement of any of the nucleic acid molecules.

[0023] In another embodiment, the invention comprises an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises the nucleotide sequence of a naturally occurring allelic nucleic acid variant.

[0024] In another embodiment, the invention involves an isolated nucleic acid molecule including a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 that encodes a variant polypeptide, wherein the variant polypeptide has the polypeptide sequence of a naturally occurring polypeptide variant.

[0025] In another embodiment, the invention comprises an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, wherein the nucleic acid molecule differs by a single nucleotide from a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

[0026] In another embodiment, the invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; a nucleotide sequence wherein one or more nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 is changed from that selected from the group consisting of the chosen sequence to a different nucleotide provided that no more than 15% of the nucleotides are so changed; a nucleic acid fragment of the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; and a nucleic acid fragment wherein one or more nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 is changed from that selected from the group consisting of the chosen sequence to a different nucleotide provided that no more than 15% of the nucleotides are so changed.

[0027] In another embodiment, the invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or a complement of the nucleotide sequence.

[0028] In another embodiment, the invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, wherein the nucleic acid molecule has a nucleotide sequence in which any nucleotide specified in the coding sequence of the chosen nucleotide sequence is changed from that selected from the group consisting of the chosen sequence to a different nucleotide provided that no more than 15% of the nucleotides in the chosen coding sequence are so changed, an isolated second polynucleotide that is a complement of the first polynucleotide, or a fragment of any of them.

[0029] In another embodiment, the invention includes a vector involving the nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. This vector can have a promoter operably linked to the nucleic acid molecule. This vector can be located within a cell.

[0030] In another embodiment, the invention involves a method for determining the presence or amount of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 in a sample, the method including providing the sample; introducing the sample to a probe that binds to the nucleic acid molecule; and determining the presence or amount of the probe bound to the nucleic acid molecule, thereby determining the presence or amount of the nucleic acid molecule in the sample. The presence or amount of the nucleic acid molecule is used as a marker for cell or tissue type. The cell type can be cancerous.

[0031] In another embodiment, the invention involves a method for determining the presence of or predisposition for a disease associated with altered levels of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 in a first mammalian subject, the method including measuring the amount of the nucleic acid in a sample from the first mammalian subject; and comparing the amount of the nucleic acid in the sample of step (a) to the amount of the nucleic acid present in a control sample from a second mammalian subject known not to have or not be predisposed to, the disease; wherein an alteration in the level of the nucleic acid in the first subject as compared to the control sample indicates the presence of or predisposition to the disease.

[0032] The invention further provides an antibody that binds immunospecifically to a NOVX polypeptide. The NOVX antibody may be monoclonal, humanized, or a fully human antibody. Preferably, the antibody has a dissociation constant for the binding of the NOVX polypeptide to the antibody less than 1×10−9 M. More preferably, the NOVX antibody neutralizes the activity of the NOVX polypeptide.

[0033] In a further aspect, the invention provides for the use of a therapeutic in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a syndrome associated with a human disease, associated with a NOVX polypeptide. Preferably the therapeutic is a NOVX antibody.

[0034] In yet a further aspect, the invention provides a method of treating or preventing a NOVX-associated disorder, a method of treating a pathological state in a mammal, and a method of treating or preventing a pathology associated with a polypeptide by administering a NOVX antibody to a subject in an amount sufficient to treat or prevent the disorder.

[0035] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

[0036] Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] The present invention provides novel nucleotides and polypeptides encoded thereby. Included in the invention are the novel nucleic acid sequences, their encoded polypeptides, antibodies, and other related compounds. The sequences are collectively referred to herein as “NOVX nucleic acids” or “NOVX polyiucleotides” and the corresponding encoded polypeptides are referred to as “NOVX polypeptides” or “NOVX proteins.” Unless indicated otherwise, “NOVX” is meant to refer to any of the novel sequences disclosed herein. Table A provides a summary of the NOVX nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides.

TABLE A
Sequences and Corresponding SEQ ID Numbers
		SEQ	SEQ
		ID	ID
NOVX		NO	NO
Assign-	Internal	(nucleic)	(amino
ment	Identification	acid)	acid)	Homology
1a	CG103191-02	1	2	chromogranin A-like
1b	CG103191-03	3	4	chromogranin A-like
1c	CG103191-04	5	6	chromogranin A-like
1d	251425133	7	8	chromogranin A-like
1c	251425611	9	10	chromogranin A-like
1f	278460276	11	12	chromogranin A-like
1g	278456175	13	14	chromogranin A-like
2a	CG105757-01	15	16	Kelch and BTB/POZ
				containing membrane
				protein like
3a	CG108175-01	17	18	neurexin III-alpha
				membrane-bound type 1
				precursor like
3b	CG108175-02	19	20	neurexin III-alpha
				membrane-bound type 1
				precursor like
3c	CG108175-03	21	22	neurexin III-alpha
				membrane-bound type 1
				precursor like
3d	CG108175-04	23	24	neurexin III-alpha
				membrane-bound type 1
				precursor like
3e	CG108175-05	25	26	neurexin III-alpha
				membrane-bound type 1
				precursor like
4a	CG108624-01	27	28	protocadherin 68-like
5a	CG108771-01	29	30	Type 1b membrane
				protein like
6a	CG108782-01	31	32	Transmembrane like
6b	CG108782-02	33	34	Transmnembrane like
7a	CG108801-01	35	36	EGF-domain
				Transmembrane Protein
				like
7b	CG108801-02	37	38	EGF-domain
				Transmembrane Protein
				like
8a	CG109717-01	39	40	Single Pass
				Transmembrane-Like
9a	CG110477-01	41	42	Desmoglein 3 variant
				like
10a	CG110540-01	43	44	Pheromone Receptor like
10b	CG110578-02	45	46	Neuralin 2 like
11a	CG110725-01	47	48	Osteopotin like
11b	209934449	119	120	osteopontin-like
12a	CG111683-01	49	50	surfactant protein-C like
12b	CG111683-02	51	52	surfactant protein-C like
12c	CG111683-03	53	54	surfactant protein-C like
13a	CG112655-01	55	56	germ cell-less 1
				protein like
14a	CG112813-01	57	58	NK receptor-like
14b	CG112813-02	S9	60	NK receptor-like
14c	CG112813-04	61	62	NK receptor-like
14d	CG112813-01	63	64	NK receptor-like
14e	CG112813-06	6S	66	NK receptor-like
14f	209886463	67	68	NK receptor-like
14g	277731421	69	70	NK receptor-like
15a	CG112869-01	71	72	Pecanex like
16a	CG113377-01	73	74	G1-related zinc finger
				protein like
17a	CG113730-01	75	76	nodal precursor like
17b	210982580	77	78	nodal precursor like
17c	CG113794-02	79	80	PA domain containing
				protein like
18a	CG115187-01	81	82	transmembrane protein
				like
18b	CG115187-02	83	84	transmembrane protein
				like
18c	CG115187-03	85	86	transmembrane protein
				like
18d	262770580	87	88	transmembrane protein
				like
18e	257788219	121	122	transmembrane-protein
				like
19a	CG115540-01	89	90	Membrane Protein
				containing Collagen
				triple helix repeat like
20a	CG118689-01	91	92	Uroplakin 1b-like
20b	CG118689-02	93	94	Uroplakin 1b-like
21a	CG120748-01	95	96	LMBR1 Long Form like
22a	CG121519-01	97	98	LDL Receptor Domain
				Containing Protein
23a	CG122176-01	99	100	Fibronectin domain
				containing protein like
24a	CG122691-01	101	102	Fn3/TSPN/Collagen/
				vWF domain cotaining
				protein like
25a	CG122863-01	103	104	Membrane Protein like
25b	CG122863-02	105	106	neurotrirnin like
26a	CG50880-04	107	108	Estrogen regulated
				protein like
27a	CG51812-03	109	110	protocadherin like
28a	CG51923-01	111	112	protocadherin like
28b	CG51923-03	113	114	Protocadherin FAT-like
28c	207756525	115	116	protocadherin like
28d	207756686	117	118	protocadherin like

[0038] Table A indicates the homology of NOVX polypeptides to known protein families. Thus, the nucleic acids and polypeptides, antibodies and related compounds according to the invention corresponding to a NOVX as identified in column 1 of Table A will be useful in therapeutic and diagnostic applications implicated in, for example, pathologies and disorders associated with the known protein families identified in column 5 of Table A.

[0039] Pathologies, diseases, disorders and condition and the like that arc associated with NOVX sequences include, but are not limited to: e.g., cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, hypertension, congenital heart defects, aortic stenosis, atrial septal defect (ASD), atrioventricular (A-V) canal defect, ductus arteriosus, pulmonary stenosis, subaortic stenosis, ventricular septal defect (VSD), valve diseases, tuberous sclerosis, scleroderma, obesity, metabolic disturbances associated with obesity, transplantation, adrenoleukodystrophy, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, prostate cancer, diabetes, metabolic disorders, neoplasm; adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, uterus cancer, cellular regeneration, hemophilia, hypercoagulation, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, immunodeficiencies, graft versus host disease, AIDS, bronchial asthma, Crohn's disease; multiple sclerosis, treatment of Albright Hereditary Ostoeodystrophy, infectious disease, anorexia, cancer-associated cachexia, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disorder, immune disorders including autoimmune disorders, hematopoietic disorders, and the various dyslipidemias, the metabolic syndrome X and wasting disorders associated with chronic diseases and various cancers, as well as conditions such as transplantation and fertility.

[0040] NOVX nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides are useful in a variety of applications and contexts. The various NOVX nucleic acids and polypeptides according to the invention are useful as novel members of the protein families according to the presence of domains and sequence relatedness to previously described proteins. Additionally, NOVX nucleic acids and polypeptides can also be used to identify proteins that are members of the family to which the NOVX polypeptides belong.

[0041] Consistent with other known members of the family of proteins, identified in column 5 of Table A, the NOVX polypeptides of the present invention show homology to, and contain domains that are characteristic of, other members of such protein families. Details of the sequence relatedness and domain analysis for each NOVX are presented in Example A.

[0042] The NOVX nucleic acids and polypeptides can also be used to screen for molecules, which inhibit or enhance NOVX activity or function. Specifically, the nucleic acids and polypeptides according to the invention may be used as targets for the identification of small molecules that modulate or inhibit diseases associated with the protein families listed in Table A.

[0043] The NOVX nucleic acids and polypeptides are also useful for detecting specific cell types. Details of the expression analysis for each NOVX are presented in Example C. Accordingly, the NOVX nucleic acids, polypeptides, antibodies and related compounds according to the invention will have diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the detection of a variety of diseases with differential expression in normal vs. diseased tissues, eg. detection of a variety of cancers.

[0044] Additional utilities for NOVX nucleic acids and polypeptides according to the invention are disclosed herein.

[0045] NOVX Clones

[0046] NOVX nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides are useful in a variety of applications and contexts. The various NOVX nucleic acids and polypeptides according to the invention are useful as novel members of the protein families according to the presence of domains and sequence relatedness to previously described proteins. Additionally, NOVX nucleic acids and polypeptides can also be used to identify proteins that are members of the family to which the NOVX polypeptides belong.

[0047] The NOVX genes and their corresponding encoded proteins are useful for preventing, treating or ameliorating medical conditions, eg., by protein or gene therapy. Pathological conditions can be diagnosed by determining the amount of the new protein in a sample or by determining the presence of mutations in the new genes. Specific uses are described for each of the NOVX genes, based on the tissues in which they are most highly expressed. Uses include developing products for the diagnosis or treatment of a variety of diseases and disorders.

[0048] The NOVX nucleic acids and proteins of the invention are useful in potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications and as a research tool. These include serving as a specific or selective nucleic acid or protein diagnostic and/or prognostic marker, wherein the presence or amount of the nucleic acid or the protein are to be assessed, as well as potential therapeutic applications such as the following: (i) a protein therapeutic, (ii) a small molecule drug target, (iii) an antibody target (therapeutic, diagnostic, drug targeting/cytotoxic antibody), (iv) a nucleic acid useful in gene therapy (gene delivery/gene ablation), and (v) a composition promoting tissue regeneration in vitro and in vivo (vi) a biological defense weapon.

[0049] In one specific embodiment, the invention includes an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting(of: (a) a mature form of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; (b) a variant of a mature form of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, wherein any amino acid in the mature form is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 15% of the amino acid residues in the sequence of the mature form are so changed; (c) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; (d) a variant of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 wherein any amino acid specified in the chosen sequence is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 15% of the amino acid residues in the sequence are so changed; and (e) a fragment of any of (a) through (d).

[0050] In another specific embodiment, the invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (a) a mature form of the amino acid sequence given SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; (b) a variant of a mature form of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 wherein any amino acid in the mature form of the chosen sequence is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 15% of the amino acid residues in the sequence of the mature form are so changed; (c) the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; (d) a variant of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, in which any amino acid specified in the chosen sequence is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 15% of the amino acid residues in the sequence are so changed; (e) a nucleic acid fragment encoding at least a portion of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 or any variant of said polypeptide wherein any amino acid of the chosen sequence is changed to a different amino acid, provided that no more than 10% of the amino acid residues in the sequence are so changed; and (f) the complement of any of said nucleic acid molecules.

[0051] In yet another specific embodiment, the invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of. (a) the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; (b) a nucleotide sequence wherein one or more nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 is changed from that selected from the group consisting of the chosen sequence to a different nucleotide provided that no more than 15% of the nucleotides are so changed; (c) a nucleic acid fragment of the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; and (d) a nucleic acid fragment wherein one or more nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 is changed from that selected from the group consisting of the chosen sequence to a different nucleotide provided that no more than 15% of the nucleotides are so changed.

[0052] NOVX Nucleic Acids and Polypeptides

[0053] One aspect of the invention pertains to isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode NOVX polypeptides or biologically active portions thereof. Also included in the invention are nucleic acid fragments sufficient for use as hybridization probes to identify NOVX-encoding nucleic acids (e g., NOVX mRNAs) and fragments for use as PCR primers for the amplification and/or mutation of NOVX nucleic acid molecules. As used herein, the term “nucleic acid molecule” is intended to include DNA molecules (e.g., cDNA or genomic DNA), RNA molecules (e.g., mRNA), analogs of the DNA or RNA generated using nucleotide analogs, and derivatives, fragments and homologs thereof. The nucleic acid molecule may be single-stranded or double-stranded, but preferably is comprised double-stranded DNA.

[0054] A NOVX nucleic acid can encode a mature NOVX polypeptide. As used herein, a “mature” form of a polypeptide or protein disclosed in the present invention is the product of a naturally occurring polypeptide or precursor form or proprotein. The naturally occurring polypeptide, precursor or proprotein includes, by way of nonlimiting example, the full-length gene product encoded by the corresponding gene. Alternatively, it may be defined as the polypeptide, precursor or proprotein encoded by an ORF described herein. The product “mature” form arises, by way of nonlimiting example, as a result of one or more naturally occurring processing steps that may take place within the cell (e g., host cell) in which the gene product arises. Examples of such processing steps leading to a “mature” form of a polypeptide or protein include the cleavage of the N-terminal methioninie residue encoded by the initiation codon of an ORF, or the proteolytic cleavage of a signal peptide or leader sequence. Thus a mature form arising from a precursor polypeptide or protein that has residues 1 to N, where residue 1 is the N-terminal methionine, would have residues 2 through N remaining after removal of the N-terminal methionine. Alternatively, a mature form arising from a precursor polypeptide or protein having residues 1 to N, in which an N-terminal signal sequence from residue 1 to residue M is cleaved, would have the residues from residue M+1 to residue N remaining. Further as used herein, a “mature” form of a polypeptide or protein may arise from a step of post-translational modification other than a proteolytic cleavage event. Such additional processes include, by way of non-limiting example, glycosylation, myristylation or phosphorylation. In general, a mature polypeptide or protein may result from the operation of only one of these processes, or a combination of any of them.

[0055] The term “probe”, as utilized herein, refers to nucleic acid sequences of variable length, preferably between at least about 10 nucleotides (nt), about 100 nt, or as many as approximately, e.g, 6,000 nt, depending upon the specific use. Probes are used in the detection of identical, similar, or complementary nucleic acid sequences. Longer length probes are generally obtained from a natural or recombinant source, are highly specific, and much slower to hybridize than shorter-length oligomer probes. Probes may be single-stranded or double-stranded and designed to have specificity in PCR, membrane-based hybridization technologies, or ELISA-like technologies.

[0056] The term “isolated” nucleic acid molecule, as used herein, is a nucleic acid that is separated from other nucleic acid molecules which are present in the natural source of the nucleic acid. Preferably, an “isolated” nucleic acid is free of sequences which naturally flank the nucleic acid (i.e., sequences located at the 5′- and 3′-termini of the nucleic acid) in the genomic DNA of the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived. For example, in various embodiments, the isolated NOVX nucleic acid molecules can contain less than about 5 kb, 4 kb, 3 kb, 2 kb, 1 kb, 0.5 kb or 0.1 kb of nucleotide sequences which naturally flank the nucleic acid molecule in genomic DNA of the cell/tissue from which the nucleic acid is derived (e g., brain, heart, liver, spleen, etc). Moreover, an “isolated” nucleic acid molecule, such as a cDNA molecule, can be substantially free of other cellular material, or culture medium, or of chemical precursors or other chemicals.

[0057] A nucleic acid molecule of the invention, eg., a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or a complement of this nucleotide sequence, can be isolated using standard molecular biology techniques and the sequence information provided herein. Using all or a portion of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, as a hybridization probe, NOVX molecules can be isolated using standard hybridization and cloning techniques (e.g., as described in Sambrook, et al., (eds.), MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989; and Ausubel, et al., (eds.), CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1993.)

[0058] A nucleic acid of the invention can be amplified using cDNA, mRNA or alternatively, genomic DNA, as a template with appropriate oligonucleotide primers according to standard PCR amplification techniques. The nucleic acid so amplified can be cloned into an appropriate vector and characterized by DNA sequence analysis. Furthermore, oligonucleotides corresponding to NOVX nucleotide sequences can be prepared by standard synthetic techniques, e.g., using an automated DNA synthesizer.

[0059] As used herein, the term “oligonucleotide” refers to a series of linked nucleotide residues. A short oligonucleotide sequence may be based on, or designed from, a genomic or cDNA sequence and is used to amplify, confirm, or reveal the presence of an identical, similar or complementary DNA or RNA in a particular cell or tissue. Oligonucleotides comprise a nucleic acid sequence having about 10 nt, 50 nt, or 100 nt in length, preferably about 15 nt to 30 nt in length. In one embodiment of the invention, an oligonucleotide comprising a nucleic acid molecule less than 100 nt in length would further comprise at least 6 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or a complement thereof. Oligonucleotides may be chemically synthesized and may also be used as probes.

[0060] In another embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention comprises a nucleic acid molecule that is a complement of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or a portion of this nucleotide sequence (e.g., a fragment that can be used as a probe or primer or a fragment encoding a biologically-active portion of a NOVX polypeptide). A nucleic acid molecule that is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, is one that is sufficiently complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, that it can hydrogen bond with few or no mismatches to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, thereby forming a stable duplex.

[0061] As used herein, the term “complementary” refers to Watson-Crick or Hoogsteen base pairing between nucleotides units of a nucleic acid molecule, and the term “binding” means the physical or chemical interaction between two polypeptides or compounds or associated polypeptides or compounds or combinations thereof. Binding includes ionic, non-ionic, van der Waals, hydrophobic interactions, and the like. A physical interaction can be either direct or indirect. Indirect interactions may be through or due to the effects of another polypeptide or compound. Direct binding refers to interactions that do not take place through, or due to, the effect of another polypeptide or compound, but instead are without other substantial chemical intermediates.

[0062] A “fragment” provided herein is defined as a sequence of at least 6 (contiguous) nucleic acids or at least 4 (contiguous) amino acids, a length sufficient to allow for specific hybridization in the case of nucleic acids or for specific recognition of an epitope in the case of amino acids, and is at most some portion less than a full length sequence.

[0063] Fragments may be derived from any contiguous portion of a nucleic acid or amino acid sequence of choice. A full-length NOVX clone is identified as containing an ATG translation start codon and an in-flame stop codon. Any disclosed NOVX nucleotide sequence lacking an ATG start codon therefore encodes a truncated C-terminal fragment of the respective NOVX polypeptide, and requires that the corresponding full-length cDNA extend in the 5′ direction of the disclosed sequence. Any disclosed NOVX nucleotide sequence lacking an in-frame stop codon similarly encodes a truncated N-terminal fragment of the respective NOVX polypeptide, and requires that the corresponding full-length cDNA extend in the 3′ direction of the disclosed sequence.

[0064] A “derivative” is a nucleic acid sequence or amino acid sequence formed from the native compounds either directly, by modification or partial substitution. An ““analog” is a nucleic acid sequence or amino acid sequence that has a structure similar to, but not identical to, the native compound, eg. they differs from it in respect to certain components or side chains. Analogs may be synthetic or derived from a different evolutionary origin and may have a similar or opposite metabolic activity compared to wild type. A “homolog” is a nucleic acid sequence or amino acid sequence of a particular gene that is derived from different species.

[0065] Derivatives and analogs may be full length or other than full length. Derivatives or analogs of the nucleic acids or proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, molecules comprising regions that are substantially homologous to the nucleic acids or proteins of the invention, in various embodiments, by at least about 70%, 80%, or 95% identity (with a preferred identity of 80-95%) over a nucleic acid or amino acid sequence of identical size or when compared to an aligned sequence in which the alignment is done by a computer homology program known in the art, or whose encoding nucleic acid is capable of hybridizing to the complement of a sequence encoding the proteins under stringent, moderately stringent, or low stringent conditions. See e.g. Ausubel, et al., CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1993, and below.

[0066] A “homologous nucleic acid sequence” or “homologous amino acid sequence,” or variations thereof, refer to sequences characterized by a homology at the nucleotide level or amino acid level as discussed above. Homologous nucleotide sequences include those sequences coding for isoforms of NOVX polypeptides. Isoforms can be expressed in different tissues of the same organism as a result of, for example, alternative splicing of RNA. Alternatively, isoforms can be encoded by different genes. In the invention, homologous nucleotide sequences include nucleotide sequences encoding for a NOVX polypeptide of species other than humans, including, but not limited to: vertebrates, and thus can include, e.g., frog, mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, cat cow, horse, and other organisms. Homologous nucleotide sequences also include, but are not limited to, naturally occurring allelic variations and mutations of the nucleotide sequences set forth herein. A homologous nucleotide sequence does not, however, include the exact nucleotide sequence encoding human NOVX protein. Homologous nucleic acid sequences include those nucleic acid sequences that encode conservative amino acid substitutions (see below) in SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, as well as a polypeptide possessing NOVX biological activity. Various biological activities of the NOVX proteins are described below.

[0067] A NOVX polypeptide is encoded by the open reading frame (“ORF”) of a NOVX nucleic acid. An ORF corresponds to a nucleotide sequence that could potentially be translated into a polypeptide. A stretch of nucleic acids comprising an ORF is uninterrupted by a stop codon. An ORF that represents the coding sequence for a full protein begins with an ATG “start” codon and terminates with one of the three “stop” codons, namely, TAA, TAG, or TGA. For the purposes of this invention, an ORF may be any part of a coding sequence, with or without a start codon, a stop codon, or both. For an ORF to be considered as a good candidate for coding for a bona fide cellular protein, a minimum size requirement is often set, eg., a stretch of DNA that would encode a protein of 50 amino acids or more.

[0068] The nucleotide sequences determined from the cloning of the human NOVX genes allows for the generation of probes and primers designed for use in identifying and/or cloning NOVX homologues in other cell types, e.g. from other tissues, as well as NOVX homologues from other vertebrates. The probe/primer typically comprises substantially purified oligonucleotide. The oligonucleotide typically comprises a region of nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to at least about 12, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 or 400 consecutive sense strand nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; or an anti-sense strand nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; or of a naturally occurring mutant of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

[0069] Probes based on the human NOVX nucleotide sequences can be used to detect transcripts or genomic sequences encoding the same or homologous proteins. In various embodiments, the probe has a detectable label attached, e.g. the label can be a radioisotope, a fluorescent compound, an enzyme, or an enzyme co-factor. Such probes can be used as a part of a diagnostic test kit for identifying cells or tissues which mis-express a NOVX protein, such as by measuring a level of a NOVX-encoding nucleic acid in a sample of cells from a subject e.g., detecting NOVX mRNA levels or determining whether a genomic NOVX gene has been mutated or deleted.

[0070] “A polypeptide having a biologically-active portion of a NOVX polypeptide” refers to polypeptides exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical to, an activity of a polypeptide of the invention, including mature forms, as measured in a particular biological assay, with or without dose dependency. A nucleic acid fragment encoding a “biologically-active portion of NOVX” can be prepared by isolating a portion of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, that encodes a polypeptide having a NOVX biological activity (the biological activities of the NOVX proteins are described below), expressing the encoded portion of NOVX protein (e g., by recombinant expression in vitro) and assessing the activity of the encoded portion of NOVX.

[0071] NOVX Nucleic Acid and Polypeptide Variants

[0072] The invention further encompasses nucleic acid molecules that differ from the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, due to degeneracy of the genetic code and thus encode the same

[0073] NOVX proteins as that encoded by the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

[0074] In another embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention has a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

[0075] In addition to the human NOVX nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that DNA sequence polymorphisms that lead to changes in the amino acid sequences of the NOVX polypeptides may exist within a population (e.g., the human population). Such genetic polymorphism in the NOVX genes may exist among individuals within a population due to natural allelic variation. As used herein, the terms “gene” and “recombinant gene” refer to nucleic acid molecules comprising an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a NOVX protein, preferably a vertebrate NOVX protein. Such natural allelic variations can typically result in 1-5% variance in the nucleotide sequence of the NOVX genes. Any and all such nucleotide variations and resulting amino acid polymorphisms in the NOVX polypeptides, which are the result of natural allelic variation and that do not alter the functional activity of the NOVX polypeptides, are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

[0076] Moreover, nucleic acid molecules encoding NOVX proteins from other species, and thus that have a nucleotide sequence that differs from a human SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein a? is an integer between 1 and 61, are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Nucleic acid molecules corresponding to natural allelic variants and homologues of the NOVX cDNAs of the invention can be isolated based on their homology to the human NOVX nucleic acids disclosed herein using the human cDNAs, or a portion thereof, as a hybridization probe according to standard hybridization techniques under stringent hybridization conditions.

[0077] Accordingly, in another embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention is at least 6 nucleotides in length and hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid is at least 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, or 2000 or more nucleotides in length. In yet another embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention hybridizes to the coding region. As used herein, the term “hybridizes under stringent conditions” is intended to describe conditions for hybridization and washing under which nucleotide sequences at least about 65% homologous to each other typically remain hybridized to each other.

[0078] Homologs (i.e., nucleic acids encoding NOVX proteins derived from species other than human) or other related sequences (e.g., paralogs) can be obtained by low, moderate or high stringency hybridization with all or a portion of the particular human sequence as a probe using methods well known in the art for nucleic acid hybridization and cloning.

[0079] As used herein, the phrase astringent hybridization conditions” refers to conditions under which a probe, primer or oligonucleotide will hybridize to its target sequence, but to no other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different il different circumstances. Longer sequences hybridize specifically at higher temperatures than shorter sequences. Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH 1. The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength, pH and nucleic acid concentration) at which 50% of the probes complementary to the target sequence hybridize to the target sequence at equilibrium. Since the target sequences are generally present at excess, at Tm, 50% of the probes are occupied at equilibrium. Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.0 M sodium ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M sodium ion (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30° C. for short probes, primers or oligonucleotides (e.g., 10 nt to 50 nt) and at least about 60° C. for longer probes, primers and oligonucleotides.

[0080] Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents, such as formamide.

[0081] Stringent conditions are known to those skilled in the art and can be found in Ausubel, et al., (eds.), CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. Preferably, the conditions are such that sequences at least about 65%, 70%, 75%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99% homologous to each other typically remain hybridized to each other. A non-limiting example of stringent hybridization conditions are hybridization in a high salt buffer comprising 6×SSC, 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 1 mM EDTA, 0.02% PVP, 0.02% Ficoll, 0.02% BSA, and 500 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 65° C., followed by one or more washes in 0.2×SSC, 0.01% BSA at 50° C. An isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, corresponds to a naturally-occurring nucleic acid molecule. As used herein, a “naturally-occurring” nucleic acid molecule refers to an RNA or DNA molecule having a nucleotide sequence that occurs in nature (e.g., encodes a natural protein).

[0082] In a second embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence that is hybridizable to the nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or fragments, analogs or derivatives thereof, under conditions of moderate stringency is provided. A non-limiting example of moderate stringency hybridization conditions are hybridization in 6×SSC, 5×Reinhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS and 100 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 55° C., followed by one or more washes in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 37° C. Other conditions of moderate stringency that may be used are well-known within the art. See, e.g., Ausubel, et al. (eds.), 1993, CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley & Sons, NY, and Krieger, 1990; GENE TRANSFER AND EXPRESSION, A LABORATORY MANUAL, Stockton Press, NY.

[0083] In a third embodiment, a nucleic acid that is hybridizable to the nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or fragments, analogs or derivatives thereof, under conditions of low stringency, is provided. A non-limiting example of low stringency hybridization conditions are hybridization in 35% formamide, 5×SSC, 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mM EDTA, 0.02% PVP, 0.02% Ficoll, 0.2% BSA, 100 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, 10% (wt/vol) dextran sulfate at 40° C., followed by one or more washes in 2×SSC, 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 5 mM EDTA, and 0.1% SDS at 50° C. Other conditions of low stringency that may be used are well known in the art (e g., as employed for cross-species hybridizations). See, e.g., Ausubel, et al. (eds.), 1993, CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley & Sons, NY, and Kriegler, 1990, GENE TRANSFER AND EXPRESSION, A LABORATORY MANUAL, Stockton Press, NY; Shilo and Weinberg, 1981. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 78: 6789-6792.

[0084] Conservative Mutations

[0085] In addition to naturally-occurring allelic variants of NOVX sequences that may exist in the population, the skilled artisan will further appreciate that changes can be introduced by mutation into the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, thereby leading to changes in the amino acid sequences of the encoded NOVX protein, without altering the functional ability of that NOVX protein. For example, nucleotide substitutions leading to amino acid substitutions at “non-essential” amino acid residues can be made in the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. A “non-essential” amino acid residue is a residue that can be altered from the wild-type sequences of the NOVX proteins without altering their biological activity, whereas an “essential” amino acid residue is required for such biological activity. For example, amino acid residues that are conserved among the NOVX proteins of the invention are predicted to be particularly non-amenable to alteration. Amino acids for which conservative substitutions can be made are well-known within the art.

[0086] Another aspect of the invention pertains to nucleic acid molecules encoding NOVX proteins that contain changes in amino acid residues that are not essential for activity. Such NOVX proteins differ in amino acid sequence from SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, yet retain biological activity. In one embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein, wherein the protein comprises an amino acid sequence at least about 40% homologous to the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. Preferably, the protein encoded by the nucleic acid molecule is at least about 60% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; more preferably at least about 70% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; still more preferably at least about 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; even more preferably at least about 90% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61; and most preferably at least about 95% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

[0087] An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a NOVX protein homologous to the protein of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, can be created by introducing one or more nucleotide substitutions, additions or deletions into the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, such that one or more amino acid substitutions, additions or deletions are introduced into the encoded protein.

[0088] Mutations can be introduced any one of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, by standard techniques, such as site-directed mutagenesis and PCR-mediated mutagenesis. Preferably, conservative amino acid substitutions are made at one or more predicted, non-essential amino acid residues. A “conservative amino acid substitution” is one in which the amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a similar side chain. Families of amino acid residues having similar side chains have been defined within the art. These families include amino acids with basic side chains (e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine), acidic side chains (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid), uncharged polar side chains (e.g., glycine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine), nonpolar side chains (e g., alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan), beta-branched side chains (e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucinie) and aromatic side chains (e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine). Thus, a predicted non-essential amino acid residue in the NOVX protein is replaced with another amino acid residue from the same side chain family. Alternatively, in another embodiment, mutations can be introduced randomly along all or part of a NOVX coding sequence, such as by saturation mutagenesis, and the resultant mutants can be screened for NOVX biological activity to identify mutants that retain activity. Following mutagenesis of a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, the encoded protein can be expressed by any recombinant technology known in the art and the activity of the protein can be determined.

[0089] The relatedness of amino acid families may also be determined based on side chain interactions. Substituted amino acids may be fully conserved “strong” residues or fully conserved “weak” residues. The “strong” group of conserved amino acid residues may be any one of the following groups: STA, NEQK, NHQK, NDEQ, QHRK, MILV, MILF, HY, FYW, wherein the single letter amino acid codes are grouped by those amino acids that may be substituted for each other. Likewise, the “weak” group of conserved residues may be any one of the following: CSA, ATV, SAG, STNK, STPA, SGND, SNDEQK, NDEQHK, NEQHRK, HFY, wherein the letters within each group represent the single letter amino acid code.

[0090] In one embodiment, a mutant NOVX protein can be assayed for (i) the ability to form protein:protein interactions with other NOVX proteins, other cell-surface proteins, or biologically-active portions thereof, (ii) complex formation between a mutant NOVX protein and a NOVX ligand; or (iii) the ability of a mutant NOVX protein to bind to an intracellular target protein or biologically-active portion thereof; (e.g avidin proteins).

[0091] In yet another embodiment, a mutant NOVX protein can be assayed for the ability to regulate a specific biological function (e.g, regulation of insulin release).

[0092] Antisense Nucleic Acids

[0093] Another aspect of the invention pertains to isolated antisense nucleic acid molecules that are hybridizable to or complementary to the nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or fragments, analogs or derivatives thereof. An “antisense” nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a “sense” nucleic acid encoding a protein (e.g., complementary to the coding strand of a double-stranded cDNA molecule or complementary to an mRNA sequence). In specific aspects, antisense nucleic acid molecules are provided that comprise a sequence complementary to at least about 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 or 500 nucleotides or an entire NOVX coding strand, or to only a portion thereof. Nucleic acid molecules encoding fragments, homologs, derivatives and analogs of a NOVX protein of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or antisense nucleic acids complementary to a NOVX nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, are additionally provided.

[0094] In one embodiment, an antisense nucleic acid molecule is antisense to a “coding region” of the coding strand of a nucleotide sequence encoding a NOVX protein. The term “coding region” refers to the region of the nucleotide sequence comprising codons which are translated into amino acid residues. In another embodiment, the antisense nucleic acid molecule is antisense to a “noncoding region” of the coding strand of a nucleotide sequence encoding the NOVX protein. The term “noncoding region” refers to 5′ and 3′ sequences which flank the coding region that are not translated into amino acids (i e., also referred to as 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions).

[0095] Given the coding strand sequences encoding the NOVX protein disclosed herein, antisense nucleic acids of the invention can be designed according to the rules of Watson and Crick or Hoogsteen base pairing. The antisense nucleic acid molecule can be complementary to the entire coding region of NOVX mRNA, but more preferably is an oligonucleotide that is antisense to only a portion of the coding or noncoding region of NOVX mRNA. For example, the antisense oligonucleotide can be complementary to the region surrounding the translation start site of NOVX mRNA. An antisense oligonucleotide can be, for example, about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 nucleotides in length. An antisense nucleic acid of the invention can be constructed using chemical synthesis or enzymatic ligation reactions using procedures known in the art. For example, an antisense nucleic acid (e g, an antisense oligonucleotide) can be chemically synthesized using naturally-occurring nucleotides or variously modified nucleotides designed to increase the biological stability of the molecules or to increase the physical stability of the duplex formed between the antisense and sense nucleic acids (e.g., phosphorothioate derivatives and acridine substituted nucleotides can be used).

[0096] Examples of modified nucleotides that can be used to generate the antisense nucleic acid include: 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xanthine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 5-methoxyuracil, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine, 7-methlylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 2-methylthio-N-6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w, and 2,6-diaminopurine. Alternatively, the antisense nucleic acid can be produced biologically using an expression vector into which a nucleic acid has been subcloned in an antisense orientation (ie, RNA transcribed from the inserted nucleic acid will be of an antisense orientation to a target nucleic acid of interest, described further in the following subsection).

[0097] The antisense nucleic acid molecules of the invention are typically administered to a subject or generated in situ such that they hybridize with or bind to cellular mRNA and/or genomic DNA encoding a NOVX protein to thereby inhibit expression of the protein (e.g., by inhibiting transcription and/or translation). The hybridization can be by conventional nucleotide complementarity to form a stable duplex, or, for example, in the case of an antisense nucleic acid molecule that binds to DNA duplexes, through specific interactions in the major groove of the double helix. An example of a route of administration of antisense nucleic acid molecules of the invention includes direct injection at a tissue site. Alternatively, antisense nucleic acid molecules can be modified to target selected cells and then administered systemically. For example, for systemic administration, antisense molecules can be modified such that they specifically bind to receptors or antigens expressed on a selected cell surface (e.g., by linking the antisense nucleic acid molecules to peptides or antibodies that bind to cell surface receptors or antigens). The antisense nucleic acid molecules can also be delivered to cells using the vectors described herein. To achieve sufficient nucleic acid molecules, vector constructs in which the antisense nucleic acid molecule is placed under the control of a strong pol II or pol III promoter are preferred.

[0098] In yet another embodiment, the antisense nucleic acid molecule of the invention is an α-anomeric nucleic acid molecule. An α-anomeric nucleic acid molecule forms specific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to the usual β-units, the strands run parallel to each other. See, e.g., Gaultier, et al., 1987. Nucl. Acids Res. 15: 6625-6641. The antisense nucleic acid molecule can also comprise a 2′-o-methylribonucleotide (See, e.g. Inoue, et al. 1987. Nucl. Acids Res. 15: 6131-6148) or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (See, e.g., Inoue, et al., 1987. FEBS Lett. 215: 327-330.

[0099] Ribozymes and PNA Moieties

[0100] Nucleic acid modifications include, by way of non-limiting example, modified bases, and nucleic acids whose sugar phosphate backbones are modified or derivatized. These modifications are carried out at least in part to enhance the chemical stability of the modified nucleic acid, such that they may be used, for example, as antisense binding nucleic acids in therapeutic applications in a subject.

[0101] In one embodiment, an antisense nucleic acid of the invention is a ribozyme. Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules with ribonuclease activity that are capable of cleaving a single-stranded nucleic acid, such as an mRNA, to which they have a complementary region. Thus, ribozymes (e.g., hammerhead ribozymes as described in Haselhoff and Gerlach 1988. Nature 334: 585-591) can be used to catalytically cleave NOVX mRNA transcripts to thereby inhibit translation of NOVX mRNA. A ribozyme having specificity for a NOVX-encoding nucleic acid can be designed based upon the nucleotide sequence of a NOVX cDNA disclosed herein (i.e., SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61). For example, a derivative of a Tetrahymena L-19 IVS RNA can be constructed in which the nucleotide sequence of the active site is complementary to the nucleotide sequence to be cleaved in a NOVX-encoding mRNA. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,071 to Cech, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,742 to Cech, et al. NOVX mRNA can also be used to select a catalytic RNA having a specific ribonuclease activity from a pool of RNA molecules. See, e.g., Bartel et al., (1993) Science 261:1411-1418.

[0102] Alternatively, NOVX gene expression can be inhibited by targeting nucleotide sequences complementary to the regulatory region of the NOVX nucleic acid (e.g, the NOVX promoter and/or enhancers) to form triple helical structures that prevent transcription of the NOVX gene in target cells. See, e.g., Helene, 1991. Anticancer Drug Des. 6: 569-84; Helene, et al. 1992. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 660: 27-36; Maher, 1992. Bioassays 14: 807-15.

[0103] In various embodiments, the NOVX nucleic acids can be modified at the base moiety, sugar moiety or phosphate backbone to improve, e.g., the stability, hybridization, or solubility of the molecule. For example, the deoxyribose phosphate backbone of the nucleic acids can be modified to generate peptide nucleic acids. See, eg., Hyrup, et al., 1996. Bioorg Med Chem 4: 5-23. As used herein, the terms “peptide nucleic acids” or “PNAs” refer to nucleic acid mimics (e.g., DNA mimics) in which the deoxyribose phosphate backbone is replaced by a pseudopeptide backbone and only the four natural nucleotide bases are retained. The neutral backbone of PNAs has been shown to allow for specific hybridization to DNA and RNA under conditions of low ionic strength. The synthesis of PNA oligomer can be performed using standard solid phase peptide synthesis protocols as described in Hyrup, et al., 1996. supra; Perry-O'Keefe, et al., 1996. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 93: 14670-14675.

[0104] PNAs of NOVX can be used in therapeutic and diagnostic applications. For example, PNAs can be used as antisense or antigene agents for sequence-specific modulation of gene expression by, e.g., inducing transcription or translation arrest or inhibiting replication. PNAs of NOVX can also be used, for example, in the analysis of single base pair mutations in a gene (e.g., PNA directed PCR clamping; as artificial restriction enzymes when used in combination with other enzymes, eg., S1 nucleases (See. Hyrup, et al., 1996, supra); or as probes or primers for DNA sequence and hybridization (See, Hyrup, et al., 1996, supra; Perry-O'Keefe, et al., 1996. supra).

[0105] In another embodiment, PNAs of NOVX can be modified, e.g, to enhance their stability or cellular uptake, by attaching lipophilic or other helper groups to PNA, by the formation of PNA-DNA chimeras, or by the use of liposomes or other techniques of drug delivery known in the art. For example, PNA-DNA chimeras of NOVX can be generated that may combine the advantageous properties of PNA and DNA. Such chimeras allow DNA recognition enzymes (e g., RNase H and DNA polymerases) to interact with the DNA portion while the PNA portion would provide high binding affinity and specificity. PNA-DNA chimeras can be linked using linkers of appropriate lengths selected in terms of base stacking, number of bonds between the nucleotide bases, and orientation (see, Hyrup, et al., 1996. supra). The synthesis of PNA-DNA chimeras can be performed as described in Hyrup, et al., 1996. supra and Finn, et al., 1996. Nucl Acids Res 24: 3357-3363. For example, a DNA chain can be synthesized on a solid support using standard phosphoramidite coupling chemistry, and modified nucleoside analogs, e.g., 5′-(4-methoxytrityl)amino-5′-deoxy-thymidine phosphoramidite, can be used between the PNA and the 5′ end of DNA. See, eg, Mag, et al., 1989. Nucl Acid Res 17: 5973-5988. PNA monomers arc then coupled in a stepwise manner to produce a chimeric molecule with a 5′ PNA segment and a 3′ DNA segment. See, e.g., Finn, et al., 1996. supra. Alternatively, chimeric molecules can be synthesized with a 5′ DNA segment and a 3′ PNA segment. See, e.g., Petersen, et al., 1975. Bioorg. Med Chem. Lett. 5: 1119-11124.

[0106] In other embodiments, the oligonucleotide may include other appended groups such as peptides (e.g., for targeting host cell receptors in vivo), or agents facilitating transport across the cell membrane (see, e.g., Letsinger, et al., 1989. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 6553-6556; Lemaitre, et al., 1987. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci, 84: 648-652; PCT Publication No. WO88/09810) or the blood-brain barrier (see, e.g., PCT Publication No. WO 89/10134). In addition, oligonucleotides can be modified with hybridization triggered cleavage agents (see, e.g., Krol, et al., 1988. BioTechniques 6:958-976) or intercalating agents (see, eg, Zon, 1988. Pharm Res. 5: 539-549). To this end, the oligonucleotide may be conjugated to another molecule, e.g., a peptide, a hybridization triggered cross-linking agent, a transport agent, a hybridization-triggered cleavage agent, and the like.

[0107] NOVX Polypeptides

[0108] A polypeptide according to the invention includes a polypeptide including the amino acid sequence of NOVX polypeptides whose sequences are provided in any one of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. The invention also includes a mutant or variant protein any of whose residues may be changed from the corresponding residues shown in any one of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, while still encoding a protein that maintains its NOVX activities and physiological functions, or a functional fragment thereof.

[0109] In general, a NOVX variant that preserves NOVX-like function includes any variant in which residues at a particular position in the sequence have been substituted by other amino acids, and further include the possibility of inserting an additional residue or residues between two residues of the parent protein as well as the possibility of deleting one or more residues from the parent sequence. Any amino acid substitution, insertion, or deletion is encompassed by the invention. In favorable circumstances, the substitution is a conservative substitution as defined above.

[0110] One aspect of the invention pertains to isolated NOVX proteins, and biologically-active portions thereof, or derivatives, fragments, analogs or homologs thereof. Also provided are polypeptide fragments suitable for use as immunogens to raise anti-NOVX antibodies. In one embodiment, native NOVX proteins can be isolated from cells or tissue sources by an appropriate purification scheme using standard protein purification techniques. In another embodiment, NOVX proteins are produced by recombinant DNA techniques. Alternative to recombinant expression, a NOVX protein or polypeptide can be synthesized chemically using standard peptide synthesis techniques.

[0111] An “isolated” or “purified” polypeptide or protein or biologically-active portion thereof is substantially free of cellular material or other contaminating proteins from the cell or tissue source from which the NOVX protein is derived, or substantially free from chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized. The language “substantially free of cellular material” includes preparations of NOVX proteins in which the protein is separated from cellular components of the cells from which it is isolated or recombinantly-produced. In one embodiment, the language “substantially free of cellular material” includes preparations of NOVX proteins having less than about 30% (by dry weight) of non-NOVX proteins (also referred to herein as a “contaminating protein”), more preferably less than about 20% of non-NOVX proteins, still more preferably less than about 10% of non-NOVX proteins, and most preferably less than about 5% of non-NOVX proteins. When the NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof is recombinantly-produced, it is also preferably substantially free of culture medium, i.e., culture medium represents less than about 20%, more preferably less than about 10%, and most preferably less than about 5% of the volume of the NOVX protein preparation.

[0112] The language “substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals” includes preparations of NOVX proteins in which the protein is separated from chemical precursors or other chemicals that are involved in the synthesis of the protein. In one embodiment, the language “substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals” includes preparations of NOVX proteins having less than about 30% (by dry weight) of chemical precursors or non-NOVX chemicals, more preferably less than about 20% chemical precursors or non-NOVX chemicals, still more preferably less than about 10% chemical precursors or non-NOVX chemicals, and most preferably less than about 5% chemical precursors or non-NOVX chemicals.

[0113] Biologically-active portions of NOVX proteins include peptides comprising amino acid sequences sufficiently homologous to or derived from the amino acid sequences of the NOVX proteins (e.g., the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61) that include fewer amino acids than the full-length NOVX proteins, and exhibit at least one activity of a NOVX protein. Typically, biologically-active portions comprise a domain or motif with at least one activity of the NOVX protein. A biologically-active portion of a NOVX protein can be a polypeptide which is, for example, 10, 25, 50, 100 or more amino acid residues in length.

[0114] Moreover, other biologically-active portions, in which other regions of the protein are deleted, can be prepared by recombinant techniques and evaluated for one or more of the functional activities of a native NOVX protein.

[0115] In an embodiment, the NOVX protein has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61. In other embodiments, the NOVX protein is substantially homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, and retains the functional activity of the protein of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, yet differs in amino acid sequence due to natural allelic variation or mutagenesis, as described in detail, below. Accordingly, in another embodiment, the NOVX protein is a protein that comprises an amino acid sequence at least about 45% homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, and retains the functional activity of the NOVX proteins of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

[0116] Determining Homology Between Two or More Sequences

[0117] To determine the percent homology of two amino acid sequences or of two nucleic acids, the sequences are aligned for optimal comparison purposes (e.g., gaps can be introduced in the sequence of a first amino acid or nucleic acid sequence for optimal alignment with a second amino or nucleic acid sequence). The amino acid residues or nucleotides at corresponding amino acid positions or nucleotide positions are then compared. When a position in the first sequence is occupied by the same amino acid residue or nucleotide as the corresponding position in the second sequence, then the molecules are homologous at that position (i.e., as used herein amino acid or nucleic acid “homology” is equivalent to amino acid or nucleic acid “identity”).

[0118] The nucleic acid sequence homology may be determined as the degree of identity between two sequences. The homology may be determined using computer programs known in the art, such as GAP software provided in the GCG program package. See, Needleman and Wunsch, 1970. J Mol Biol 48: 443-453. Using GCG GAP software with the following settings for nucleic acid sequence comparison: GAP creation penalty of 5.0 and GAP extension penalty of 0.3, the coding region of the analogous nucleic acid sequences referred to above exhibits a degree of identity preferably of at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99%, with the CDS (encoding) part of the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

[0119] The term “sequence identity” refers to the degree to which two polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences are identical on a residue-by-residue basis over a particular region of comparison. The term “percentage of sequence identity” is calculated by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over that region of comparison, determining the number of positions at which the identical nucleic acid base (e.g., A, T, C, G, U, or I, in the case of nucleic acids) occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the region of comparison (i.e, the window size), and multiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity. The term “substantial identity” as used herein denotes a characteristic of a polynucleotide sequence, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a sequence that has at least 80 percent sequence identity, preferably at least 85 percent identity and often 90 to 95 percent sequence identity, more usually at least 99 percent sequence identity as compared to a reference sequence over a comparison region.

[0120] Chimeric and Fusion Proteins

[0121] The invention also provides NOVX chimeric or fusion proteins. As used herein, a NOVX “chimeric protein” or “fusion protein” comprises a NOVX polypeptide operatively-linked to a non-NOVX polypeptide. An “NOVX polypeptide” refers to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to a NOVX protein of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, whereas a “non-NOVX polypeptide” refers to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to a protein that is not substantially homologous to the NOVX protein, eg., a protein that is different from the NOVX protein and that is derived from the same or a different organism. Within a NOVX fusion protein the NOVX polypeptide can correspond to all or a portion of a NOVX protein. In one embodiment, a NOVX fusion protein comprises at least one biologically-active portion of a NOVX protein. In another embodiment, a NOVX fusion protein comprises at least two biologically-active portions of a NOVX protein. In yet another embodiment, a NOVX fusion protein comprises at least three biologically-active portions of a NOVX protein. Within the fusion protein, the term “operatively-linked” is intended to indicate that the NOVX polypeptide and the non-NOVX polypeptide are fused in-frame with one another. The non-NOVX polypeptide can be fused to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the NOVX polypeptide.

[0122] In one embodiment, the fusion protein is a GST-NOVX fusion protein in which the NOVX sequences are fused to the C-terminus of the GST (glutathione S-transferase) sequences. Such fusion proteins can facilitate the purification of recombinant NOVX polypeptides.

[0123] In another embodiment, the fusion protein is a NOVX protein containing a heterologous signal sequence at its N-terminus. In certain host cells (eg., mammalian host cells), expression and/or secretion of NOVX can be increased through use of a heterologous signal sequence.

[0124] In yet another embodiment, the fusion protein is a NOVX-immunoglobulin fusion protein in which the NOVX sequences are fused to sequences derived from a member of the immunoglobulin protein family. The NOVX-immunoglobulin fusion proteins of the invention can be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions and administered to a subject to inhibit an interaction between a NOVX ligand and a NOVX protein on the surface of a cell, to thereby suppress NOVX-mediated signal transduction in vivo. The NOVX-immunoglobulin fusion proteins can be used to affect the bioavailability of a NOVX cognate ligand. Inhibition of the NOVX ligand/NOVX interaction may be useful therapeutically for both the treatment of proliferative and differentiative disorders, as well as modulating (e.g. promoting or inhibiting) cell survival. Moreover, the NOVX-immunoglobulin fusion proteins of the invention can be used as immunogens to produce anti-NOVX antibodies in a subject, to purify NOVX ligands, and in screening assays to identify molecules that inhibit the interaction of NOVX with a NOVX ligand.

[0125] A NOVX chimeric or fusion protein of the invention can be produced by standard recombinant DNA techniques. For example, DNA fragments coding for the different polypeptide sequences are ligated together in-frame in accordance with conventional techniques, e.g., by employing blunt-ended or stagger-ended termini for ligation, restriction enzyme digestion to provide for appropriate termini, filling-in of cohesive ends as appropriate, alkaline phosphatase treatment to avoid undesirable joining, and enzymatic ligation. In another embodiment, the fusion gene can be synthesized by conventional techniques including automated DNA synthesizers. Alternatively, PCR amplification of gene fragments can be carried out using anchor primers that give rise to complementary overhangs between two consecutive gene fragments that can subsequently be annealed and reamplified to generate a chimeric gene sequence (see, eg., Ausubel, et al. (eds.) CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley & Sons, 1992). Moreover, many expression vectors are commercially available that already encode a fusion moiety (e.g., a GST polypeptide). A NOVX-encoding nucleic acid can be cloned into such an expression vector such that the fusion moiety is linked in-frame to the NOVX protein.

[0126] NOVX Agonists and Antagonists

[0127] The invention also pertains to variants of the NOVX proteins that function as either NOVX agonists (i.e., mimetics) or as NOVX antagonists. Variants of the NOVX protein can be generated by mutagenesis (e.g., discrete point mutation or truncation of the NOVX protein). An agonist of the NOVX protein can retain substantially the same, or a subset of, the biological activities of the naturally occurring form of the NOVX protein. An antagonist of the NOVX protein can inhibit one or more of the activities of the naturally occurring form of the NOVX protein by, for example, competitively binding to a downstream or upstream member of a cellular signaling cascade which includes the NOVX protein. Thus, specific biological effects can be elicited by treatment with a variant of limited function. In one embodiment, treatment of a subject with a variant having a subset of the biological activities of the naturally occurring form of the protein has fewer side effects in a subject relative to treatment with the naturally occurring form of the NOVX proteins.

[0128] Variants of the NOVX proteins that function as either NOVX agonists (i.e., mimetics) or as NOVX antagonists can be identified by screening combinatorial libraries of mutants (e g., truncation mutants) of the NOVX proteins for NOVX protein agonist or antagonist activity. In one embodiment, a variegated library of NOVX variants is generated by combinatorial mutagenesis at the nucleic acid level and is encoded by a variegated gene library. A variegated library of NOVX variants can be produced by, for example, enzymatically ligating a mixture of synthetic oligonucleotides into gene sequences such that a degenerate set of potential NOVX sequences is expressible as individual polypeptides, or alternatively, as a set of larger fusion proteins (e.g., for phage display) containing the set of NOVX sequences therein. There are a variety of methods which can be used to produce libraries of potential NOVX variants from a degenerate oligonucleotide sequence. Chemical synthesis of a degenerate gene sequence can be performed in an automatic DNA synthesizer, and the synthetic gene then ligated into an appropriate expression vector. Use of a degenerate set of genes allows for the provision, in one mixture, of all of the sequences encoding the desired set of potential NOVX sequences. Methods for synthesizing degenerate oligonucleotides are well-known within the art. See, e.g, Narang, 1983. Tetrahedron 39: 3; Itakura, et al., 1984. Anna Rev. Biochem. 53: 323; Itakura, et al., 1984. Science 198: 1056; Ike, et al., 1983. Nucl. Acids Res. 11: 477.

[0129] Polypeptide Libraries

[0130] In addition, libraries of fragments of the NOVX protein coding sequences can be used to generate a variegated population of NOVX fragments for screening and subsequent selection of variants of a NOVX protein. In one embodiment, a library of coding sequence fragments can be generated by treating a double stranded PCR fragment of a NOVX coding sequence with a nuclease under conditions wherein nicking occurs only about once per molecule, denaturing the double stranded DNA, renaturing the DNA to form double-stranded DNA that can include sense/antisense pairs from different nicked products, removing single stranded portions from reformed duplexes by treatment with S1 nuclease, and ligating the resulting fragment library into an expression vector. By this method, expression libraries can be derived which encodes N-terminal and internal fragments of various sizes of the NOVX proteins.

[0131] Various techniques are known in the art for screening gene products of combinatorial libraries made by point mutations or truncation, and for screening cDNA libraries for gene products having a selected property. Such techniques are adaptable for rapid screening of the gene libraries generated by the combinatorial mutagenesis of NOVX proteins. The most widely used techniques, which are amenable to high throughput analysis, for screening large gene libraries typically include cloning the gene library into replicable expression vectors, transforming appropriate cells with the resulting library of vectors, and expressing the combinatorial genes under conditions in which detection of a desired activity facilitates isolation of the vector encoding the gene whose product was detected. Recursive ensemble mutagenesis (REM), a new technique that enhances the frequency of functional mutants in the libraries, can be used in combination with the screening assays to identify NOVX variants. See, e.g. Arkin and Yourvan, 1992. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 7811-7815; Delgrave, et al., 1993. Protein Engineering 6:327-331.

[0132] Anti-NOVX Antibodies

[0133] Included in the invention are antibodies to NOVX proteins, or fragments of NOVX proteins. The term “antibody” as used herein refers to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules, i.e., molecules that contain an antigen binding site that specifically binds (immunoreacts with) an antigen. Such antibodies include, but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, single chain, Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2 fragments, and an Fab expression library. In general, antibody molecules obtained from humans relates to any of the classes IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE and IgD, which differ from one another by the nature of the heavy chain present in the molecule. Certain classes have subclasses as well, such as IgG1, IgG2, and others. Furthermore, in humans, the light chain may be a kappa chain or a lambda chain. Reference herein to antibodies includes a reference to all such classes, subclasses and types of human antibody species.

[0134] An isolated protein of the invention intended to serve as an antigen, or a portion or fragment thereof, can be used as an immunogen to generate antibodies that immunospecifically bind the antigen, using standard techniques for polyclonal and monoclonal antibody preparation. The full-length protein can be used or, alternatively, the invention provides antigenic peptide fragments of the antigen for use as immunogens. An antigenic peptide fragment comprises at least 6 amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of the full length protein, such as an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, and encompasses an epitope thereof such that an antibody raised against the peptide forms a specific immune complex with the full length protein or with any fragment that contains the epitope. Preferably, the antigenic peptide comprises at least 10 amino acid residues, or at least 15 amino acid residues, or at least 20 amino acid residues, or at least 30 amino acid residues. Preferred epitopes encompassed by the antigenic peptide are regions of the protein that are located on its surface; commonly these are hydrophilic regions.

[0135] In certain embodiments of the invention, at least one epitope encompassed by the antigenic peptide is a region of NOVX that is located on the surface of the protein, e.g., a hydrophilic region. A hydrophobicity analysis of the human NOVX protein sequence will indicate which regions of a NOVX polypeptide are particularly hydrophilic and, therefore, are likely to encode surface residues useful for targeting antibody production. As a means for targeting antibody production, hydropathy plots showing regions of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity may be generated by any method well known in the art, including, for example, the Kyte Doolittle or the Hopp Woods methods, either with or without Fourier transformation. See, eg, Hopp and Woods, 1981, Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78: 3824-3828; Kyte and Doolittle 1982, J. Mol. Biol. 157: 105-142, each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Antibodies that are specific for one or more domains within an antigenic protein, or derivatives, fragments, analogs or homologs thereof, are also provided herein.

[0136] The term “epitope” includes any protein determinant capable of specific binding to an immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor. Epitopic determinants usually consist of chemically active surface groupings of molecules such as amino acids or sugar side chains and usually have specific three dimensional structural characteristics, as well as specific charge characteristics. A NOVX polypeptide or a fragment thereof comprises at least one antigenic epitope. An anti-NOVX antibody of the present invention is said to specifically bind to antigen NOVX when the equilibrium binding constant (KD) is ≦1 μM, preferably ≦100 nM, more preferably ≦10 nM, and most preferably ≦100 pM to about 1 pM, as measured by assays such as radioligand binding assays or similar assays known to those skilled in the art.

[0137] A protein of the invention, or a derivative, fragment, analog, homolog or ortholog thereof, may be utilized as an immunogen in the generation of antibodies that immunospecifically bind these protein components.

[0138] Various procedures known within the art may be used for the production of polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies directed against a protein of the invention, or against derivatives, fragments, analogs homologs or orthologs thereof (see, for example, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow E, and Lane D, 1988, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., incorporated herein by reference). Some of these antibodies are discussed below.

[0139] Polyclonal Antibodies

[0140] For the production of polyclonal antibodies, various suitable host animals (e.g., rabbit, goat, mouse or other mammal) may be immunized by one or more injections with the native protein, a synthetic variant thereof, or a derivative of the foregoing. An appropriate immunogenic preparation can contain, for example, the naturally occurring immunogenic protein, a chemically synthesized polypeptide representing the immunogenic protein, or a recombinantly expressed immunogenic protein. Furthermore, the protein may be conjugated to a second protein known to be immunogenic in the mammal being immunized. Examples of such immunogenic proteins include but are not limited to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, serum albumin, bovine thyroglobulin, and soybean trypsin inhibitor. The preparation can further include an adjuvant. Various adjuvants used to increase the immunological response include, but are not limited to, Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gels (e.g. aluminum hydroxide), surface active substances (e.g, lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, dinitrophenol, etc.), adjuvants usable in humans such as Bacille Calmette-Guerin and Corynebacterium parvum, or similar immunostimulatory agents. Additional examples of adjuvants which can be employed include MPL-TDM adjuvant (monophosphoryl Lipid A, synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate).

[0141] The polyclonal antibody molecules directed against the immunogenic protein can be isolated from the mammal (e.g., from the blood) and further purified by well known techniques, such as affinity chromatography using protein A or protein G, which provide primarily the IgG fraction of the immune serum. Subsequently, or alternatively, the specific antigen which is the target of the immunoglobulin sought, or an epitope thereof, may be immobilized on a column to purify the immune specific antibody by immunoaffinity chromatography. Purification of immunoglobulins is discussed, for example, by D. Wilkinson (The Scientist, published by The Scientist, Inc., Philadelphia Pa., Vol. 14, No. 8 (Apr. 17, 2000), pp. 25-28).

[0142] Monoclonal Antibodies

[0143] The term “monoclonal antibody” (MAb) or “monoclonal antibody composition”, as used herein, refers to a population of antibody molecules that contain only one molecular species of antibody molecule consisting of a unique light chain gene product and a unique heavy chain gene product. In particular, the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the monoclonal antibody are identical in all the molecules of the population. MAbs thus contain an antigen binding site capable of immunoreacting with a particular epitope of the antigen characterized by a unique binding affinity for it.

[0144] Monoclonal antibodies can be prepared using hybridoma methods, such as those described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature, 256:495 (1975). In a hybridoma method, a mouse, hamster, or other appropriate host animal, is typically immunized with an immunizing agent to elicit lymphocytes that produce or are capable of producing antibodies that will specifically bind to the immunizing agent. Alternatively, the lymphocytes can be immunized in vitro.

[0145] The immunizing agent will typically include the protein antigen a fragment thereof or a fusion protein thereof. Generally, either peripheral blood lymphocytes are used if cells of human origin are desired, or spleen cells or lymph node cells are used if non-human mammalian sources are desired. The lymphocytes are then fused with an immortalized cell line using a suitable fusing agent, such as polyethylene glycol, to form a hybridoma cell (Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, Academic Press, (1986) pp. 59-103). Immortalized cell lines are usually transformed mammalian cells, particularly myeloma cells of rodent, bovine and human origin. Usually, rat or mouse myeloma cell lines are employed. The hybridoma cells can be cultured in a suitable culture medium that preferably contains one or more substances that inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused, immortalized cells. For example, if the parental cells lack the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT or HPRT), the culture medium for the hybridomas typically will include hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine (“HAT medium”), which substances prevent the growth of HGPRT-deficient cells.

[0146] Preferred immortalized cell lines are those that fuse efficiently, support stable high level expression of antibody by the selected antibody-producing cells, and are sensitive to a medium such as HAT medium. More preferred immortalized cell lines are murine myeloma lines, which can be obtained, for instance, from the Salk Institute Cell Distribution Center, San Diego, Calif. and the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va. Human myeloma and mouse-human heteromyeloma cell lines also have been described for the production of human monoclonal antibodies (Kozbor, J. Immunol., 133:3001 (1984); Brodeur et al., Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, (1987) pp. 51-63).

[0147] The culture medium in which the hybridoma cells are cultured can then be assayed for the presence of monoclonal antibodies directed against the antigen. Preferably, the binding specificity of monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridoma cells is determined by immunoprecipitation or by an in vitro binding assay, such as radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Such techniques and assays are known in the art. The binding affinity of the monoclonal antibody can, for example, be determined by the Scatchard analysis of Munson and Pollard, Anal. Biochem., 107:220 (1980). It is an objective, especially important in therapeutic applications of monoclonal antibodies, to identify antibodies having a high degree of specificity and a high binding affinity for the target antigen.

[0148] After the desired hybridoma cells are identified, the clones can bc subcloned by limiting dilution procedures and grown by standard methods (Goding, 1986). Suitable culture media for this purpose include, for example, Dulbeeco's Modified Eagle's Medium and RPMI-1640 medium. Alternatively, the hybridoma cells can be grown in vivo as ascites in a mammal.

[0149] The monoclonal antibodies secreted by the subclones can be isolated or purified from the culture medium or ascites fluid by conventional immunoglobulin purification procedures such as, for example, protein A-Sepharose, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis, or affinity chromatography.

[0150] The monoclonal antibodies can also be made by recombinant DNA methods, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. DNA encoding the monoclonal antibodies of the invention can be readily isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotide probes that are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding the heavy and light chains of murine antibodies). The hybridoma cells of the invention serve as a preferred source of such DNA. Once isolated, the DNA can be placed into expression vectors, which are then transfected into host cells such as simian COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulin protein, to obtain the synthesis of monoclonal antibodies in the recombinant host cells. The DNA also can be modified, for example, by substituting the coding sequence for human heavy and light chain constant domains in place of the homologous murine sequences (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Morrison, Nature 368, 812-13 (1994)) or by covalently joining to the immunoglobulin coding sequence all or part of the coding sequence for a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide. Such a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide can be substituted for the constant domains of an antibody of the invention, or can be substituted for the variable domains of one antigen-combining site of an antibody of the invention to create a chimeric bivalent antibody.

[0151] Humanized Antibodies

[0152] The antibodies directed against the protein antigens of the invention can further comprise humanized antibodies or human antibodies. These antibodies are suitable for administration to humans without engendering an immune response by the human against the administered immunoglobulin. Humanized forms of antibodies are chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chains or fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2 or other antigen-binding subsequences of antibodies) that are principally comprised of the sequence of a human immunoglobulin, and contain minimal sequence derived from a non-human immunoglobulin. Humanization can be performed following the method of Winter and co-workers (Jones et al., Nature, 321:522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature, 332:323-327 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science, 239:1534-1536 (1988)), by substituting rodent CDRs or CDR sequences for the corresponding sequences of a human antibody. (See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,539.) In some instances, Fv framework residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues. Humanized antibodies can also comprise residues which are found neither in the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR or framework sequences. In general, the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the CDR regions correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the framework regions are those of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. The humanized antibody optimally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin (Jones et al., 1986; Riechmann et al., 1988; and Presta, Cur. Op. Struct. Biol., 2:593-596 (1992)).

[0153] Human Antibodies

[0154] Fully human antibodies essentially relate to antibody molecules in which the entire sequence of both the light chain and the heavy chain, including the CDRs, arise from human genes. Such antibodies are termed “human antibodies”, or “fully human antibodies” herein. Human monoclonal antibodies can be prepared by the trioma technique; the human B-cell hybridoma technique (see Kozbor, et al., 1983 Immunol Today 4: 72) and the EBV hybridoma technique to produce human monoclonal antibodies (see Cole, et al., 1985 In: MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND CANCER THERAPY, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77-96). Human monoclonal antibodies may be utilized in the practice of the present invention and may be produced by using human hybridomas (see Cote, et al., 1983. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80: 2026-2030) or by transforming human B-cells with Epstein Barr Virus in vitro (see Cole, et al., 1985 In: MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND CANCER THERAPY, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77-96).

[0155] In addition, human antibodies can also be produced using additional techniques, including phage display libraries (Hoogenboom and Winter, J. Mol. Biol., 227:381 (1991); Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222:581 (1991)). Similarly, human antibodies can be made by introducing human immunoglobulin loci into transgenic animals, e.g., mice in which the endogenous immunoglobulin genes have been partially or completely inactivated. Upon challenge, human antibody production is observed, which closely resembles that seen in humans in all respects, including gene rearrangement, assembly, and antibody repertoire. This approach is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,661,016, and in Marks et al. (Bio/Technology 10, 779-783 (1992)); Lonberg et al. (Nature 368 856-859 (1994)); Morrison (Nature 368, 812-13 (1994)); Fishwild et al,(Nature Biotechnology 14, 845-51 (1996)); Neuberger (Nature Biotechnology 14, 826 (1996)); and Lonberg and Huszar (Intern. Rev. Immunol. 13 65-93 (1995)).

[0156] Human antibodies may additionally be produced using transgenic nonhuman animals which are modified so as to produce fully human antibodies rather than the animal's endogenous antibodies in response to challenge by an antigen. (See PCT publication WO94/02602). The endogenous genes encoding the heavy and light immunoglobulin chains in the nonhuman host have been incapacitated, and active loci encoding human heavy and light chain immunoglobulins are inserted into the host's genome. The human genes are incorporated, for example, using yeast artificial chromosomes containing the requisite human DNA segments. An animal which provides all the desired modifications is then obtained as progeny by crossbreeding intermediate transgenic animals containing fewer than the full complement of the modifications. The preferred embodiment of such a nonhuman animal is a mouse, and is termed the Xenomouse1M as disclosed in PCT publications WO 96/33735 and WO 96/34096. This animal produces B cells which secrete fully human immunoglobulins. The antibodies can be obtained directly from the animal after immunization with an immunogen of interest, as, for example, a preparation of a polyclonal antibody, or alternatively from immortalized B cells derived from the animal, such as hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, the genes encoding the immunoglobulins with human variable regions can be recovered and expressed to obtain the antibodies directly, or can be further modified to obtain analogs of antibodies such as, for example, single chain Fv molecules.

[0157] An example of a method of producing a nonhuman host, exemplified as a mouse, lacking expression of an endogenous immunoglobulin heavy chain is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,598. It can be obtained by a method including deleting the J segment genes from at least one endogenous heavy chain locus in an embryonic stem cell to prevent rearrangement of the locus and to prevent formation of a transcript of a rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain locus, the deletion being effected by a targeting vector containing a gene encoding a selectable marker; and producing from the embryonic stem cell a transgenic mouse whose somatic and germ cells contain the gene encoding the selectable marker.

[0158] A method for producing an antibody of interest, such as a human antibody, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,771. It includes introducing(, an expression vector that contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a heavy chain into one mammalian host cell in culture, introducing an expression vector containing a nucleotide sequence encoding a light chain into another mammalian host cell, and fusing the two cells to form a hybrid cell. The hybrid cell expresses an antibody containing the heavy chain and the light chain.

[0159] In a further improvement on this procedure, a method for identifying a clinically relevant epitope on an immunogen, and a correlative method for selecting an antibody that binds immunospecifically to the relevant epitope with high affinity, are disclosed in PCT publication WO 99/53049.

[0160] Fab Fragments and Single Chain Antibodies

[0161] According to the invention, techniques can be adapted for the production of single-chain antibodies specific to an antigenic protein of the invention (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778). In addition, methods can be adapted for the construction of Fab expression libraries (see e.g., Huse, et al., 1989 Science 246: 1275-1281) to allow rapid and effective identification of monoclonal Fab fragments with the desired specificity for a protein or derivatives, fragments, analogs or homologs thereof. Antibody fragments that contain the idiotypes to a protein antigen may be produced by techniques known in the art including, but not limited to: (i) an F(ab′)2 fragment produced by pepsin digestion of an antibody molecule; (ii) an Fab fragment generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of an F(ab′)2 fragment; (iii) an Fab fragment generated by the treatment of the antibody molecule with papain and a reducing agent and (iv) Fv fragments.

[0162] Bispecific Antibodies

[0163] Bispecific antibodies are monoclonal, preferably human or humanized, antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two different antigens. In the present case, one of the binding specificities is for an antigenic protein of the invention. The second binding target is any other antigen, and advantageously is a cell-surface protein or receptor or receptor subunit.

[0164] Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the art. Traditionally, the recombinant production of bispecific antibodies is based on the co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy-chain/light-chain pairs, where the two heavy chains have different specificities (Milstein and Cuello, Nature, 305:537-539 (1983)). Because of the random assortment of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, these hybridomas (quadromas) produce a potential mixture of ten different antibody molecules, of which only one has the correct bispecific structure. The purification of the correct molecule is usually accomplished by affinity chromatography steps. Similar procedures are disclosed in WO 93/08829, published May 13, 1993, and in Traunecker et al., EMBO J., 10:3655-3659 (1991).

[0165] Antibody variable domains with the desired binding specificities (antibody-antigen combining sites) can be fused to immunoglobulin constant domain sequences. The fusion preferably is with an immunoglobulin heavy-chain constant domain, comprising at least part of the hinge, CH2, and CH3 regions. It is preferred to have the first heavy-chain constant region (CH1) containing the site necessary for light-chain binding present in at least one of the fusions. DNAs encoding the immunoglobulin heavy-chain fusions and, if desired, the immunoglobulin light chain, are inserted into separate expression vectors, and are co-transfected into a suitable host organism. For further details of generating bispecific antibodies see, for example, Suresh et al., Methods in Enzymology, 121:210 (1986).

[0166] According to another approach described in WO 96/27011, the interface between a pair of antibody molecules can be engineered to maximize the percentage of heterodimers which are recovered from recombinant cell culture. The preferred interface comprises at least a part of the CH3 region of an antibody constant domain. In this method, one or more small amino acid side chains from the interface of the first antibody molecule are replaced with larger side chains (e.g. tyrosine or tryptophan). Compensatory “cavities” of identical or similar size to the large side chain(s) are created on the interface of the second antibody molecule by replacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones (e.g. alanine or threonine). This provides a mechanism for increasing the yield of the heterodimer over other unwanted end-products such as homodimers.

[0167] Bispecific antibodies can be prepared as full length antibodies or antibody fragments (e.g. F(ab′)2 bispecific antibodies). Techniques for generating bispecific antibodies from antibody fragments have been described in the literature. For example, bispecific antibodies can be prepared using chemical linkage. Brennan et al., Science 229:81 (1985) describe a procedure wherein intact antibodies are proteolytically cleaved to generate F(ab′)2 fragments. These fragments are reduced in the presence of the dithiol complexing agent sodium arsenite to stabilize vicinal dithiols and prevent intermolecular-disulfide formation. The Fab′ fragments generated are then converted to thionitrobenzoate (TNB) derivatives. One of the Fab′-TNB derivatives is then reconverted to the Fab′-thiol by reduction with mercaptoethylaminie and is mixed with an equimolar amount of the other Fab′-TNB derivative to form the bispecific antibody. The bispecific antibodies produced can be used as agents for the selective immobilization of enzymes.

[0168] Additionally, Fab′ fragments can be directly recovered from E. coli and chemically coupled to form bispecific antibodies. Shalaby et al., J. Exp. Med. 175:217-225 (1992) describe the production of a fully humanized bispecific antibody F(ab′)2 molecule. Each Fab′ fragment was separately secreted from E. coli and subjected to directed chemical coupling in vitro to form the bispecific antibody. The bispecific antibody thus formed was able to bind to cells overexpressing the ErbB2 receptor and normal human T cells, as well as trigger the lytic activity of human cytotoxic lymphocytes against human breast tumor targets.

[0169] Various techniques for making and isolating bispecific antibody fragments directly from recombinant cell culture have also been described. For example, bispecific antibodies have been produced using leucine zippers. Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148(5):1547-1553 (1992). The leucine zipper peptides from the Fos and Jun proteins were linked to the Fab′ portions of two different antibodies by gene fusion. The antibody homodimers were reduced at the hinge region to form monomers and then re-oxidized to form the antibody heterodimers. This method can also be utilized for the production of antibody homodimers. The “diabody” technology described by Hollinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:6444-6448 (1993) has provided an alternative mechanism for making bispecific antibody fragments. The fragments comprise a heavy-chain variable domain (VH) connected to a light-chain variable domain (VL) by a linker which is too short to allow pairing between the two domains on the same chain. Accordingly, the VH and VL domains of one fragment are forced to pair with the complementary VL and VH domains of another fragment, thereby forming two antigen-binding sites. Another strategy for making bispecific antibody fragments by the use of single-chain Fv (sFv) dimers has also been reported. See, Gruber et al., J. Immunol. 152:5368 (1994).

[0170] Antibodies with more than two valencies are contemplated. For example, trispecific antibodies can be prepared. Tutt et al., J. Immunol. 147:60 (1991).

[0171] Exemplary bispecific antibodies can bind to two different epitopes, at least one of which originates in the protein antigen of the invention. Alternatively, an anti-antigenic arm of an immunoglobulin molecule can be combined with an arm which binds to a triggering molecule on a leukocyte such as a T-cell receptor molecule (eg CD2, CD3, CD28, or B7), or Fc receptors for IgG (FcγR), such as FcγRI (CD64), FCγRII (CD32) and FcγRIII (CD16) so as to focus cellular defense mechanisms to the cell expressing the particular antigen. Bispecific antibodies can also be used to direct cytotoxic agents to cells which express a particular antigen. These antibodies possess an antigen-binding arm and an arm which binds a cytotoxic agent or a radionuclide chelator, such as EOTUBE, DPTA, DOTA, or TETA. Another bispecific antibody of interest binds the protein antigen described herein and further binds tissue factor (TF).

[0172] Heteroconjugate Antibodies

[0173] Heteroconjugate antibodies are also within the scope of the present invention. Heteroconjugate antibodies are composed of two covalently joined antibodies. Such antibodies have, for example, been proposed to target immune system cells to unwanted cells (U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980), and for treatment of HIV infection (WO 91/00360; WO 92/200373; EP 03089). It is contemplated that the antibodies can be prepared in vitro using known methods in synthetic protein chemistry, including those involving crosslinking agents. For example, immunotoxins can be constructed using a disulfide exchange reaction or by forming a thioether bond. Examples of suitable reagents for this purpose include iminothiolate and methyl-4-mercaptobutyrimidate and those disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980.

[0174] Effector Function Engineering

[0175] It can be desirable to modify the antibody of the invention with respect to effector function, so as to enhance, e.g., the effectiveness of the antibody in treating cancer. For example, cysteine residue(s) can be introduced into the Fc region, thereby allowing interchain disulfide bond formation in this region. The homodimeric antibody thus generated can have improved internalization capability and/or increased complement-mediated cell killing and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). See Caron et al., J. Exp Med., 176: 1191-1195 (1992) and Shopes, J. Immunol., 148: 2918-2922 (1992). Homodimeric antibodies with enhanced anti-tumor activity can also be prepared using heterobifunctional cross-linkers as described in Wolff et al. Cancer Research, 53: 2560-2565 (1993). Alternatively, an antibody can be engineered that has dual Fc regions and can thereby have enhanced complement lysis and ADCC capabilities. See Stevenson et al., Anti-Cancer Drug Design, 3: 219-230 (1989).

[0176] Immunoconjugates

[0177] The invention also pertains to immunoconjugates comprising an antibody conjugated to a cytotoxic agent such as a chemotherapeutic agent, toxin (e.g., an enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or fragments thereof), or a radioactive isotope (i.e., a radioconjugate).

[0178] Chemotherapeutic agents useful in the generation of such immunoconjugates have been described above. Enzymatically active toxins and fragments thereof that can be used include diphtheria A chain, nonbinding active fragments of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin A chain (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin A chain, abrin A chain, modeccin A chain, alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordii proteins, dianthin proteins, Phytolaca americana proteins (PAPI, PAPII, and PAP-S), momordica charantia inhibitor, curcin, crotin, sapaonaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin, enomycin, and the tricothecenes. A variety of radionuclides are available for the production of radioconjugated antibodies. Examples include 212Bi, 131In, 131In, 90Y, and 186Re.

[0179] Conjugates of the antibody and cytotoxic agent are made using a variety of bifunctional protein-coupling agents such as N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiol) propionate (SPDP), iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such as dimethyl adipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl suberate), aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (such as bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-diazonium derivatives (such as bis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such as tolyene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). For example, a ricin immunotoxin can be prepared as described in Vitetta et al., Science, 238: 1098 (1987). Carbon-14-labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent for conjugation of radionucleotide to the antibody. See WO94/11026.

[0180] In another embodiment, the antibody can be conjugated to a “receptor” (such streptavidin) for utilization in tumor pretargeting wherein the antibody-receptor conjugate is administered to the patient, followed by removal of unbound conjugate from the circulation using a clearing agent and then administration of a “ligand” (e.g., avidin) that is in turn conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.

[0181] Immunoliposomes

[0182] The antibodies disclosed herein can also be formulated as immunoliposomes. Liposomes containing the antibody are prepared by methods known in the art, such as described in Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82: 3688 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77: 4030 (1980); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545. Liposomes with enhanced circulation time are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,556.

[0183] Particularly useful liposomes can be generated by the reverse-phase evaporation method with a lipid composition comprising phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and PEG-derivatized phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE). Liposomes are extruded through filters of defined pore size to yield liposomes with the desired diameter. Fab′ fragments of the antibody of the present invention can be conjugated to the liposomes as described in Martin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 257: 986-288 (1982) via a disulfide-interchange reaction. A chemotherapeutic agent (such as Doxorubicin) is optionally contained within the liposome. See Gabizon et al., J. National Cancer Inst., 81(19): 1484 (1989).

[0184] Diagnostic Applications of Antibodies Directed Against the Proteins of the Invention

[0185] In one embodiment, methods for the screening of antibodies that possess the desired specificity include, but are not limited to, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and other immunologically mediated techniques known within the art. In a specific embodiment, selection of antibodies that are specific to a particular domain of an NOVX protein is facilitated by generation of hybridomas that bind to the fragment of an NOVX protein possessing such a domain. Thus, antibodies that are specific for a desired domain within an NOVX protein, or derivatives, fragments, analogs or homologs thereof, are also provided herein.

[0186] Antibodies directed against a NOVX protein of the invention may be used in methods known within the art relating to the localization and/or quantitation of a NOVX protein (e.g., for use in measuring levels of the NOVX protein within appropriate physiological samples, for use in diagnostic methods, for use in imaging the protein, and the like). In a given embodiment, antibodies specific to a NOVX protein, or derivative, fragment, analog or homolog thereof, that contain the antibody derived antigen binding domain, are utilized as pharmacologically active compounds (referred to hereinafter as “Therapeutics”).

[0187] An antibody specific for a NOVX protein of the invention (e.g., a monoclonal antibody or a polyclonal antibody) can be used to isolate a NOVX polypeptide by standard techniques, such as immunoaffinity, chromatography or immunoprecipitation. An antibody to a NOVX polypeptide can facilitate the purification of a natural NOVX antigen from cells, or of a recombinantly produced NOVX antigen expressed in host cells. Moreover, such an anti-NOVX antibody can be used to detect the antigenic NOVX protein (e.g., in a cellular lysate or cell supernatant) in order to evaluate the abundance and pattern of expression of the antigenic NOVX protein. Antibodies directed against a NOVX protein can be used diagnostically to monitor protein levels in tissue as part of a clinical testing procedure, e.g., to, for example, determine the efficacy of a given treatment regimen. Detection can be facilitated by coupling (i.e., physically linking) the antibody to a detectable substance. Examples of detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials, and radioactive materials. Examples of suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; examples of suitable prosthetic group complexes include streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin; examples of suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includes luminol; examples of bioluminescent materials include luciferase, luciferin, and aequorin, and examples of suitable radioactive material include 125I, 131I, 35S or 3H.

[0188] Antibody Therapeutics

[0189] Antibodies of the invention, including polyclonal, monoclonal, humanized and fully human antibodies, may used as therapeutic agents. Such agents will generally be employed to treat or prevent a disease or pathology in a subject. An antibody preparation, preferably one having high specificity and high affinity for its target antigen, is administered to the subject and will generally have an effect due to its binding with the target. Such an effect may be one of two kinds, depending on the specific nature of the interaction between the given antibody molecule and the target antigen in question. In the first instance, administration of the antibody may abrogate or inhibit the binding of the target with an endogenous ligand to which it naturally binds. In this case, the antibody binds to the target and masks a binding site of the naturally occurring ligated, wherein the ligand serves as an effector molecule. Thus the receptor mediates a signal transduction pathway for which ligand is responsible.

[0190] Alternatively, the effect may be one in which the antibody elicits a physiological result by virtue of binding to an effector binding site on the target molecule. In this case the target, a receptor having an endogenous ligand which may be absent or defective in the disease or pathology, binds the antibody as a surrogate effector ligand, initiating a receptor-based signal transduction event by the receptor.

[0191] A therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the invention relates generally to the amount needed to achieve a therapeutic objective. As noted above, this may be a binding interaction between the antibody and its target antigen that, in certain cases, interferes with the functioning of the target, and in other cases, promotes a physiological response. The amount required to be administered will furthermore depend on the binding affinity of the antibody for its specific antigen, and will also depend on the rate at which an administered antibody is depleted from the free volume other subject to which it is administered. Common ranges for therapeutically effective dosing of an antibody or antibody fragment of the invention may be, by way of nonlimiting example, from about 0.1 mg/kg body weight to about 50 mg/kg body weight. Common dosing frequencies may range, for example, from twice daily to once a week.

[0192] Pharmaceutical Compositions of Antibodies

[0193] Antibodies specifically binding a protein of the invention, as well as other molecules identified by the screening assays disclosed herein, can be administered for the treatment of various disorders in the form of pharmaceutical compositions. Principles and considerations involved in preparing such compositions, as well as guidance in the choice of components are provided, for example, in Remington: The Science And Practice Of Pharmacy 19th ed. (Alfonso R. Gennaro, et al., editors) Mack Pub. Co., Easton, Pa.: 1995; Drug Absorption Enhancement: Concepts, Possibilities, Limitations, And Trends, Harwood Academic Publishers, Langhorne, Pa., 1994; and Peptide And Protein Drug, Delivery (Advances In Parenteral Sciences, Vol. 4), 1991, M. Dekker, New York.

[0194] If the antigenic protein is intracellular and whole antibodies are used as inhibitors, internalizing antibodies are preferred. However, liposomes can also be used to deliver the antibody, or an antibody fragment, into cells. Where antibody fragments are used, the smallest inhibitory fragment that specifically binds to the binding domain of the target protein is preferred. For example, based upon the variable-region sequences of an antibody, peptide molecules can be designed that retain the ability to bind the target protein sequence. Such peptides can be synthesized chemically and/or produced by recombinant DNA technology. See, e.g., Marasco et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 7889-7893 (1993). The formulation herein can also contain more than one active compound as necessary for the particular indication being treated, preferably those with complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other. Alternatively, or in addition, the composition can comprise an agent that enhances its function, Such as, for example, a cytotoxic agent, cytokine, chemotherapeutic agent, or growth-inhibitory agent. Such molecules are suitably present in combination in amounts that are effective for the purpose intended.

[0195] The active ingredients can also be entrapped in microcapsules prepared, for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacial polymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose or gelatin-microcapsules and poly-(methylmethacrylate) albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles, and nanocapsules) or in macroemulsions.

[0196] The formulations to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile. This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes.

[0197] Sustained-release preparations can be prepared. Suitable examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsules. Examples of sustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example, poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and y ethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT™ (injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid. While polymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acid enable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels release proteins for shorter time periods.

[0198] ELISA Assay

[0199] An agent for detecting an analyte protein is an antibody capable of binding to an analyte protein, preferably an antibody with a detectable label. Antibodies can be polyclonal, or more preferably, monoclonal. An intact antibody, or a fragment thereof (e.g., Fab or F(ab)2) can be used. The term “labeled”, with regard to the probe or antibody, is intended to encompass direct labeling of the probe or antibody by coupling (ie., physically linking) a detectable substance to the probe or antibody, as well as indirect labeling of the probe or antibody by reactivity with another reagent that is directly labeled. Examples of indirect labeling include detection of a primary antibody using a fluorescently-labeled secondary antibody and end-labeling, of a DNA probe with biotin such that it can be detected with fluorescently-labeled streptavidin. The term “biological sample” is intended to include tissues, cells and biological fluids isolated from a subject, as well as tissues, cells and fluids present within a subject. Included within the usage of the term “biological sample”, therefore, is blood and a fraction or component of blood including blood serum, blood plasma, or lymph. That is, the detection method of the invention can be used to detect an analyte mRNA, protein, or genomic DNA in a biological sample in vitro as well as in vivo. For example, in vitro techniques for detection of an analyte mRNA include Northern hybridizations and in situ hybridizations. In vitro techniques for detection of an analyte protein include enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blots, immunoprecipitations, and immunofluorescence. In vitro techniques for detection of an analyte genomic DNA include Southern hybridizations. Procedures for conducting immunoassays are described, for example in “ELISA: Theory and Practice: Methods in Molecular Biology”, Vol. 42, J. R. Crowther (Ed.) Human Press, Totowa, N.J., 1995; “Immunoassay”, E. Diamandis and T. Christopoulus, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif., 1996; and “Practice and Thory of Enzyme Immunoassays”, P. Tijssen, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1985. Furthermore, in vivo techniques for detection of an analyte protein include introducing into a subject a labeled anti-an analyte protein antibody. For example, the antibody can be labeled with a radioactive marker whose presence and location in a subject can be detected by standard imaging techniques.

[0200] NOVX Recombinant Expression Vectors and Host Cells

[0201] Another aspect of the invention pertains to vectors, preferably expression vectors, containing a nucleic acid encoding a NOVX protein, or derivatives, fragments, analogs or homologs thereof. As used herein, the term “vector” refers to a nucleic acid molecule capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it has been linked. One type of vector is a “plasmid”, which refers to a circular double stranded DNA loop into which additional DNA segments can be ligated. Another type of vector is a viral vector, wherein additional DNA segments can be ligated into the viral genome. Certain vectors arc capable of autonomous replication in a host cell into which they are introduced (e g, bacterial vectors having a bacterial origin of replication and episomal mammalian vectors). Other vectors (e.g., non-episomal mammalian vectors) are integrated into the genome of a host cell upon introduction into the host cell, and thereby are replicated along with the host genome. Moreover, certain vectors are capable of directing the expression of genes to which they are operatively-linked. Such vectors are referred to herein as “expression vectors”. In general, expression vectors of utility in recombinant DNA techniques are often in the form of plasmids. In the present specification, “plasmid” and “vector” can be used interchangeably as the plasmid is the most commonly used form of vector. However, the invention is intended to include such other forms of expression vectors, such as viral vectors (e.g, replication defective retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses), which serve equivalent functions.

[0202] The recombinant expression vectors of the invention comprise a nucleic acid of the invention in a form suitable for expression of the nucleic acid in a host cell, which means that the recombinant expression vectors include one or more regulatory sequences, selected on the basis of the host cells to be used for expression, that is operatively-linked to the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed. Within a recombinant expression vector, “operably-linked” is intended to mean that the nucleotide sequence of interest is linked to the regulatory sequence(s) in a manner that allows for expression of the nucleotide sequence (e.g., in an in vitro transcription/translation system or in a host cell when the vector is introduced into the host cell).

[0203] The term “regulatory sequence” is intended to includes promoters, enhancers and other expression control elements (e.g, polyadenylation signals). Such regulatory sequences are described, for example, in Goeddel, GENE EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGY: METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990). Regulatory sequences include those that direct constitutive expression of a nucleotide sequence in many types of host cell and those that direct expression of the nucleotide sequence only in certain host cells (e.g., tissue-specific regulatory sequences). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the design of the expression vector can depend on such factors as the choice of the host cell to be transformed, the level of expression of protein desired, etc. The expression vectors of the invention can be introduced into host cells to thereby produce proteins or peptides, including fusion proteins or peptides, encoded by nucleic acids as described herein (e.g., NOVX proteins, mutant forms of NOVX proteins, fusion proteins, etc.).

[0204] The recombinant expression vectors of the invention can be designed for expression of NOVX proteins in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. For example, NOVX proteins can be expressed in bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli, insect cells (using baculovirus expression vectors) yeast cells or mammalian cells. Suitable host cells are discussed further in Goeddel, GENE EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGY: METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990). Alternatively, the recombinant expression vector can be transcribed and translated in vitro, for example using T7 promoter regulatory sequences and T7 polymerase.

[0205] Expression of proteins in prokaryotes is most often carried out in Escherichia coli with vectors containing constitutive or inducible promoters directing the expression of either fusion or non-fusion proteins. Fusion vectors add a number of amino acids to a protein encoded therein, usually to the amino terminus of the recombinant protein. Such fusion vectors typically serve three purposes: (i) to increase expression of recombinant protein; (ii) to increase the solubility of the recombinant protein; and (iii) to aid in the purification of the recombinant protein by acting as a ligand in affinity purification. Often, in fusion expression vectors, a proteolytic cleavage site is introduced at the junction of the fusion moiety and the recombinant protein to enable separation of the recombinant protein from the fusion moiety subsequent to purification of the fusion protein. Such enzymes, and their cognate recognition sequences, include Factor Xa, thrombin and enterokinase. Typical fusion expression vectors include pGEX (Pharmacia Biotech Inc; Smith and Johnson, 1988. Gene 67: 31-40), pMAL (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.) and pRIT5 (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) that fuse glutathione S-transferase (GST), maltose E binding protein, or protein A, respectively, to the target recombinant protein.

[0206] Examples of suitable inducible non-fusion E. coli expression vectors include pTrc (Amrann et al., (1988) Gene 69:301-315) and pET 11d (Studier et al., GENE EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGY: METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990) 60-89).

[0207] One strategy to maximize recombinant protein expression in E. coli is to express the protein in a host bacteria with an impaired capacity to proteolytically cleave the recombinant protein. See, e.g. Gottesman, GENE EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGY: METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990) 119-128. Another strategy is to alter the nucleic acid sequence of the nucleic acid to be inserted into an expression vector so that the individual codons for each amino acid are those preferentially utilized in E. coli (see. e.g, Wada, et al., 1992. Nucl. Acids Res. 20: 2111-2118). Such alteration of nucleic acid sequences of the invention can be carried out by standard DNA synthesis techniques.

[0208] In another embodiment, the NOVX expression vector is a yeast expression vector. Examples of vectors for expression in yeast Saccharomyces cerivisae include pYepSec1 (Baldari, et al., 1987. EMBO J 6: 229-234), pMFa (Kurjan and Herskowitz, 1982. Cell 30: 933-943), pJRY88 (Schultz et al., 1987. Gene 54: 113-123), pYES2 (Invitrogen Corporation, San Diego, Calif.), and picZ (In Vitrogen Corp, San Diego, Calif.).

[0209] Alternatively, NOVX can be expressed in insect cells using baculovirus expression vectors. Baculovirus vectors available for expression of proteins in cultured insect cells (eg, SF9 cells) include the pAc series (Smith, et al., 1983. Mol. Cell. Biol. 3: 2156-2165) and the pVL series (Lucklow and Summers, 1989. Virology 170: 31-39).

[0210] In yet another embodiment, a nucleic acid of the invention is expressed in mammalian cells using a mammalian expression vector. Examples of mammalian expression vectors include pCDM8 (Seed, 1987. Nature 329: 840) and pMT2PC (Kaufman, et al., 1987. EMBO J. 6: 187-195). When used in mammalian cells, the expression vector's control functions are often provided by viral regulatory elements. For example, commonly used promoters are derived from polyoma, adenovirus 2, cytomegalovirus, and simian virus 40. For other suitable expression systems for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells see, e.g., Chapters 16 and 17 of Sambrook, et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL. 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989.

[0211] In another embodiment, the recombinant mammalian expression vector is capable of directing expression of the nucleic acid preferentially in a particular cell type (e.g., tissue-specific regulatory elements are used to express the nucleic acid). Tissue-specific regulatory elements are known in the art. Non-limiting examples of suitable tissue-specific promoters include the albumin promoter (liver-specific; Pinkert, et al., 1987. Genes Dev. 1: 268-277), lymphoid-specific promoters (Calame and Eaton, 1988. Adv. Immunol. 43: 235-275), in particular promoters of T cell receptors (Winoto and Baltimore, 1989. EMBO J. 8: 729-733) and immunoglobulins (Banerji, et al., 1983. Cell 33: 729-740; Queen and Baltimore, 1983. Cell 33: 741-748), neuron-specific promoters (e.g., the neurofilament promoter; Byrne and Ruddle, 1989. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 5473-5477), pancreas-specific promoters (Edlund, et al., 1985. Science 230: 912-916), and mammary gland-specific promoters (e.g, milk whey promoter; U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,316 and European Application Publication No. 264,166). Developmentally-regulated promoters are also encompassed, e.g., the murine hox promoters (Kessel and Gruss, 1990. Science 249: 374-379) and the α-fetoprotein promoter (Campes and Tilghman, 1989. Genes Dev. 3: 537-546).

[0212] The invention further provides a recombinant expression vector comprising a DNA molecule of the invention cloned into the expression vector in an antisense orientation. That is, the DNA molecule is operatively-linked to a regulatory sequence in a manner that allows for expression (by transcription of the DNA molecule) of an RNA molecule that is antisense to NOVX mRNA. Regulatory sequences operatively linked to a nucleic acid cloned in the antisense orientation can be chosen that direct the continuous expression of the antisense RNA molecule in a variety of cell types, for instance viral promoters and/or enhancers, or regulatory sequences can be chosen that direct constitutive, tissue specific or cell type specific expression of antisense RNA. The antisense expression vector can be in the form of a recombinant plasmid, phagemid or attenuated virus in which antisense nucleic acids are produced under the control of a high efficiency regulatory region, the activity of which can be determined by the cell type into which the vector is introduced. For a discussion of the regulation of gene expression using antisense genes see, e.g., Weintraub, et al., “Antisense RNA as a molecular tool for genetic analysis,” Reviews-Trends in Genetics, Vol. 1(1) 1986.

[0213] Another aspect of the invention pertains to host cells into which a recombinant expression vector of the invention has been introduced. The terms “host cell” and “recombinant host cell” are used interchangeably herein. It is understood that such terms refer not only to the particular subject cell but also to the progeny or potential progeny of such a cell. Because certain modifications may occur in succeeding generations due to either mutation or environmental influences, such progeny may not, in fact, be identical to the parent cell, but are still included within the scope of the term as used herein.

[0214] A host cell can be any prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. For example, NOVX protein can be expressed in bacterial cells such as E. coli, insect cells, yeast or mammalian cells (such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) or COS cells). Other suitable host cells are known to those skilled in the art.

[0215] Vector DNA can be introduced into prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells via conventional transformation or transfection techniques. As used herein, the terms “transformation” and “transfection” are intended to refer to a variety of art-recognized techniques for introducing foreign nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) into a host cell, including calcium phosphate or calcium chloride co-precipitation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, lipofection, or electroporation. Suitable methods for transforming or transfecting host cells can be found in Sambrook, et al. (MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL. 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989), and other laboratory manuals.

[0216] For stable transfection of mammalian cells, it is known that, depending upon the expression vector and transfection technique used, only a small fraction of cells may integrate the foreign DNA into their genome. In order to identify and select these integrants, a gene that encodes a selectable marker (e.g., resistance to antibiotics) is generally introduced into the host cells along with the gene of interest. Various selectable markers include those that confer resistance to drugs, such as G418, hygromycin and methotrexate. Nucleic acid encoding a selectable marker can be introduced into a host cell on the same vector as that encoding NOVX or can be introduced on a separate vector. Cells stably transfected with the introduced nucleic acid can be identified by drug selection (eg, cells that have incorporated the selectable marker gene will survive, while the other cells die).

[0217] A host cell of the invention, such as a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell in culture, can be used to produce (ie, express) NOVX protein. Accordingly, the invention further provides methods for producing NOVX protein using the host cells of the invention. In one embodiment, the method comprises culturing the host cell of invention (into which a recombinant expression vector encoding NOVX protein has been introduced) in a suitable medium such that NOVX protein is produced. In another embodiment, the method further comprises isolating NOVX protein from the medium or the host cell.

[0218] Transgenic NOVX Animals

[0219] The host cells of the invention can also be used to produce non-human transgenic animals. For example, in one embodiment, a host cell of the invention is a fertilized oocyte or an embryonic stem cell into which NOVX protein-coding sequences have been introduced. Such host cells can then be used to create non-human transgenic animals in which exogenous NOVX sequences have been introduced into their genome or homologous recombinant animals in which endogenous NOVX sequences have been altered. Such animals are useful for studying the function and/or activity of NOVX protein and for identifying and/or evaluating modulators of NOVX protein activity. As used herein, a “transgenic animal” is a non-human animal, preferably a mammal, more preferably a rodent such as a rat or mouse, in which one or more of the cells of the animal includes a transgene. Other examples of transgenic animals include non-human primates, sheep, dogs, cows, goats, chickens, amphibians, etc. A transgene is exogenous DNA that is integrated into the genome of a cell from which a transgenic animal develops and that remains in the genome of the mature animal, thereby directing the expression of an encoded gene product in one or more cell types or tissues of the transgenic animal. As used herein, a “homologous recombinant animal” is a non-human animal, preferably a mammal, more preferably a mouse, in which an endogenous NOVX gene has been altered by homologous recombination between the endogenous gene and an exogenous DNA molecule introduced into a cell of the animal, e.g, an embryonic cell of the animal, prior to development of the animal.

[0220] A transgenic animal of the invention can be created by introducing NOVX-encoding nucleic acid into the male pronuclei of a fertilized oocyte (e.g., by microinjection, retroviral infection) and allowing the oocyte to develop in a pseudopregnant female foster animal. The human NOVX cDNA sequences, i.e., any one of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, can be introduced as a transgene into the genome of a non-human animal. Alternatively, a non-human homologue of the human NOVX gene, such as a mouse NOVX gene, can be isolated based on hybridization to the human NOVX cDNA (described further supra) and used as a transgene. Intronic sequences and polyadenylation signals can also be included in the transgene to increase the efficiency of expression of the transgene. A tissue-specific regulatory sequence(s) can be operably-linked to the NOVX transgene to direct expression of NOVX protein to particular cells. Methods for generating transgenic animals via embryo manipulation and microinjection, particularly animals such as mice, have become conventional in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,736,866; 4,870,009; and 4,873,191; and Hogan, 1986. In: MANIPULATING THE MOUSE EMBRYO, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. Similar methods are used for production of other transgenic animals. A transgenic founder animal can be identified based upon the presence of the NOVX transgene in its genome and/or expression of NOVX mRNA in tissues or cells of the animals. A transgenic founder animal can then be used to breed additional animals carrying the transgene. Moreover, transgenic animals carrying a transgene-encoding NOVX protein can further be bred to other transgenic animals carrying other transgenes.

[0221] To create a homologous recombinant animal, a vector is prepared which contains at least a portion of a NOVX gene into which a deletion, addition or substitution has been introduced to thereby alter, e.g., functionally disrupt, the NOVX gene. The NOVX gene can be a human gene (e.g., the cDNA of any one of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61), but more preferably, is a non-human homologue of a human NOVX genie. For example, a mouse homologue of hulllan NOVX gene of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, can be used to construct a homologous recombination vector suitable for altering an endogenous NOVX gene in the mouse genome. In one embodiment, the vector is designed such that, upon homologous recombination, the endogenous NOVX gene is functionally disrupted (i.e., no longer encodes a functional protein; also referred to as a “knock out” vector).

[0222] Alternatively, the vector can be designed such that, upon homologous recombination, the endogenous NOVX gene is mutated or otherwise altered but still encodes functional protein (e g, the upstream regulatory region can be altered to thereby alter the expression of the endogenous NOVX protein). In the homologous recombination vector, the altered portion of the NOVX gene is flanked at its 5′- and 3′-termini by additional nucleic acid of the NOVX gene to allow for homologous recombination to occur between the exogenous NOVX gene carried by the vector and an endogenous NOVX gene in an embryonic stem cell. The additional flanking NOVX nucleic acid is of sufficient length for successful homologous recombination with the endogenous gene. Typically, several kilobases of flanking DNA (both at the 5′- and 3′-termini) are included in the vector. See, e.g., Thomas, et al., 1987. Cell 51: 503 for a description of homologous recombination vectors. The vector is ten introduced into an embryonic stem cell line (e.g., by electroporation) and cells in which the introduced NOVX gene has homologously-recombined with the endogenous NOVX gene are selected. See, e.g., Li, et al., 1992. Cell 69: 915.

[0223] The selected cells are then injected into a blastocyst of an animal (e.g., a mouse) to form aggregation chimeras. See, e.g., Bradley, 1987. In: TERATOCARCINOMAS AND EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS: A PRACTICAL APPROACH, Robertson, ed. IRL, Oxford, pp. 113-152. A chimeric embryo can then be implanted into a suitable pseudopregnant female foster animal and the embryo brought to term. Progeny harboring the homologously-recombined DNA in their germ cells can be used to breed animals in which all cells of the animal contain the homologously-recombined DNA by germline transmission of the transgene. Methods for constructing homologous recombination vectors and homologous recombinant animals are described further in Bradley, 1991. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 2: 823-829; PCT International Publication Nos.: WO 90/11354; WO 91/01140; WO 92/0968; and WO 93/04169.

[0224] In another embodiment, transgenic non-humans animals can be produced that contain selected systems that allow for regulated expression of the transgene. One example of such a system is the cre/loxP recombinase system of bacteriophage P1. For a description of the cre/loxP recombinase system, See, e.g, Lakso, et al., 1992. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 6232-6236. Another example of a recombinase system is the FLP recombinase system of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. See, O'Gorman, et al., 1991. Science 251:1351-1355. If a cre/loxP recombinase system is used to regulate expression of the transgene, animals containing transgenes encoding both the Cre recombinase and a selected protein are required. Such animals can be provided through the construction of “double” transgenic animals, e.g., by mating two transgenic animals, one containing a transgene encoding a selected protein and the other containing a transgene encoding a recombinase.

[0225] Clones of the non-human transgenic animals described herein can also be produced according to the methods described in Wilmut, et al., 1997. Nature 385: 810-813. In brief, a cell (e.g., a somatic cell) from the transgenic animal can be isolated and induced to exit the growth cycle and enter Go phase. The quiescent cell can then be fused, eg, through the use of electrical pulses, to an enucleated oocyte from an animal of the same species from which the quiescent cell is isolated. The reconstructed oocyte is then cultured such that it develops to morula or blastocyte and then transferred to pseudopregnant female foster animal. The offspring borne of this female foster animal will be a clone of the animal from which the cell (e.g., the somatic cell) is isolated.

[0226] Pharmaceutical Compositions

[0227] The NOVX nucleic acid molecules, NOVX proteins, and anti-NOVX antibodies (also referred to herein as “active compounds”) of the invention, and derivatives, fragments, analogs and homologs thereof, can be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions suitable for administration. Such compositions typically comprise the nucleic acid molecule, protein, or antibody and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” is intended to include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration. Suitable carriers are described in the most recent edition of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, a standard reference text in the field, which is incorporated herein by reference. Preferred examples of Such carriers or diluents include, but are not limited to, water, saline, finger's solutions, dextrose solution, and 5% human serum albumin. Liposomes and non-aqueous vehicles such as fixed oils may also be used. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into the compositions.

[0228] A pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated to be compatible with its intended route of administration. Examples of routes of administration include parenteral, e.g., intravenous, intradermal, subcutaneous, oral (eg, inhalation), transdermal (ie. topical), transmucosal, and rectal administration. Solutions or suspensions used for parenteral, intradermal, or subcutaneous application can include the following components: a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates, and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. The pH can be adjusted with acids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. The parenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampoules, disposable syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic.

[0229] Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. For intravenous administration, suitable carriers include physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, Cremophor EL™ (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In all cases, the composition must be sterile and should be fluid to the extent that easy syringeability exists. 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), and suitable mixtures thereof. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as manitol, sorbitol, sodium chloride in the composition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by including in the composition an agent which delays absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

[0230] Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the active compound (eg, a NOVX protein or anti-NOVX antibody) in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle that contains a 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, methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-drying that yields a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

[0231] Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an edible carrier. They can be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed into tablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules. Oral compositions can also be prepared using a fluid carrier for use as a mouthwash, wherein the compound in the fluid carrier is applied orally and swished and expectorated or swallowed. Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of the composition. The tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or Sterotes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

[0232] For administration by inhalation, the compounds are delivered in the form of an aerosol spray from pressured container or dispenser which contains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gas such as carbon dioxide, or a nebulizer.

[0233] Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermal means. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration., detergents, bile salts, and fusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can be accomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. For transdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

[0234] The compounds can also be prepared in the form of suppositories (e.g., with conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter and other glycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

[0235] In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers that will protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants and microencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatible polymers can be used, Such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid. Methods for preparation of such formulations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The materials can also be obtained commercially from Alza Corporation and Nova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liposomal suspensions (including liposomes targeted to infected cells with monoclonal antibodies to viral antigens) can also be used as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These can be prepared according to methods known to those skilled in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,811.

[0236] It is especially advantageous to formulate oral or 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 subject to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on the unique characteristics of the active compound and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for the treatment of individuals.

[0237] The nucleic acid molecules of the invention can be inserted into vectors and used as gene therapy vectors. Gene therapy vectors can be delivered to a subject by, for example, intravenous injection, local administration (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,470) or by stereotactic injection (see, e.g, Chen, et al., 1994. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91: 3054-3057). The pharmaceutical preparation of the gene therapy vector can include the gene therapy vector in an acceptable diluent, or can comprise a slow release matrix in which the gene delivery vehicle is imbedded. Alternatively, where the complete gene delivery vector can be produced intact from recombinant cells, e.g., retroviral vectors, the pharmaceutical preparation can include one or more cells that produce the gene delivery system.

[0238] The pharmaceutical compositions can be included in a container, pack, or dispenser together with instructions for administration.

[0239] Screening and Detection Methods

[0240] The isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention can be used to express NOVX protein (e g, via a recombinant expression vector in a host cell in gene therapy applications), to detect NOVX mRNA (e.g., in a biological sample) or a genetic lesion in a NOVX gene, and to modulate NOVX activity, as described further, below. In addition, the NOVX proteins can be used to screen drugs or compounds that modulate the NOVX protein activity or expression as well as to treat disorders characterized by insufficient or excessive production of NOVX protein or production of NOVX protein forms that have decreased or aberrant activity compared to NOVX wild-type protein (e.g.; diabetes (regulates insulin release); obesity (binds and transport lipids); metabolic disturbances associated with obesity, the metabolic syndrome X as well as anorexia and wasting disorders associated with chronic diseases and various cancers, and infectious disease(possesses anti-microbial activity) and the various dyslipidemias. In addition, the anti-NOVX antibodies of the invention can be used to detect and isolate NOVX proteins and modulate NOVX activity. In yet a further aspect, the invention can be used in methods to influence appetite, absorption of nutrients and the disposition of metabolic substrates in both a positive and negative fashion.

[0241] The invention further pertains to novel agents identified by the screening assays described herein and uses thereof for treatments as described, supra.

[0242] Screening Assays

[0243] The invention provides a method (also referred to herein as a “screening assay”) for identifying modulators, i.e., candidate or test compounds or agents (e.g, peptides, peptidomimetics, small molecules or other drugs) that bind to NOVX proteins or have a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on, e.g., NOVX protein expression or NOVX protein activity. The invention also includes compounds identified in the screening assays described herein.

[0244] In one embodiment, the invention provides assays for screening candidate or test compounds which bind to or modulate the activity of the membrane-bound form of a NOVX protein or polypeptide or biologically-active portion thereof. The test compounds of the invention can be obtained using any of the numerous approaches in combinatorial library methods known in the art, including: biological libraries; spatially addressable parallel solid phase or solution phase libraries; synthetic library methods requiring deconvolution; the “one-bead one-compound” library method; and synthetic library methods using affinity chromatography selection. The biological library approach is limited to peptide libraries, while the other four approaches are applicable to peptide, non-peptide oligomer or small molecule libraries of compounds. See, e.g., Lam, 1997. Anticancer Drug Design 12: 145.

[0245] A “small molecule” as used herein, is meant to refer to a composition that has a molecular weight of less than about 5 kD and most preferably less than about 4 kD. Small molecules can be, e.g., nucleic acids, peptides, polypeptides, peptidomimetics, carbohydrates, lipids or other organic or inorganic molecules. Libraries of chemical and/or biological mixtures, such as fungal, bacterial, or algal extracts, are known in the art and can be screened with any of the assays of the invention.

[0246] Examples of methods for the synthesis of molecular libraries can be found in the art, for example in: DeWitt, et al., 1993. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90: 6909; Erb, et al., 1994. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91: 11422; Zuckermann, et al., 1994. J. Med. Chem. 37: 2678; Cho, et al., 1993. Science 261: 1303; Carrell, et al., 1994. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33: 2059; Carell, et al., 1994. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33: 2061; and Gallop, et al., 1994. J. Med. Chem. 37: 1233.

[0247] Libraries of compounds may be presented in solution (e.g, Houghten, 1992. Biotechniques 13: 412-421), or on beads (Lam, 1991. Nature 354: 82-84), on chips (Fodor, 1993. Nature 364: 555-556), bacteria (Ladner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409), spores (Ladner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,409), plasmids (Cull, et al., 1992. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci USA 89: 1865-1869) or on phage (Scott and Smith, 1990. Science 249: 386-390; Devlin, 1990. Science 249: 404-406; Cwirla, et al., 1990. Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87: 6378-6382; Felici, 1991. J. Mol. Biol. 222: 301-310; Ladner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,409).

[0248] In one embodiment, an assay is a cell-based assay in which a cell which expresses a membrane-bound form of NOVX protein, or a biologically-active portion thereof, on the cell surface is contacted with a test compound and the ability of the test compound to bind to a NOVX protein determined. The cell, for example, can of mammalian origin or a yeast cell. Determining the ability of the test compound to bind to the NOVX protein can be accomplished, for example, by coupling the test compound with a radioisotope or enzymatic label such that binding of the test compound to the NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof can be determined by detecting the labeled compound in a complex. For example, test compounds can be labeled with 125I, 35S, 14C, or 3H, either directly or indirectly, and the radioisotope detected by direct counting of radioemission or by scintillation counting. Alternatively, test compounds can be enzymatically-labeled with, for example, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or luciferase, and the enzymatic label detected by determination of conversion of an appropriate substrate to product. In one embodiment, the assay comprises contacting a cell which expresses a membrane-bound form of NOVX protein, or a biologically-active portion thereof, on the cell surface with a known compound which binds NOVX to form an assay mixture, contacting the assay mixture with a test compound, and determining the ability of the test compound to interact with a NOVX protein, wherein determining the ability of the test compound to interact with a NOVX protein comprises determining the ability of the test compound to preferentially bind to NOVX protein or a biologically-active portion thereof as compared to the known compound.

[0249] In another embodiment, an assay is a cell-based assay comprising contacting a cell expressing a membrane-bound form of NOVX protein, or a biologically-active portion thereof, on the cell surface with a test compound and determining the ability of the test compound to modulate (e.g., stimulate or inhibit) the activity of the NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof. Determining the ability of the test compound to modulate the activity of NOVX or a biologically-active portion thereof can be accomplished, for example, by determining the ability of the NOVX protein to bind to or interact with a NOVX target molecule. As used herein, a “target molecule” is a molecule with which a NOVX protein binds or interacts in nature, for example, a molecule on the surface of a cell which expresses a NOVX interacting protein, a molecule on the surface of a second cell, a molecule in the extracellular milieu, a molecule associated with the internal surface of a cell membrane or a cytoplasmic molecule. A NOVX target molecule can be a non-NOVX molecule or a NOVX protein or polypeptide of the invention. In one embodiment, a NOVX target molecule is a component of a signal transduction pathway that facilitates transduction of an extracellular signal (eg. a signal generated by binding of a compound to a membrane-bound NOVX molecule) through the cell membrane and into the cell. The target, for example, can be a second intercellular protein that has catalytic activity or a protein that facilitates the association of downstream signaling molecules with NOVX.

[0250] Determining the ability of the NOVX protein to bind to or interact with a NOVX target molecule can be accomplished by one of the methods described above for determining direct binding. In one embodiment, determining the ability of the NOVX protein to bind to or interact with a NOVX target molecule can be accomplished by determining the activity of the target molecule. For example, the activity of the target molecule can be determined by detecting induction of a cellular second messenger of the target (i.e. intracellular Ca2+, diacylglycerol, IP3, etc), detecting catalytic/enzymatic activity of the target an appropriate substrate, detecting the induction of a reporter gene (comprising a NOVX-responsive regulatory element operatively linked to a nucleic acid encoding a detectable marker, e.g, luciferase), or detecting a cellular response, for example, cell survival, cellular differentiation, or cell proliferation.

[0251] In yet another embodiment, an assay of the invention is a cell-free assay comprising contacting a NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof with a test compound and determining the ability of the test compound to bind to the NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof: Binding of the test compound to the NOVX protein can be determined either directly or indirectly as described above. II one such embodiment, the assay comprises contacting the NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof with a known compound which binds NOVX to form an assay mixture, contacting the assay mixture with a test compound, and determining the ability of the test compound to interact with a NOVX protein, wherein determining the ability of the test compound to interact with a NOVX protein comprises determining the ability of the test compound to preferentially bind to NOVX or biologically-active portion thereof as compared to the known compound.

[0252] In still another embodiment, an assay is a cell-free assay comprising contacting NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof with a test compound and determining the ability of the test compound to modulate (e.g. stimulate or inhibit) the activity of the NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof. Determining the ability of the test compound to modulate the activity of NOVX can be accomplished, for example, by determining the ability of the NOVX protein to bind to a NOVX target molecule by one of the methods described above for determining direct binding. In an alternative embodiment, determining the ability of the test compound to modulate the activity of NOVX protein can be accomplished by determining the ability of the NOVX protein further modulate a NOVX target molecule. For example, the catalytic/enzymatic activity of the target molecule on an appropriate substrate can be determined as described, supra.

[0253] In yet another embodiment, the cell-free assay comprises contacting the NOVX protein or biologically-active portion thereof with a known compound which binds NOVX protein to form an assay mixture, contacting the assay mixture with a test compound, and determining the ability of the test compound to interact with a NOVX protein, wherein determining the ability of the test compound to interact with a NOVX protein comprises determining the ability of the NOVX protein to preferentially bind to or modulate the activity of a NOVX target molecule.

[0254] The cell-free assays of the invention are amenable to use of both the soluble form or the membrane-bound form of NOVX protein. In the case of cell-free assays comprising the membrane-bound form of NOVX protein, it may be desirable to utilize a solubilizing agent Such that the membrane-bound form of NOVX protein is maintained in solution. Examples of such solubilizinig agents include non-ionic detergents such as n-octylglucoside, n-dodecylglucoside, n-dodecylmaltoside, octanoyl-N-methylglucamide, decanoyl-N-methylglucamide, Triton® X-100, Triton® X-114, Thesit®, Isotridecypoly(ethylene glycol ether)n, N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propane sulfonate, 3-(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylamminiol-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS), or 3-(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamminiol-2-hydroxy-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPSO).

[0255] In more than one embodiment of the above assay methods of the invention, it may be desirable to immobilize either NOVX protein or its target molecule to facilitate separation of complexed from uncomplexed forms of one or both of the proteins, as well as to accommodate automation of the assay. Binding of a test compound to NOVX protein, or interaction of NOVX protein with a target molecule in the presence and absence of a candidate compound, can be accomplished in any vessel suitable for containing the reactants. Examples of such vessels include microtiter plates, test tubes, and micro-centrifuge tubes. In one embodiment, a fusion protein can be provided that adds a domain that allows one or both of the proteins to be bound to a matrix. For example, GST-NOVX fusion proteins or GST-target fusion proteins can be adsorbed onto glutathione sepharose beads (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione derivatized microtiter plates, that are then combined with the test compound or the test compound and either the non-adsorbed target protein or NOVX protein, and the mixture is incubated under conditions conducive to complex formation (e.g, at physiological conditions for salt and pH). Following incubation, the beads or microtiter plate wells are washed to remove any unbound components, the matrix immobilized in the case of beads, complex determined either directly or indirectly, for example, as described, supra. Alternatively, the complexes can be dissociated from the matrix, and the level of NOVX protein binding or activity determined using standard techniques.

[0256] Other techniques for immobilizing proteins on matrices can also be used in the screening assays of the invention. For example, either the NOVX protein or its target molecule can be immobilized utilizing conjugation of biotin and streptavidin. Biotinylated NOVX protein or target molecules can be prepared from biotin-NHS (N-hydroxy-succinimide) using techniques well-known within the art (eg, biotinylation kit, Pierce Chemicals, Rockford, Ill.), and immobilized in the wells of streptavidin-coated 96 well plates (Pierce Chemical). Alternatively, antibodies reactive with NOVX protein or target molecules, but which do not interfere with binding of the NOVX protein to its target molecule, can be derivatized to the wells of the plate, and unbound target or NOVX protein trapped in the wells by antibody conjugation. Methods for detecting such complexes, in addition to those described above for the GST-immobilized complexes, include immunodetection of complexes using antibodies reactive with the NOVX protein or target molecule, as well as enzyme-linked assays that rely on detecting an enzymatic activity associated with the NOVX protein or target molecule.

[0257] In another embodiment, modulators of NOVX protein expression are identified in a method wherein a cell is contacted with a candidate compound and the expression of NOVX mRNA or protein in the cell is determined. The level of expression of NOVX mRNA or protein in the presence of the candidate compound is compared to the level of expression of NOVX mRNA or protein in the absence of the candidate compound. The candidate compound can then be identified as a modulator of NOVX mRNA or protein expression based upon this comparison. For example, when expression of NOVX mRNA or protein is greater (i.e., statistically significantly greater) in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as a stimulator of NOVX mRNA or protein expression. Alternatively, when expression of NOVX mRNA or protein is less (statistically significantly less) in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as an inhibitor of NOVX mRNA or protein expression. The level of NOVX mRNA or protein expression in the cells can be determined by methods described herein for detecting NOVX mRNA or protein.

[0258] In yet another aspect of the invention, the NOVX proteins can be used as “bait proteins” in a two-hybrid assay or three hybrid assay (see, eg., U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,317; Zervos, et al., 1993. Cell 72: 223-232; Madura, et al., 1993. J. Biol. Chem 268: 12046-12054; Bartel, et al., 1993. Biotechniques 14: 920-924; Iwabuchi, et al., 1993. Oncogene 8: 1693-1696; and Brent WO 94/10300), to identify other proteins that bind to or interact with NOVX (“NOVX-binding proteins” or “NOVX-bp”) and modulate NOVX activity. Such NOVX-binding proteins are also involved in the propagation of signals by the NOVX proteins as, for example, upstream or downstream elements of the NOVX pathway.

[0259] The two-hybrid system is based on the modular nature of most transcription factors, which consist of separable DNA-binding and activation domains. Briefly, the assay utilizes two different DNA constructs. In one construct, the gene that codes for NOVX is fused to a gene encoding the DNA binding domain of a known transcription factor (e g., GAL-4). In the other construct, a DNA sequence, from a library of DNA sequences, that encodes an unidentified protein (“prey” or “sample”) is fused to a gene that codes for the activation domain of the known transcription factor. If the “bait” and the “prey” proteins are able to interact, in vivo, forming a NOVX-dependent complex, the DNA-binding and activation domains of the transcription factor are brought into close proximity. This proximity allows transcription of a reporter gene (e g., LacZ) that is operably linked to a transcriptional regulatory site responsive to the transcription factor. Expression of the reporter gene can be detected and cell colonies containing the functional transcription factor can be isolated and used to obtain the cloned gene that encodes the protein which interacts with NOVX.

[0260] The invention further pertains to novel agents identified by the aforementioned screening assays and uses thereof for treatments as described herein.

[0261] Detection Assays

[0262] Portions or fragments of the cDNA sequences identified herein (and the corresponding complete gene sequences) can be used in numerous ways as polynucleotide reagents. By way of example, and not of limitation, these sequences can be used to: (i) map their respective genes on a chromosome; and, thus, locate gene regions associated with genetic disease; (ii) identify an individual from a minute biological sample (tissue typing); and (iii) aid in forensic identification of a biological sample. Some of these applications are described in the subsections, below.

[0263] Chromosome Mapping

[0264] Once the sequence (or a portion of the sequence) of a gene has been isolated, this sequence can be used to map the location of the gene on a chromosome. This process is called chromosome mapping. Accordingly, portions or fragments of the NOVX sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or fragments or derivatives thereof, can be used to map the location of the NOVX genes, respectively, on a chromosome. The mapping of the NOVX sequences to chromosomes is an important first step in correlating these sequences with genes associated with disease.

[0265] Briefly, NOVX genes can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers (preferably 15-25 bp in length) from the NOVX sequences. Computer analysis of the NOVX, sequences can be used to rapidly select primers that do not span more than one exon in the genomic DNA, thus complicating the amplification process. These primers can then be used for PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Only those hybrids containing the human gene corresponding to the NOVX sequences will yield an amplified fragment.

[0266] Somatic cell hybrids are prepared by fusing somatic cells from different mammals (e.g., human and mouse cells). As hybrids of human and mouse cells grow and divide, they gradually lose human chromosomes in random order, but retain the mouse chromosomes.

[0267] By using media in which mouse cells cannot grow, because they lack a particular enzyme, but in which human cells can, the one human chromosome that contains the gene encoding the needed enzyme will be retained. By using various media, panels of hybrid cell lines can be established. Each cell line in a panel contains either a single human chromosome or a small number of human chromosomes, and a full set of mouse chromosomes, allowing easy mapping of individual genes to specific human chromosomes. See, e.g., D'Eustachio, et al., 1983. Science 220: 919-924. Somatic cell hybrids containing only fragments of human chromosomes can also be produced by using human chromosomes with translocations and deletions.

[0268] PCR mapping of somatic cell hybrids is a rapid procedure for assigning a particular sequence to a particular chromosome. Three or more sequences can be assigned per day using a single thermal cycler. Using the NOVX sequences to design oligonucleotide primers, sub-localization can be achieved with panels of fragments from specific chromosomes.

[0269] Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a DNA sequence to a metaphase chromosomal spread can further be used to provide a precise chromosomal location in one step. Chromosome spreads can be made using cells whose division has been blocked in metaphase by a chemical like colcemid that disrupts the mitotic spindle. The chromosomes can be treated briefly with trypsin, and then stained with Giemsa. A pattern of light and dark bands develops on each chromosome, so that the chromosomes can be identified individually. The FISH technique can be used with a DNA sequence as short as 500 or 600 bases. However, clones target than 1,000 bases have a higher likelihood of binding to a unique chromosomal location with sufficient signal intensity for simple detection. Preferably 1,000 bases, and more preferably 2,000 bases, will suffice to get good results at a reasonable amount of time. For a review of this technique, see, Verma, et al., HUMAN CHROMOSOMES: A MANUAL OF BASIC TECHNIQUES (Pergamon Press, New York 1988).

[0270] Reagents for chromosome mapping can be used individually to mark a single chromosome or a single site on that chromosome, or panels of reagents can be used for marking multiple sites and/or multiple chromosomes. Reagents corresponding to noncoding regions of the genes actually are preferred for mapping purposes. Coding sequences are more likely to be conserved within gene families, thus increasing the chance of cross hybridizations during chromosomal mapping.

[0271] Once a sequence has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location, the physical position of the sequence on the chromosome can be correlated with genetic map data. Such data are found, e.g., in McKusick, MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, available on-line through Johns Hopkins University Welch Medical Library). The relationship between genes and disease, mapped to the same chromosomal region, can then be identified through linkage analysis (co-inheritance of physically adjacent genes), described in, eg., Egeland, et al., 1987. Nature, 325: 783-787.

[0272] Moreover, differences in the DNA sequences between individuals affected and unaffected with a disease associated with the NOVX gene, can be determined. If a mutation is observed in some or all of the affected individuals but not in any unaffected individuals, then the mutation is likely to be the causative agent of the particular disease. Comparison of affected and unaffected individuals generally involves first looking for structural alterations in the chromosomes, such as deletions or translocations that are visible from chromosome spreads or detectable using PCR based on that DNA sequence. Ultimately, complete sequencing of genes from several individuals can be performed to confirm the presence of a mutation and to distinguish mutations from polymorphisms.

[0273] Tissue Typing

[0274] The NOVX sequences of the invention can also be used to identify individuals from minute biological samples. In this technique, an individual's genomic DNA is digested with one or more restriction enzymes, and probed on a Southern blot to yield unique bands for identification. The sequences of the invention are useful as additional DNA markers for RFLP (“restriction fragment length polymorphisms,” described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,057).

[0275] Furthermore, the sequences of the invention can be used to provide an alternative technique that determines the actual base-by-base DNA sequence of selected portions of an individual's genome. Thus, the NOVX sequences described herein can be used to prepare two PCR primers from the 5′- and 3′-termini of the sequences. These primers can then be used to amplify an individual's DNA and subsequently sequence it.

[0276] Panels of corresponding DNA sequences from individuals, prepared in this manner, can provide unique individual identifications, as each individual will have a unique set of such DNA sequences due to allelic differences. The sequences of the invention can be used to obtain such identification sequences from individuals and from tissue. The NOVX sequences of the invention uniquely represent portions of the human genome. Allelic variation occurs to some degree in the coding regions of these sequences, and to a greater degree in the noncoding regions. It is estimated that allelic variation between individual humans occurs with a frequency of about once per each 500 bases. Much of the allelic variation is due to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which include restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs).

[0277] Each of the sequences described herein can, to some degree, be used as a standard against which DNA from an individual can be compared for identification purposes. Because greater numbers of polymorphisms occur in the noncoding regions, fewer sequences are necessary to differentiate individuals. The noncoding sequences can comfortably provide positive individual identification with a panel of perhaps 10 to 1,000 primers that each yield a noncoding amplified sequence of 100 bases. If coding sequences, such as those of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, are used, a more appropriate number of primers for positive individual identification would be 500-2,000.

[0278] Predictive Medicine

[0279] The invention also pertains to the field of predictive medicine in which diagnostic assays, prognostic assays, pharmacogenomics, and monitoring clinical trials are used for prognostic (predictive) purposes to thereby treat an individual prophylactically. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention relates to diagnostic assays for determining NOVX protein and/or nucleic acid expression as well as NOVX activity, in the context of a biological sample (e.g, blood, serum, cells, tissue) to thereby determine whether an individual is afflicted with a disease or disorder, or is at risk of developing a disorder, associated with aberrant NOVX expression or activity. The disorders include metabolic disorders, diabetes, obesity, infectious disease, anorexia, cancer-associated cachexia, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disorder, immune disorders, and hematopoietic disorders, and the various dyslipidemias, metabolic disturbances associated with obesity, the metabolic syndrome X and wasting disorders associated with chronic diseases and various cancers. The invention also provides for prognostic (or predictive) assays for determining whether an individual is at risk of developing a disorder associated with NOVX protein, nucleic acid expression or activity. For example, mutations in a NOVX gene can be assayed in a biological sample. Such assays can be used for prognostic or predictive purpose to thereby prophylactically treat an individual prior to the onset of a disorder characterized by or associated with NOVX protein, nucleic acid expression, or biological activity.

[0280] Another aspect of the invention provides methods for determining NOVX protein, nucleic acid expression or activity in an individual to thereby select appropriate therapeutic or prophylactic agents for that individual (referred to herein as “pharmacogenomics”). Pharmacogenomics allows for the selection of agents (e.g., drugs) for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of an individual based on the genotype of the individual (e.g., the genotype of the individual examined to determine the ability of the individual to respond to a particular agent.)

[0281] Yet another aspect of the invention pertains to monitoring the influence of agents (e.g., drugs, compounds) on the expression or activity of NOVX in clinical trials.

[0282] These and other agents are described in further detail in the following sections.

[0283] Diagnostic Assays

[0284] An exemplary method for detecting the presence or absence of NOVX in a biological sample involves obtaining a biological sample from a test subject and contacting the biological sample with a compound or an agent capable of detecting NOVX protein or nucleic acid (e.g., mRNA, genomic DNA) that encodes NOVX protein such that the presence of NOVX is detected in the biological sample. An agent for detecting NOVX mRNA or genomic DNA is a labeled nucleic acid probe capable of hybridizing to NOVX mRNA or genomic DNA. The nucleic acid probe can be, for example, a full-length NOVX nucleic acid, such as the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or a portion thereof, such as an oligonucleotide of at least 15, 30, 50, 100, 250 or 500 nucleotides in length and sufficient to specifically hybridize under stringent conditions to NOVX mRNA or genomic DNA. Other suitable probes for use in the diagnostic assays of the invention are described herein.

[0285] An agent for detecting NOVX protein is an antibody capable of binding to NOVX protein, preferably an antibody with a detectable label. Antibodies can be polyclonal, or more preferably, monoclonal. An intact antibody, or a fiagmllent thereof (e.g., Fab or F(ab′)2) can be used. The term “labeled”, with regard to the probe or antibody, is intended to encompass direct labeling of the probe or antibody by coupling (i.e, physically linking) a detectable substance to the probe or antibody, as well as indirect labeling of the probe or antibody by reactivity with another reagent that is directly labeled. Examples of indirect labeling include detection of a primary antibody using a fluorescently-labeled. Examples of indirect antibody and end-labeling of a DNA probe with biotin such that it can be detected with fluorescently-labeled streptavidin. The term “biological sample” is intended to include tissues, cells and biological fluids isolated from a subject, as well as tissues, cells and fluids present within a subject. That is, the detection method of the invention can be used to detect NOVX mRNA, protein, or genomic DNA in a biological sample in vitro as well as in vivo. For example, in vitro techniques for detection of NOVX mRNA include Northern hybridizations and in situ hybridizations. In vitro techniques for detection of NOVX protein include enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blots, immunoprecipitations, and immunofluorescence. In vitro techniques for detection of NOVX genomic DNA include Southern hybridizations. Furthermore, in vivo techniques for detection of NOVX protein include introducing into a subject a labeled anti-NOVX antibody. For example, the antibody can be labeled with a radioactive marker whose presence and location in a subject can be detected by standard imaging techniques.

[0286] In one embodiment, the biological sample contains protein molecules from the test subject. Alternatively, the biological sample can contain mRNA molecules from the test subject or genomic DNA molecules from the test subject. A preferred biological sample is a peripheral blood leukocyte sample isolated by conventional means from a subject.

[0287] In another embodiment, the methods further involve obtaining a control biological sample from a control subject, contacting the control sample with a compound or agent capable of detecting NOVX protein, mRNA, or genomic DNA, such that the presence of NOVX protein, mRNA or genomic DNA is detected in the biological sample, and comparing the presence of NOVX protein, mRNA or genomic DNA in the control sample with the presence of NOVX protein, mRNA or genomic DNA in the test sample.

[0288] The invention also encompasses kits for detecting the presence of NOVX in a biological sample. For example, the kit can comprise: a labeled compound or agent capable of detecting NOVX protein or mRNA in a biological sample; means for determining the amount of NOVX in the sample; and means for comparing the amount of NOVX in the sample with a standard. The compound or agent can be packaged in a suitable container. The kit can further comprise instructions for using the kit to detect NOVX protein or nucleic acid.

[0289] Prognostic Assays

[0290] The diagnostic methods described herein can furthermore be utilized to identify NOVX expression or activity. For example, the assays described herein, such as the preceding diagnostic assays or the following assays, can be utilized to identify a subject having or at risk of developing a disorder associated with NOVX protein, nucleic acid expression or activity. Alternatively, the prognostic assays can be utilized to identify a subject having or at risk for developing a disease or disorder. Thus, the invention provides a method for identifying a disease or disorder associated with aberrant NOVX expression or activity in which a test sample is obtained from a subject and NOVX protein or nucleic acid (e.g., mPNA, genomic DNA) is detected, wherein the presence of NOVX protein or nucleic acid is diagnostic for a subject having or at risk of developing a disease or disorder associated with aberrant NOVX expression or activity. As used herein, a “test sample” refers to a biological sample obtained from a subject of interest. For example, a test sample can be a biological fluid (e.g, serum), cell sample, or tissue.

[0291] Furthermore, the prognostic assays described herein can be used to determine whether a subject can be administered an agent (e.g, an agonist, antagonist, peptidomimetic, protein, peptide, nucleic acid, small molecule, or other drug candidate) to treat a disease or disorder associated with aberrant NOVX expression or activity. For example, such methods can be used to determine whether a subject can be effectively treated with an agent for a disorder. Thus, the invention provides methods for determining whether a subject can be effectively treated with an agent for a disorder associated with aberrant NOVX expression or activity in which a test sample is obtained and NOVX protein or nucleic acid is detected (e g., wherein the presence of NOVX protein or nucleic acid is diagnostic for a subject that can be administered the agent to treat a disorder associated with aberrant NOVX expression or activity).

[0292] The methods of the invention can also be used to detect genetic lesions in a NOVX gene, thereby determining if a subject with the lesioned gene is at risk for a disorder characterized by aberrant cell proliferation and/or differentiation. In various embodiments, the methods include detecting, in a sample of cells from the subject, the presence or absence of a genetic lesion characterized by at least one of an alteration affecting the integrity of a gene encoding a NOVX-protein, or the misexpression of the NOVX gene. For example, Such genetic lesions can be detected by ascertaining the existence of at least one of: (i) a deletion of one or more nucleotides from a NOVX gene; (ii) an addition of one or more nucleotides to a NOVX gene; (iii) a substitution of one or more nucleotides of a NOVX gene, (iv) a chromosomal rearrangement of a NOVX gene; (v) an alteration in the level of a messenger RNA transcript of a NOVX gene, (vi) aberrant modification of a NOVX gene, such as of the methylation pattern of the genomic DNA, (vii) the presence of a non-wild-type splicing pattern of a messenger RNA transcript of a NOVX gene, (viii) a non-wild-type level of a NOVX protein, (ix) allelic loss of a NOVX gene, and (x) inappropriate post-translational modification of a NOVX protein. As described herein, there are a large number of assay techniques known in the art which can be used for detecting lesions in a NOVX gene. A preferred biological sample is a peripheral blood leukocyte sample isolated by conventional means from a subject. However, any biological sample containing nucleated cells may be used, including, for example, buccal mucosal cells.

[0293] In certain embodiments, detection of the lesion involves the use of a probe/primer in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202), such as anchor PCR or RACE PCR, or, alternatively, in a ligation chain reaction (LCR) (see, eg., Landegran, et al., 1988. Science 241: 1077-1080; and Nakazawa, et al., 1994. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 91: 360-364), the latter of which can be particularly useful for detecting point mutations in the NOVX-gene (see, Abravaya, et al., 1995. Nucl. Acids Res. 23: 675-682). This method can include the steps of collecting a sample of cells from a patient, isolating nucleic acid (e.g., genomic, mRNA or both) from the cells of the sample, contacting the nucleic acid sample with one or more primers that specifically hybridize to a NOVX gene under conditions such that hybridization and amplification of the NOVX gene (if present) occurs, and detecting the presence or absence of an amplification product, or detecting the size of the amplification product and comparing the length to a control sample. It is anticipated that PCR and/or LCR may be desirable to use as a preliminary amplification step in conjunction with any of the techniques used for detecting mutations described herein.

[0294] Alternative amplification methods include: self sustained sequence replication (see, Guatelli, et al., 1990. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87: 1874-1878), transcriptional amplification system (see, Kwoh, et al., 1989. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 1173-1177); Qβ Replicase (see, Lizardi, et al, 1988. Biotechnology 6: 1197), or any other nucleic acid amplification method, followed by the detection of the amplified molecules using techniques well known to those of skill in the art. These detection schemes are especially useful for the detection of nucleic acid molecules if such molecules are present in very low numbers.

[0295] In an alternative embodiment, mutations in a NOVX gene from a sample cell can be identified by alterations in restriction enzyme cleavage patterns. For example, sample and control DNA is isolated, amplified (optionally), digested with one or more restriction endonucleases, and fragment length sizes are determined by gel electrophoresis and compared. Differences in fragment length sizes between sample and control DNA indicates mutations in the sample DNA. Moreover, the use of sequence specific ribozymes (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,531) can be used to score for the presence of specific mutations by development or loss of a ribozyme cleavage site.

[0296] In other embodiments, genetic mutations in NOVX can be identified by hybridizing a sample and control nucleic acids, e.g., DNA or RNA, to high-density arrays containing hundreds or thousands of oligonucleotides probes. See, e.g., Cronin, et al., 1996. Human Mutation 7: 244-255; Kozal, et al., 1996. Nat. Med. 2: 753-759. For example, genetic mutations in NOVX can be identified in two dimensional arrays containing light-generated DNA probes as described in Cronin, et al., supra. Briefly, a first hybridization array of probes can be used to scan through long stretches of DNA in a sample and control to identify base changes between the sequences by making linear arrays of sequential overlapping probes. This step allows the identification of point mutations. This is followed by a second hybridization array that allows the characterization of specific mutations by using smaller, specialized probe arrays complementary to all variants or mutations detected. Each mutation array is composed of parallel probe sets, one complementary to the wild-type gene and the other complementary to the mutant gene.

[0297] In yet another embodiment, any of a variety of sequencing reactions known in the art can be used to directly sequence the NOVX gene and detect mutations by comparing the sequence of the sample NOVX with the corresponding wild-type (control) sequence. Examples of sequencing reactions include those based on techniques developed by Maxim and Gilbert, 1977. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74: 560 or Sanger, 1977. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 74: 5463. It is also contemplated that any of a variety of automated sequencing procedures can be utilized when performing the diagnostic assays (see, e.g. Naeve, et al., 1995. Biotechniques 19: 448), including sequencing by mass spectrometry (see, e.g., PCT International Publication No. WO 94/16101; Cohen, et al., 1996. Adv. Chromatography 36: 127-162; and Griffin, et al., 1993. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 38: 147-159).

[0298] Other methods for detecting mutations in the NOVX gene include methods in which protection from cleavage agents is used to detect mismatched bases in RNA/RNA or RNA/DNA heteroduplexes. See, e.g., Myers, et al., 1985. Science 230: 1242. In general, the art technique of “mismatch cleavage” starts by providing heteroduplexes of formed by hybridizing (labeled) RNA or DNA containing the wild-type NOVX sequence with potentially mutant RNA or DNA obtained from a tissue sample. The double-stranded duplexes are treated with an agent that cleaves single-stranded regions of the duplex Such as which will exist due to basepair mismatches between the control and sample strands. For instance, RNA/DNA duplexes can be treated with RNase and DNA/DNA hybrids treated with S1 nuclease to enzymatically digesting the mismatched regions. In other embodiments, either DNA/DNA or RNA/DNA duplexes can be treated with hydroxylamine or osmium tetroxide and with piperidine in order to digest mismatched regions. After digestion of the mismatched regions, the resulting material is then separated by size on denaturing polyacrylamide gels to determine the site of mutation. See, e.g., Cotton, et al., 1988. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85: 4397; Saleeba, et al., 1992. Methods Enzymol. 217: 286-295. In an embodiment, the control DNA or RNA can be labeled for detection.

[0299] In still another embodiment, the mismatch cleavage reaction employs one or more proteins that recognize mismatched base pairs in double-stranded DNA (so called “DNA mismatch repair” enzymes) in defined systems for detecting and mapping point mutations in NOVX cDNAs obtained from samples of cells. For example, the mutY enzyme of E. coli cleaves A at G/A mismatches and the thymidine DNA glycosylase from HeLa cells cleaves T at G/T mismatches. See, e.g., Hsu, et al., 1994. Carcinogenesis 15: 1657-1662. According to an exemplary embodiment, a probe based on a NOVX sequence, e.g., a wild-type NOVX sequence, is hybridized to a cDNA or other DNA product from a test cell(s). The duplex is treated with a DNA mismatch repair enzyme, and the cleavage products, if any, can be detected from electrophoresis protocols or the like. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,039.

[0300] In other embodiments, alterations in electrophoretic mobility will be used to identify mutations in NOVX genes. For example, single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) may be used to detect differences in electrophoretic mobility between mutant and wild type nucleic acids. See, e.g., Orita, et al., 1989. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA: 86: 2766; Cotton, 1993. Mutat Res 285: 125-144; Hayashi, 1992. Genet. Anal. Tech. Appl. 9: 73-79. Single-stranded DNA fragments of sample and control NOVX nucleic acids will be denatured and allowed to renature. The secondary structure of single-stranded nucleic acids varies according to sequence, the resulting alteration in electrophoretic mobility enables the detection of even a single base change. The DNA fragments may be labeled or detected with labeled probes. The sensitivity of the assay may be enhanced by using RNA (rather than DNA), in which the secondary structure is more sensitive to a change in sequence. In one embodiment, the subject method utilizes heteroduplex analysis to separate double stranded heteroduplex molecules on the basis of changes in electrophoretic mobility. See, e.g., Keen, et al., 1991. Trends Genet. 7: 5.

[0301] In yet another embodiment, the movement of mutant or wild-type fragments in polyacrylamide gels containing a gradient of denaturant is assayed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). See, e.g., Myers, et al., 1985. Nature 313: 495. When DGGE is used as the method of analysis, DNA will be modified to insure that it does not completely denature, for example by adding a GC clamp of approximately 40 bp of high-melting GC-rich DNA by PCR. In a further embodiment, a temperature gradient is used in place of a denaturing gradient to identify differences in the mobility of control and sample DNA. See, e.g., Rosenbaum and Reissner, 1987. Biophys. Chem 265: 12753.

[0302] Examples of other techniques for detecting point mutations include, but are not limited to, selective oligonucleotide hybridization, selective amplification, or selective primer extension. For example, oligonucleotide primers may be prepared in which the known mutation is placed centrally and then hybridized to target DNA under conditions that permit hybridization only if a perfect match is found. See, e.g., Saiki, et al., 1986. Nature 324: 163; Saiki, et al., 1989. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 86: 6230. Such allele specific oligonucleotides are hybridized to PCR amplified target DNA or a number of different mutations when the oligonucleotides are attached to the hybridizing membrane and hybridized with labeled target DNA.

[0303] Alternatively, allele specific amplification technology that depends on selective PCR amplification may be used in conjunction with the instant invention. Oligonucleotides used as primers for specific amplification may carry the mutation of interest in the center of the molecule (so that amplification depends on differential hybridization; see, e.g., Gibbs, et al., 1989. Nucl. Acids Res 17: 2437-2448) or at the extreme 3′-terminus of one primer where, under appropriate conditions, mismatch can prevent, or reduce polymerase extension (see, e.g., Prossner, 1993. Tibtech 11: 238). In addition it may be desirable to introduce a novel restriction site in the region of the mutation to create cleavage-based detection. See, e.g, Gasparini, et al, 1992. Mol Cell Probes 6: 1. It is anticipated that in certain embodiments amplification may also be performed using Taq ligase for amplification. See, e.g., Barany, 1991. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 189. In such cases, ligation will occur only if there is a perfect match at the 3′-terminus of the 5′ sequence, making it possible to detect the presence of a known mutation at a specific site by looking for the presence or absence of amplification.

[0304] The methods described herein may be performed, for example, by utilizing pre-packaged diagnostic kits comprising at least one probe nucleic acid or antibody reagent described herein, which may be conveniently used, e.g, in clinical settings to diagnose patients exhibiting symptoms or family history of a disease or illness involving a NOVX gene.

[0305] Furthermore, any cell type or tissue, preferably peripheral blood leukocytes, in which NOVX is expressed may be utilized in the prognostic assays described herein. However, any biological sample containing nucleated cells may be used, including, for example, buccal mucosal cells.

[0306] Pharmacogenomics

[0307] Agents, or modulators that have a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on NOVX activity (e.g., NOVX gene expression), as identified by a screening assay described herein can be administered to individuals to treat (prophylactically or therapeutically) disorders. She disorders include but are not limited to, e.g., those diseases, disorders and conditions listed above, and more particularly include those diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with homologs of a NOVX protein, such as those summarized in Table A.

[0308] In conjunction With such treatment, the pharmacogenomics (i.e., the study of the relationship between an individual's genotype and that individual's response to a foreign compound or drug) of the individual may be considered. Differences in metabolism of therapeutics can lead to severe toxicity or therapeutic failure by altering the relation between dose and blood concentration of the pharmacologically active drug. Thus, the pharmacogenomics of the individual permits the selection of effective agents (e g., drugs) for prophylactic or therapeutic treatments based on a consideration of the individual's genotype. Such pharmacogenomics can further be used to determine appropriate dosages and therapeutic regimens. Accordingly, the activity of NOVX protein, expression of NOVX nucleic acid, or mutation content of NOVX genes in an individual can be determined to thereby select appropriate agent(s) for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of the individual.

[0309] Pharmacogenomics deals with clinically significant hereditary variations in the response to drugs due to altered drug disposition and abnormal action in affected persons. Clin. Chem., 43: 254-266. In general, two types of pharmacogenetic conditions can be differentiated. Genetic conditions transmitted as a single factor altering the way drugs act on the body (altered drug action) or genetic conditions transmitted as single factors altering the way the body acts on drugs (altered drug metabolism). These pharmacogenetic conditions can occur either as rare defects or as polymorphisms. For example, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common inherited enzymopathy in which the main clinical complication is hemolysis after ingestion of oxidant drugs (anti-malarials, sulfonamides, analgesics, nitrofurans) and consumption of fava beans.

[0310] As an illustrative embodiment, the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes is a major determinant of both the intensity and duration of drug action. The discovery of genetic polymorphisms of drug metabolizing enzymes (e.g., N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT 2) and cytochrome pregnancy zone protein precursor enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19) has provided an explanation as to why some patients do not obtain the expected drug effects or show exaggerated drug response and serious toxicity after taking the standard and safe dose of a drug. These polymorphisms are expressed in two phenotypes in the population, the extensive metabolizer (EM) and poor metabolizer (PM). The prevalence of PM is different among different populations. For example, the gene coding for CYP2D6 is highly polymorphic and several mutations have been identified in PM, which all lead to the absence of functional CYP2D6. Poor metabolizers of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 quite frequently experience exaggerated drug response and side effects when they receive standard doses. If a metabolite is the active therapeutic moiety, PM show no therapeutic response, as demonstrated for the analgesic effect of codeine mediated by its CYP2D6-formed metabolite morphine. At the other extreme are the so called ultra-rapid metabolizers who do not respond to standard doses. Recently, the molecular basis of ultra-rapid metabolism has been identified to be due to CYP2D6 gene amplification.

[0311] Thus, the activity of NOVX protein, expression of NOVX nucleic acid, or mutation content of NOVX genes in an individual can be determined to thereby select appropriate agent(s) for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of the individual. In addition, pharmacogenetic studies can be used to apply genotyping of polymorphic alleles encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes to the identification of an individual's drug responsiveness phenotype. This knowledge, when applied to dosing or drug selection, can avoid adverse reactions or therapeutic failure and thus enhance therapeutic or prophylactic efficiency when treating a subject with a NOVX modulator, such as a modulator identified by one of the exemplary screening assays described herein.

[0312] Monitoring of Effects During Clinical Trials

[0313] Monitoring the influence of agents (e.g., drugs, compounds) on the expression or activity of NOVX (e.g., the ability to modulate aberrant cell proliferation and/or differentiation) can be applied not only in basic drug screening, but also in clinical trials. For example, the effectiveness of an agent determined by a screening assay as described herein to increase NOVX gene expression, protein levels, or upregulate NOVX activity, can be monitored in clinical trails of subjects exhibiting decreased NOVX gene expression, protein levels, or downregulated NOVX activity. Alternatively, the effectiveness of an agent determined by a screening assay to decrease NOVX gene expression, protein levels, or downregulate NOVX activity, can be monitored in clinical trails of subjects exhibiting increased NOVX gene expression, protein levels, or upregulated NOVX activity. In such clinical trials, the expression or activity of NOVX and, preferably, other genes that have been implicated in, for example, a cellular proliferation or immune disorder can be used as a “read out” or markers of the immune responsiveness of a particular cell.

[0314] By way of example, and not of limitation, genes, including NOVX, that are modulated in cells by treatment with an agent (eg, compound, drug or small molecule) that modulates NOVX activity (e.g, identified in a screening assay as described herein) can be identified. Thus, to study the effect of agents on cellular proliferation disorders, for example, in a clinical trial, cells can be isolated and RNA prepared and analyzed for the levels of expression of NOVX and other genes implicated in the disorder. The levels of gene expression (ie., a gene expression pattern) can be quantified by Northern blot analysis or RT-PCR, as described herein, or alternatively by measuring the amount of protein produced, by one of the methods as described herein, or by measuring the levels of activity of NOVX or other genes. In this manner, the gene expression pattern can serve as a marker, indicative of the physiological response of the cells to the agent. Accordingly, this response state may be determined before, and at various points during, treatment of the individual with the agent.

[0315] In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment of a subject with an agent (e g., an agonist, antagonist, protein, peptide, peptidomimetic, nucleic acid, small molecule, or other drug candidate identified by the screening assays described herein) comprising the steps of (i) obtaining a pre-administration sample from a subject prior to administration of the agent; (ii) detecting the level of expression of a NOVX protein, mRNA, or genomic DNA in the preadministration sample; (iii) obtaining one or more post-administration samples from the Subject; (iv) detecting the level of expression or activity of the NOVX protein, mRNA, or genomic DNA in the post-administration samples; (v) comparing the level of expression or activity of the NOVX protein, mRNA, or genomic DNA in the pre-administration sample with the NOVX protein, mRNA, or genomic DNA in the post administration sample or samples; and (vi) altering the administration of the agent to the subject accordingly. For example, increased administration of the agent may be desirable to increase the expression or activity of NOVX to higher levels than detected, i.e., to increase the effectiveness of the agent. Alternatively, decreased administration of the agent may be desirable to decrease expression or activity of NOVX to lower levels than detected, i.e., to decrease the effectiveness of the agent.

[0316] Methods of Treatment

[0317] The invention provides for both prophylactic and therapeutic methods of treating a Subject at risk of (or susceptible to) a disorder or having, a disorder associated with aberrant NOVX expression or activity. The disorders include but are not limited to, eg., those diseases, disorders and conditions listed above, and more particularly include those diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with homologs of a NOVX protein, such as those summarized in Table A.

[0318] These methods of treatment will be discussed more fully, below.

[0319] Diseases and Disorders

[0320] Diseases and disorders that are characterized by increased (relative to a subject not suffering from the disease or disorder) levels or biological activity may be treated with Therapeutics that antagonize (i e., reduce or inhibit) activity. Therapeutics that antagonize activity may be administered in a therapeutic or prophylactic manner. Therapeutics that may be utilized include, but are not limited to: (i) an aforementioned peptide, or analogs, derivatives, fragments or homologs thereof, (ii) antibodies to an aforementioned peptide; (iii) nucleic acids encoding an aforementioned peptide; (iv) administration of antisense nucleic acid and nucleic acids that are “dysfunctional” (i.e., due to a heterologous insertion within the coding sequences of coding sequences to an aforementioned peptide) that are utilized to “knockout” endogenous function of an aforementioned peptide by homologous recombination (see, eg, Capecchi, 1989. Science 244: 1288-1292); or (v) modulators (i.e., inhibitors, agonists and antagonists, including additional peptide mimetic of the invention or antibodies specific to a peptide of the invention) that alter the interaction between an aforementioned peptide and its binding partner.

[0321] Diseases and disorders that are characterized by decreased (relative to a subject not suffering from the disease or disorder) levels or biological activity may be treated with Therapeutics that increase (i.e., are agonists to) activity. Therapeutics that upregulate activity may be administered in a therapeutic or prophylactic manner. Therapeutics that may be utilized include, but are not limited to, an aforementioned peptide, or analogs, derivatives, fragments or homologs thereof; or an agonist that increases bioavailability.

[0322] Increased or decreased levels can be readily detected by quantifying peptide and/or RNA, by obtaining a patient tissue sample (e.g., from biopsy tissue) and assaying it in vitro for RNA or peptide levels, structure and/or activity of the expressed peptides (or mRNAs of an aforementioned peptide). Methods that are well-known within the art include, but are not limited to, immunoassays (e.g., by Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunocytochemistry, etc.) and/or hybridization assays to detect expression of mRNAs (eg., Northern assays, dot blots, in situ hybridization, and the like).

[0323] Prophylactic Methods

[0324] In one aspect, the invention provides a method for preventing, in a subject, a disease or condition associated with an aberrant NOVX expression or activity, by administering to the subject an agent that modulates NOVX expression or at least one NOVX activity. Subjects at risk for a disease that is caused or contributed to by aberrant NOVX expression or activity can be identified by, for example, any or a combination of diagnostic or prognostic assays as described herein. Administration of a prophylactic agent can occur prior to the manifestation of symptoms characteristic of the NOVX aberrancy, such that a disease or disorder is prevented or, alternatively, delayed in its progression. Depending upon the type of NOVX aberrancy, for example, a NOVX agonist or NOVX antagonist agent can be used for treating the subject. The appropriate agent can be determined based on screening assays described herein. The prophylactic methods of the invention are further discussed in the following subsections.

[0325] Therapeutic Methods

[0326] Another aspect of the invention pertains to methods of modulating NOVX expression or activity for therapeutic purposes. The modulatory method of the invention involves contacting a cell with an agent that modulates one or more of the activities of NOVX protein activity associated with the cell. An agent that modulates NOVX protein activity can be an agent as described herein, such as a nucleic acid or a protein, a naturally-occurring cognate ligand of a NOVX protein, a peptide, a NOVX peptidomimetic, or other small molecule. In one embodiment, the agent stimulates one or more NOVX protein activity. Examples of such stimulatory agents include active NOVX protein and a nucleic acid molecule encoding NOVX that has been introduced into the cell. In another embodiment, the agent inhibits one or more NOVX protein activity. Examples of such inhibitory agents include antisense NOVX nucleic acid molecules and anti-NOVX antibodies. These modulatory methods can be performed in vitro (e.g., by culturing the cell with the agent) or, alternatively, in vivo (e.g., by administering the agent to a subject). As such, the invention provides methods of treating an individual afflicted with a disease or disorder characterized by aberrant expression or activity of a NOVX protein or nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, the method involves administering an agent (e.g, an agent identified by a screening assay described herein), or combination of agents that modulates (e.g., up-regulates or down-regulates) NOVX expression or activity. In another embodiment, the method involves administering a NOVX protein or nucleic acid molecule as therapy to compensate for reduced or aberrant NOVX expression or activity.

[0327] Stimulation of NOVX activity is desirable in situations in which NOVX is abnormally downregulated and/or in which increased NOVX activity is likely to have a beneficial effect. One example of such a situation is where a subject has a disorder characterized by aberrant cell proliferation and/or differentiation (eg, cancer or immune associated disorders). Another example of such a situation is where the subject has a gestational disease (e.g., preclampsia).

[0328] Determination of the Biological Effect of the Therapeutic

[0329] In various embodiments of the invention, suitable in vitro or in vivo assays are performed to determine the effect of a specific Therapeutic and whether its administration is indicated for treatment of the affected tissue.

[0330] In various specific embodiments, in vitro assays may be performed with representative cells of the type(s) involved in the patient's disorder, to determine if a given Therapeutic exerts the desired effect upon the cell type(s). Compounds for use in therapy may be tested in suitable animal model systems including, but not limited to rats, mice, chicken, cows, monkeys, rabbits, and the like, prior to testing in human subjects. Similarly, for in vivo testing, any of the animal model system known in the art may be used prior to administration to human subjects.

[0331] Prophylactic and Therapeutic Uses of the Compositions of the Invention

[0332] The NOVX nucleic acids and proteins of the invention are useful in potential prophylactic and therapeutic applications implicated in a variety of disorders. The disorders include but are not limited to, e.g., those diseases, disorders and conditions listed above, and more particularly include those diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with homologs of a NOVX protein, such as those summarized in Table A.

[0333] As an example, a cDNA encoding the NOVX protein of the invention may be useful in gene therapy, and the protein may be useful when administered to a subject in need thereof. By way of non-limiting example, the compositions of the invention will have efficacy for treatment of patients suffering from diseases, disorders, conditions and the like, including but not limited to those listed herein.

[0334] Both the novel nucleic acid encoding the NOVX protein, and the NOVX protein of the invention, or fragments thereof, may also be useful in diagnostic applications, wherein the presence or amount of the nucleic acid or the protein are to be assessed. A further use could be as an anti-bacterial molecule (i.e., some peptides have been found to possess anti-bacterial properties). These materials are further useful in the generation of antibodies, which immunospecifically-bind to the novel substances of the invention for use in therapeutic or diagnostic methods.

[0335] The invention will be further described in the following examples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described in the claims.

EXAMPLES

Example A

[0336] Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Sequences, and Homology Data

Example 1

[0337] The NOV1 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 1A.

TABLE IA
NOV1 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 1	960 bp
NOV 1a,	CTCGCCCGGTGCCTAGGTGCCCGGCCCCACACCGCCAGCTGCTCGGCGCCCGGGTCCG
CG 103191-02	CCATGCGCTCCGCCGCTGTCCTGGCTCTTCTGCTCTGCGCCGGGCAAGTCACTGCGCT
DNA Sequence	CCCTGTGAACAGCCCTATGAATAAAGGGGATACCGAGGTGATGAAATGCATCGTTGAG
	GTCATCTCCGACACACTTTCCAAGCCCAGCCCCATGCCTGTCAGCCAGGAATGTTTTG
	AGACACTCCGAGGAGATGAACGGATCCTTTCCATTCTGAGACATCAGAATTTACTGAA
	GGAGCTCCAAGACCTCGCTCTCCAAGGCGCCAAGGAGAGGGCACATCAGCAGAAGAAA
	CACAGCGGTTTTGAAGATGAACTCTCAGAGGTTCTTGAGAACCAGAGCAGCCAGGCCG
	AGCTGAAAGAGGCGGTGGAAGAGCCATCATCCAAGGATGTTATGGAGAAAAGAGAGGA
	TTCCAAGGAGGCAGAGAAAAGTGGTGAAGCCACAGACGGAGCCAGGCCCCAGGCCCTC
	CCGGAGCCCATGCAGGAGTCCAAGGCTGAGGGGAACAATCAGGCCCCTGGGGAGGAAG
	AGGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCCACCAACACCCACCCTCCAGCCAGCCTCCCCAGCCAGAA
	ATACCCAGGCCCACAGGCCGAGGGGGACAGTGAGGGCCTCTCTCAGGGTCTGGTGGAC
	AGAGAGAAGGGCCTGAGTGCAGAGCCCGGGTGGCAGGCAAAGAGAGAAGAGGAGGAGG
	AGGAGGAGGAGGCTGAGGCTGGAGAGGAGGCTGTCCCCGAGGAAGAAGGCCCCACTGT
	AGTGCTGAACCCCGAGGAGAAGAAAGAGGAGGAGGGCAGCGCAAACCGCAGACCAGAG
	GACCAGGAGCTGGAGAGCCTGTCGGCCATTGAAGCAGAGCTGGAGAAAGTGGCCCACC
	AGCTGCAGGCACTACGGCGGGGCTGAGACACC
	ORF Start: ATG at 61	ORF Stop: TGA at 952
	SEQ ID NO: 2	297aa	MW at 32591.3 Da
NOV 1a,	MRSAAVLALLLCAGQVTALPVNSPMNKGDTEVMKCIVEVISDTLSKPSPMPVSQECFE
CG103191-02	TLRGDERILSILRHQNLLKELQDLALQGAKERAHQQKKHSGFEDELSEVLENQSSQAE
Protein Sequence	LKEAVEEPSSKDVMEKREDSKEAEKSGEATDGARPQALPERMQESKAEGNNQAPGEEE
	EEEEEATNTHPPASLPSQKYPGPQAEGDSEGLSQGLVDREKGLSAEPGWQAKREEEEE
	EEEAEAGEEAVPEEEGPTVVLNPEEKKEEEGSANRRPEDQELESLSAIEAELEKVAHQ
	LQALRRG
	SEQ ID NO 3	837 bp
NOV 1b,	CCACACCGTCAGCTGCTCGGCGCCCGGGTCCGCCATGCGCTCCGCCGCTGTCCTGGCT
CG103191-03	CTTCTGCTCTGCGCCGGGCAAGTCACTGCGCTCCCTGTGAACAGCCCTATGAATAAAG
DNA Sequence	GGGATACCGAGGTGATGAAATGCATCGTTGAGGTCATCTCCGACACACTTTCCAAGCC
	CAGCCCCATGCCTGTCAGCCAGGAATGTTTTGAGACACTCCGAGGAGATGAACGGATC
	CTTTCCATTCTGAGACATCAGAATTTACTGAAGGAGCTCCAAGACCTCGCTCTCCAAG
	GCGCCAAGGAGAGGGCACATCAGCAGAAGAAACACAGCGGTTTTGAAGATGAACTCTC
	AGAGGTTCTTGAGAACCAGAGCAGCCAGGCCGAGCTGAAAGAGGCGGTGGAAGAGCCA
	TCATCCAAGGATGTTATGGAGAAAAGAGAGGATTCCAAGGAGGCAGAGAAAAGTGGTG
	AAGCCACAGACGGAGCCAGGCCCCAGGCCCTCCCGGAGCCCATGCAGGACAACCGGGA
	CAGTTCCATGAAGCTCTCCTTCCGGGCCCGGGCCTACGGCTTCAGGGGCCCTGGGCCG
	CAGCTGCGACGAGGCTGGAGGCCATCCTCCTGGGAGGACAGCCTTGAGGCGGGCCTGC
	CCCTCCAGGTCCGAGGCTACCCCGAGGAGAAGAAAGAGGAGGAGGGCAGCGCAAACCG
	CAGACCAGAGGACCAGGAGCTGGAGAGCCTGTCGGCCATTGAGGCAGAGCTGGAGAAA
	GTGGCCCACCAGCTGCGGGCACTACGGCGGGGCTGAGACACCGGCTGGCAGGGCTGGC
	CCCAGGGCACCCTGTGGGCCTGGCT
	ORF Start: ATG at 35	ORF Stop: TGA at 788
	SEQ ID NO: 4	251 aa	MW at 28029.1 Da
NOV 1b,	MRSAAVLALLLCAGQVTALPVNSPMNKGDTEVMKCIVEVISDTLSKPSPMPVSQECFE
CG103191-03	TLRGDERILSILRHQNLLKELQDLALQGAKERAHQQKKHSGFEDELSEVLENQSSQAE
Protein Sequence	LKEAVEEPSSKDVMEKREDSKEAEKSGEATDGARPQALPEPMQDNRDSSMKLSFRARA
	YGFRGPGPQLRRGWRPSSWEDSLEAGLPLQVRGYPEEKKEEEGSANRRPEDQELESLS
	AIEAELEKVAHQLRALRRG
	SEQ ID NO: 5	1002 bp
NOV 1c,	CCACACCGCCAGCTGCTCGGCGCCCGGGTCCGCCATGCGCTCCGCCGCTGTCCTGGCT
CG103191-04	CTTCTGCTCTGCGCCGGGCAAGTCACTGCGCTCCCTGTGAACAGCCCTATGAATAAAG
DNA Sequence	GGGATACCGAGGTGATGAAATGCATCGTTGAGGTCATCTCCGACACACTTTCCAAGCC
	CAGCCCCATGCCTGTCAGCCACGAATGTTTTGAGACACTCCGAGGAGATGAACGGATC
	CTTTCCATTCTGAGACATCAGAATTTACTGAAGGAGCTCCAAGACCTCGCTCTCCAAG
	GCGCCAAGGACAGGGCACATCAGCAGAAGAAACACAGCGGTTTTGAAGATGAACTCTC
	AGAGGTTCTTGAGAACCAGAGCAGCCAGGCCGAGCTGAAAGGTCGGTCGGAGGCTCTG
	GCTGTGGATGGAGCTGGGAAGCCTGGGGCTGAGGAGGCTCAGGACCCCGAAGGGAAGG
	GAGAACAGGAGCACTCCCAGCAGAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGATGGCAGTGGTCCCGCA
	AGGCCTCTTCCGGGGTGGGAAGAGCGGAGAGCTGGAGCAGGAGGAGGAGCGGCTCTCC
	AAGGAGTGGGAGGACTCCAAACGCTGGAGCAAGATGGACCAGCTGGCCAAGGAGCTGA
	CGGCTGAGAAGCCGCTGGAGGGGCAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGACAACCGGGACAGTTCCAT
	CGAGGCTGGAGGCCATCCTCCCGGGAGGACAGCCTTGAGGCGGGCCTGCCCCTCCAGG
	TCCGAGGCTACCCCGAGGAGAAGAAAGAGGAGGAGGGCAGCGCAAACCGCAGACCAGA
	GGACCAGGAGCTGGAGAGCCTGTCGGCCATTGAGGCAGAGCTGGAGAAAGTGGCCCAC
	CAGCTGCAGGCACTACGGCGGGGCTGAGACACCGGCTGGCAGGGCTGGCCCCAGGGCA
CCCTGTGGGCCTGGCT
	ORF Start: ATG at 35	ORF Stop: TGA at 953
	SEQ ID NO:6	306 aa	MW at 34268.8 Da
NOV 1c,	MRSAAVLALLLCAGQVTALPVNSPMNKGDTEVMKCIVEVISDTLSKPSPMPVSQECFE
CG103191-04	TLRGDERILSILRHQNLLKELQDLALQGAKERAHQQKKHSGFEDELSEVLENQSSQAE
Protein Sequence	LKGRSEALAVDGAGKPGAEEAQDPEGKGEQEHSQQKEEEEEMAVVPQGLFRGGKSGEL
	EQEEERLSKEWEDSKRWSKMDQLAKELTAEKRLEGQEEEEDNRDSSMKLSFRARAYGF
	RGPGPQLRRGWRPSSREDSLEAGLPLQVRGYPEEKKEEEGSANRRPEDQELESLSAIE
	AELEKVAHQLQALRRG
	SEQ ID NO: 7	337 bp
NOV 1d,	CACCAGATCTCTCCCTGTGAACAGCCCTATGAATAAAGGGGATACCGAGGTGATGAAA
251425133 DNA	TGCATCGTTGAGGTCATCTCCGACACACTTTCCAAGCCCAGCCCCATGCCTGTCAGCC
Sequence	AGGAATGTTTTGAGACACTCCGAGGAGATGAACGGATCCTTTCCATTCTGAGACATCA
	GAATTTACTGAAGGAGCTCCAAGACCTCGCTCTCCAAGGCGCCAAGGAGAGGGCACAT
	CAGCAGAAGAAACACAGCGGTTTTGAAGATGAACTCTCAGAGGTTCTTGAGAACCAGA
	GCAGCCAGGCCGAGCTGAAAGGTCGGTCGGAGGCTCTGCTCGAGGGC
	ORF Start: at 2	ORF Stop: end of sequence
	SEQ ID NO: 8	112 aa	MW at 12528.0 Da
	NOV 1d,	TRSLPVNSPMNKGDTEVMKCIVEVISDTLSKPSPMPVSQECFETLRGDERILSILRHQ
	251425133 Protein	NLLKELQDLALQGAKERAHQQKKHSGFEDELSEVLENQSSQAELKCRSEALLEG
	Sequence
	SEQ ID NO: 9	595 bp
NOV 1e,	CACCAGATCTGCCGAGCTGAAAGGTCGGTCGGAGGCTCTGGCTGTGGATGGAGCTGGG
251425611 DNA	AAGCCTGGGGCTGAGGAGGCTCAGGACCCCGAAGGGAAGGGAGAACAGGAGCACTCCC
Sequence	AGCAGAAAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGATGGCAGTGGTCCCGCAAGGCCTCTTCCCGGGTGG
	GAAGAGCGGAGAGCTGGAGCAGGAGGAGGAGCGGCTCTCCAAGGAGTGGGAGGACTCC
	AAACGCTGGAGCAAGATGGACCAGCTGGCCAAGGAGCTGACGGCTGAGAAGCGGCTGG
	AGGGGCAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGACAACCGGGACAGTTCCATGAAGCTCTCCTTCCGGGC
	CCGGGCCTACGGCTTCAGGGGCCCTGGGCCGCAGCTGCGACGAGGCTGGAGGCCATCC
	TCCCGGGAGGACAGCCTTGAGGCGGGCCTGCCCCTCCAGGTCCGAGGCTACCCCGAGG
	AGAAGAAAGAGGAGGAGGGCAGCGCAAACCGCAGACCAGAGGACCAGGAGCTGGAGAG
	CCTGTCGGCCATTGAGGCGGAGCTCCAGAAAGTGGCCCACCAGCTGCAGGCACTACGG
	CGGGGCCTCGAGGGC
	ORF Start: at 2	ORF Stop: end of sequence
	SEQ ID NO: 10	198 aa	MW at 22331.2 Da
NOV 1e,	TRSAELKGRSEALAVDGAGKPGAEEAQDPEGKGEQEHSQQKEEEEEMAVVPQGLFRGG
251425611 Protein	KSGELEQEEERLSKEWEDSKRWSKMDQLAKELTAEKRLEGQEEEEDNRDSSMKLSFRA
Sequence	RAYGFRGPGPQLRRGWRPSSREDSLEAGLPLQVRGYPEEKKEEEGSANRRPEDQELES
	LSAIEAELEKVAHQLQALRRGLEG
	SEQ ID NO: 11	718 bp
NOV 1f	CACCAGATCTCTCCCTGTGAACAGCCCTATGAATAAAGGGGATACCGAGGTGATGAAA
278460276 DNA	TGCATCGTTGAGGTCATCTCCGACACACTTTCCAAGCCCAGCCCCATGCCTGTCAGCC
Sequence	AGGAATGTTTTGAGACACTCCGAGGAGATGAACGGATCCTTTCCATTCTGAGACATCA
	GAATTTACTGAAGGAGCTCCAAGACCTCGCTCTCCAAGGCGCCAAGGAGAGGGCACAT
	CAGCAGAAGAAACACAGCGGTTTTGAAGATGAACTCTCAGAGGTTCTTGAGAACCAGA
	GCAGCCAGGCCGAGCTGAAAGAGGCGGTGGAAGAGCCATCATCCAAGGATGTTATGGA
	GAAAAGAGAGGATTCCAAGGAGGCAGAGAAAAGTGGTGAAGCCACAGACGGAGCCAGG
	CCCCAGGCCCTCCCGGAGCCCATGCAGGACAACCGGGACAGTTCCATGAAGCTCTCCT
	TCCGGGCCCGGGCCTACGGCTTCAGGGGCCCTGGGCCGCAGCTGCGACGAGGCTGGAG
	GCCATCCTCCTGGGAGGACAGCCTTGAGGCGGGCCTGCCCCTCCAGGTCCGAGGCTAC
	CCCGAGGAGAAGAAAGAGGAGGAGGGCAGCGCAAACCGCAGACCAGAGGACCAGGAGC
	TGGAGAGCCTGTCGGCCATTGAGGCAGAGCTGGAGAAAGTGGCCCACCAGCTGCGGGC
	ACTACGGCGGGGCCTCGAGGGC
	ORF Start: at 2	ORF Stop: end of sequence
	SEQ ID NO: 12	239 aa	MW at 26902.7 Da
NOV 1f	TRSLPVNSPMNKGDTEVMKCIVEVISDTLSKPSPMPVSQECFETLRGDERILSILRHQ
278460276 Protein	NLLKELQDLALQGAKERAHQQKKHSGFEDELSEVLENQSSQAELKEAVEEPSSKDVME
Sequence	KREDSKEAEKSGEATDGARPQALPEPMQDNRDSSMKLSFRARAYGFRGPGPQLRRGWR
	PSSWEDSLEAGLPLQVRGYPEEKKEEEGSANRRPEDQELESLSAIEAELEKVAHQLRA
	LRRGLEG
	SEQ ID NO: 13	856 bp
NOV 1g,	CACCAGATCTCTCCCTGTGAACAGCCCTATGAATAAAGGGGATACCGAGGTGATGAAA
278456175 DNA	TGCATCGTTGAGGTCATCTCCGACACACTTTCCAAGCCCAGCCCCATGCCTGTCAGCC
Sequence	AGGAATGTTTTGAGACACTCCGAGGAGATGAACGGATCCTTTCCATTCTGAGACATCA
	GAATTTACTGAAGCAGCTCCAAGACCTCGCTCTCCAAGGCGCCAAGGAGACGGCACAT
	CAGCAGAAGAAACACACCGGTTTTGAAGATGAACTCTCAGAGGTTCTTGAGAACCAGA
	GCAGCCAGGCCGAGCTGAAAGAGGCGGTGGAAGAGCCATCATCCAAGGATGTTATGGA
	GAAAAGAGAGGATTCCAAGGAGGCAGAGAAAAGTGGTGAAGCCACACACGGAGCCAGG
	CCCCAGGCCCTCCCGGAGCCCATGCAGGAGTCCAAGGCTGAGGGGAACAATCAGGCCC
	CTGGGGAGGAAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCCACCAACACCCACCCTCCAGCCAGCCT
	CCCCAGCCAGAAATACCCAGGCCCACAGGCCGAGGGGGACAGTGAGGGCCTCTCTCAG
	GGTCTGGTGGACAGAGAGAAGGGCCTGAGTGCAGAGCCCGGGTGGCAGGCAAAGAGAG
	AAGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGCTGAGGCTGGAGAGGAGGCTGTCCCCGAGGAAGA
	AGGCCCCACTGTAGTGCTGAACCCCGAGGAGAAGAAAGAGGAGGAGGGCAGCGCAAAC
	CGCAGACCAGAGGACCAGGAGCTGGAGAGCCTGTCGGCCATTGAAGCAGAGCTGGAGA
	AAGTGGCCCACCAGCTGCAGGCACTACGGCGGGGCCTCGAGGGC
	ORF Start: at 2	ORF Stop: end of sequence
	SEQ ID NO: 14	285 aa	MW at 31464.9 Da
NOV 1g,	TRSLPVNSPMNKGDTEVMKCIVEVISDTLSKPSPMPVSQECFETLRGDERILSILRHQ
278456175 Protein	NLLKELQDLALQGAKERAHQQKKHSGFEDELSEVLENQSSQAELKEAVEEPSSKDVME
Sequence	KREDSKEAEKSGEATDGARPQALPEPMQESKAEGNNQAPGEEEEEEEEATNTHPPASL
	PSQKYPGPQAEGDSEGLSQGLVDREKGLSAEPGWQAKREEEEEEEEAEAGEEAVPEEE
	GPTVVLNPEEKKEEEGSANRRPEDQELESLSAIEAELEKVAHQLQALRRGLEG

[0338] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 1B.

TABLE 1B
Comparison of NOV1a against NOV1b through NOV1g.
	Protein	NOV1a Residues/	Identities/Similarities for
	Sequence	Match Residues	the Matched Region
	NOV1b	1 . . . 297	201/297 (67%)
		1 . . . 251	212/297 (70%)
	NOV1c	1 . . . 297	172/313 (34%)
		1 . . . 306	188/313 (59%)
	NOV1d	18 . . . 118	100/101 (99%)
		3 . . . 103	101/101 (99%)
	NOV1e	192 . . . 297	46/109 (42%)
		94 . . . 195	55/109 (50%)
	NOV1f	18 . . . 297	183/280 (65%)
		3 . . . 236	195/280 (69%)
	NOV1g	18 . . . 297	236/280 (84%)
		3 . . . 282	237/280 (84%)

[0339] Further analysis of the NOV1a protein yielded the following properties shown in

TABLE 1C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV1a
PSort     0.7618 probability located in outside; 0.1000 probability
analysis: located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane); 0.1000
          probability located in endoplasmic reticulum (lumen);
          0.1000 probability located in lysosome (lumen)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 19 and 20
analysis:

[0340] A search of the NOV1a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 1D.

TABLE 1D
Geneseq Results for NOV1a
			Identities/
			Similari-
		NOV1a/	ties
	Protein/	Residues/	for the
Geneseq	Organism/Length	Match	Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAY53797	Amino acid	19 . . . 255	237/238	e−132
	sequence of the	1 . . . 238	(99%)
	mature human		237/238
	chromogranin A		(99%)
	(CgA) protein -
	Homo sapiens, 439 aa.
	[WO9958980-A1,
	18 NOV. 1999]
AAU86000	Modified vasostatin II	19 . . . 131	113/113	2e−58
	antibiotic peptide -	1 . . . 113	(100%)
	Unidentified,		113/113
	113 aa.		(100%)
	[WO200210195-
	A2, 07 FEB. 2002]
AAY53798	Amino acids 145-234	163 . . . 251	89/90	4c−45
	of the mature human	1 . . . 90	(98%)
	chromogranin A		89/90
	(CgA) protein - Homo		(98%)
	sapiens, 90 aa.
	[WO9958980-A1,
	18 NOV. 1999]
AAB37069	Recombinant	17 . . . 96	80/80	2e−39
	vasostatin I	2 . . . 81	(100%)
	peptide -	80/80
	Unidentified, 81 aa.		(100%)
	[FR2792638-A1,
	27 OCT. 2000]
AAB37066	Human vasostatin I	19 . . . 94	76/76	4e−37
	peptide - Homo	1.76	(100%)
	sapiens, 76 aa.
	[FR2792638-A1,		76/76
	27 OCT. 2000]		(100%)

[0341] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV1a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 1E.

TABLE 1E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV1a
			Identities/
			Similari-
		NOV1a	ties
Protein		Residues/	for the
Accession		Match	Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
A28468	chromogranin A	1 . . . 255	255/256	e−142
	[validated] -	1 . . . 256	(99%)
	human, 457 aa.		255/256
			(99%)
P10645	Chromogranin A	1 . . . 255	255/256	e−142
	precursor (CGA)	1 . . . 256	(99%)
	(Pituitary secretory		255/256
	protein I)		(99%)
	(SP-1) [Contains:
	Vasostatin I;
	Vasostatin II;
	EA-92; ES-43;
	Pancreastatin
	SS-18; WA-8; WE-14;
	LF-19; AL-11; GV-19;
	GR-44; ER;37] - Homo
	sapiens (Human),
	457 aa.
Q96GL7	Similar to chromogranin	54 . . . 255	202/203	e−111
	A (Parathyroid secretory	4 . . . 206	(73%)
	protein 1) Homo sapiens		202/203
	(Human), 407 aa		(99%)
	(fragment).
P05059	Chromogranin A	1 . . . 271	202/276	e−100
	precursor (CGA)		(73%)
	(Pituitary secretory		215/276
	protein 1) (SP-1)		(77%)
	[Contains:
	Vasostatin-1;
	Chromostatin;
	Chromacin;
	Pancreastatin;
	We − 14; Catestatin] -
	Bos taurus (Bovine),
	449 aa.
A41520	chromogranin A	1 . . . 271	199/276	3e−99
	precursor		(72%)
	[validated] - bovine,		213/276
	449 aa.		(77%)

[0342] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV1a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 1F.

TABLE 1F
Domain Analysis of NOV1a
		Identities
Pfam	NOV1a	Similarities
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Expect Value
Granin	1 . . . 297	138/689 (20%)	1.7e−29
		291/689 (42%)

Example 2

[0343] The NOV2 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 2A.

TABLE 2A
NOV2 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 15	2521 bp
NOV2a,	ACAGTTGTAAGGGATCTTGTGGCTGTCAGGATGGCAGAGGAGCAGGAGTTCACCCAGC
CG105757-01	TCTGCAAGTTGCCTGCACAGCCCTCACACCCACACTGCGTGAACAACACCTACCGCAG
DNA Sequence	CGCACAGCACTCCCAGGCTCTGCTCCGAGGGCTGCTGGCTCTCCGGGACAGCGGAATC
	CTCTTCGATGTTGTGCTGGTGGTGGAGGGCAGACACATCGAGGCCCATCCCATCCTGC
	TGGCTGCGTCCTGCGATTACTTCAGGAGAGGAATGTTTGCTGGGGGATTGAAGGAGAT
	GGAACAGGAAGAGGTCCTGATCCACGGTGTGTCCTACAATGCTATGTGCCAAATCCTA
	CATTTCATATACACCTCCGAGCTGGAGCTCAGCCTGAGCAATGTACAAGAGACACTGG
	TGGCTGCCTGCCAGCTGCAGATCCCAGAAATTATCCATTTCTGCTGTGATTTCCTCAT
	GTCCTGGGTGGACGAAGAGAACATTCTCGATGTCTACCGGCTGGCAGAGCTGTTTGAC
	TTGAGCCGCCTGACTGAGCAACTGGACACCTATATCCTCAAAAACTTTGTGGCCTTCT
	CTCGGACTGACAAGTACCGCCAGCTTCCATTGGAGAAGGTCTACTCCCTCCTCAGCAG
	CAATCGCCTGGAGGTCTCCTGCGAGACCGAGGTATATGAGGGGGCCCTTCTCTACCAT
	TATAGCCTGGAGCAGGTGCAGGCTGACCAGATCTCGCTGCACGAGCCCCCAAAGCTCC
	TTGAGACAGTGCGGTTTCCGCTGATGGAAGCTGAGGTCCTGCAGCGGCTGCATGACAA
	GCTGGACCCCAGCCCTTTGAGGGACACAGTGCCCAGCGCCCTCATGTACCACCGGAAC
	GAGAGCCTACAGCCCAGCCTGCAGAGCCCGCAAACGGAGCTGCGGTCGGACTTCCAGT
	GCGTTGTGGGCTTCGGGGGCATTCACTCCACGCCGTCCACTGTCCTCAGCGACCAGGC
	CAAGTATCTAAACCCCTTACTGGGAGAGTGGAAGCACTTCACTGCCTCCCTGGCCCCC
	CGCATGTCCAACCAGGGCATCGCGGTGCTCAACAACTTCCTATACTTGATTGGAGGGG
	ACAACAATGTCCAAGGATTTCGAGCAGAGTCCCGATGCTGGAGGTATGACCCACCGCA
	CAACCGCTGGTTCCAGATCCAGTCCCTGCAGCAGGAGCACGCCGACCTGTCCGTGTGT
	GTTGTAGGCAGGTACATCTACGCTGTGGCGGGCCGTGACTACCACAATGACCTGAATG
	CTGTGGAGCGCTACGACCCTGCCACCAACTCCTGGGCATACGTGGCCCCACTCAAGAG
	GGAGGTAGTGTATGCCCACGCAGGCGCGACGCTGGAGGGGAAGATGTATATCACCTGC
	GGCCGCAGAGGGGAGGATTACCTGAAAGAGACACACTGCTACGATCCAGGCAGCAACA
	CTTGGCACACACTGGCTGATGGGCCTGTGCGGCGCGCCTGGCACGGCATGGCAACCCT
	CCTCAACAAGCTGTATGTGATCGGGGGCAGCAACAACGATGCCGGATACAGGAGGGAC
	GTGCACCAGCTCCCAGGTGCCCACGTGCTGCGCTGGCTGGAGGCAGCAAGGGGACGAG
	TGTGGGATTGCGGTGTGCGAACGCAACTCCACGTGCTCAGAGAACGAGGTGTGCGTGA
	GGCCTGGCGAGTGCCGCTGCCGCCACGGCTACTTCGGTGCCAACTGCGACACCAGTGT
	GGCCAGTGCAAGGGGCCAGCAGCCGTGCACGGTGGCCGAGGGCCGCTGCTTGACGTGC
	GAGCCCGGCTGGAACGGAACCAAGTGCGACCAGCCTTGCGCCACCGGTTTCTATGCCG
	AGGGCTGCAGCCACCGCTGTCCGCCATGCCGCGACGGGCATGCCTGTAACCATGTCAC
	CGGCAAGTGTACGCGCTGCAACGCGGGCTGGATCGGCGACCGGTGCGAGACCAAGTGT
	AGCAATGGCACTTACGGCGAGGACTGCGCCTTCGTGTGCGCCGACTGCGGCAGCGGAC
	ACTGCGACTTCCAGTCGGGGCGCTGCCTGTGCAGCCCTGGCGTCCACGGGCCCCAGTG
	AGTGCCCCGGGACCGGGAGGGGGTTGGGGGCTTGTACCTGCCACAGAGGGGGGTCCAG
	CCGACGAGGTGGCCTCTCCACCCTGAGCTGGGTTATCACCTCAGCCTTGGTCCCTTAC
	CCCAGCTAGGGAGTGACAGTAGGCTCTTTGGGGGCAGTTTCCTGCCTGGATGTCGGGG
	AGCTCACGTTCAGCGCAGGATCTGGTGACCAGTCCAGCCTGTGTCAGTGGGCTCTTAA
	GGTGACCCCGAGTTGGTACAGAAGGACCAGGGACCTCCACTTACAGCCAAGGGTCTGG
	TTCAGCAGCCCCTCTTCCCACCTAGCCGAGTCAGCCCCAGCAGTGGGCGCTGCCGCGC
	GGCCACCACGGGTCCTATCCCCCAGGCCCCCCCACTAGTGTTGTGCAACATTCGTTTC
	CAAAACATCCACTACCCAATATGTGCC
	ORF Start: ATG at 31	ORF Stop: TAA at 1903
	SEQ ID NO: 16	624 aa	MW at 71369.7 Da
	NOV 2a,	MAEEQEFTQLCKLPAQPSHPHCVNNTYRSAQHSQALLRGLLALRDSGILFDVVLVVEG
	CG105757-01	RHIEAHRILLAASCDYFRROMFAGGLKEMEQEEVLIHGVSYNAMCQILHFIYTSELEL
	Protein Sequence	SLSNVQETLVAACQLQIPEIIHFCCDFLMSWVDEENILDVYRLAELFDLSRLTEQLDT
		YILKNPVAFSRTDKYRQLPLEKVYSLLSSNRLEVSCETEVYEGALLYHYSLEQVQADQ
		ISLHEPPKLLETVRFPLMEAEVLQRLHDKLDPSPLRDTVASALMYHRNESLQPSLQSP
		QTELRSDFQCVVGFGGIHSTPSTVLSDQAKYLNPLLGEWKHFTASLAPRMSNQGIAVL
		NNFVYLIGGDNNVQGFRAESRCWRYDPRHNRWFQIQSLQQEHADLSVCVVGRYIYAVA
		GRDYHNDLNAVERYDPATNSWAYVAPLKREVVYAHAGATLEGKMYITCGRRGEDYLKE
		THCYDPGSNTWHTLADGPVRRAWHGMATLLNKLYVIGGSNNDAGYRRDVHQLPGAHVL
		RWLEAARGRVWDCGVRRQLHVLRERGVREAWRVPLPPRLLRCQLRHQCGQCKGPAAVH
		GGRGPLLDVRARLERNQVRPALRHRFLWRGLQPPLSAMPRRACL

[0344] Further analysis of the NOV2a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 2B.

TABLE 2B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV2a
PSort     0.7900 probability located in plasma membrane; 0.3000
analysis: probability located in microbody (peroxisome); 0.3000
          probability located in Golgi body; 0.2000 probability located
          in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane)
SignalP   No Known Signal Sequence Predicted
analysis:

[0345] A search of the NOV2a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 2C.

TABLE 2C
Geneseq Results for NOV2a
			Identities/
			Similari-
		NOV2a/	ties
	Protein/	Residues/	for the
Geneseq	Organism/Length	Match	Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAM39985	Human polypeptide	1 . . . 516	512/516	0.0
	SEQ ID NO 3130 -	1 . . . 514	(99%)
	Homo sapiens, 634 aa.		514/516
	[WO200153312-A1,		(99%)
	26 JUL. 2001]
AAB92457	Human protein	1 . . . 503	501/503	0.0
	sequence	1 . . . 501	(99%)
	SEQ ID NO: 10499 -		501/503
	Homo sapiens, 525 aa.		(99%)
	[EP1074617-A2,
	07 FEB. 2001]
AAB60095	Human transport	1 . . . 457	453/457	0.0
	protein TPPT-15-	1 . . . 455	(99%)
	Homo sapiens, 462 aa.		454/457
	[WO200078953-A2,		(99%)
	28 DEC. 2000]
AAM41771	Human polypeptide	1 . . . 458	447/458	0.0
	SEQ ID NO 6702 -	66 . . . .521	(97%)
	Homo sapiens, 524 aa.		451/458
	[WO200153312-A1,		(97%)
	26 JUL. 2001]
ABG27028	Novel human	78 . . . 372	295/295	e−171
	diagnostic protein	127 . . . .421	(100%)
	#27019 -		295/295
	Homo sapiens, 421 aa.		(100%)
	[WO200175067-A2,
	11 OCT. 2001]

[0346] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV2a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 2D.

TABLE 2D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV2a
			Identities/
			Similari-
		NOV1a	ties
Protein		Residues/	for the
Accession	Protein/	Match	Matched	Expect
Number	Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q96B68	Hypothetical 71.7 kDa	1 . . . 516	513/516	0.0
	protein - Homo	1 . . . 514	(99%)
	sapiens (Human),		514/516
	634 aa.			(99%)
Q9KC6	CDNA FLJ14360	1 . . . 503	501/503	0.0
	fis, clone	1 . . . 501	(99%)
	HEMBA 1000488,	501/503
	weakly similar to		(99%)
	RING CANAL
	protein - Homo
	sapiens
	(Human), 525 aa.
Q99JN2	Hypothetical 71.7 kDa	1 . . . 516	487/516	0.0
	protein - Mus	1 . . . 514	(99%)
	musculus (Mouse),		502/516
	634 aa.		(96%)
Q96Q17	Hypothetical 98.2 kDa	27 . . . 504	170/486	4e−75
	protein - Homo	18 . . . 493	(34%)
	sapiens (Human),		274/486
	604 aa.		(55%)
Q9P2N7	Hypothetical protein	27 . . . 504	170/486	4e−75
	KIAA1309 - Homo	53 . . . 528	(34%)
	sapiens (Human),		274/486
	639 aa (fragment).		(55%)

[0347] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV2a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 2E.

TABLE 2E
Domain Analysis of NOV2a
		Identities
Pfam	NOV2a	Similarities
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Expect Value
BTB	34 . . . 146	37/144 (26%)	1.6e−22
		87/144 (60%)
Kelch	339 . . . 387	13/49 (27%)	1.5e−06
		37/49 (76%)
Kelch	389 . . . 434	12/47 (26%)	8e−07
		35/47 (74%)
Kelch	437 . . . 482	12/47 (26%)	0.0079
		31/47 (66%)

Example 3

[0348] The NOV3 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 3A.

TABLE 3A
NOV3 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 17	5369 bp
NOV 3a,	ATCCTCTCCGGGCTGTTCCCTGGCCTGTCTGCTCCTCCGGGCTCTGTCCCAGCAGCGA
CG108175-01	CAATGAGCTCCACACTCCACTCGGTTTTCTTCACCCTGAAGGTCAGCATCCTGCTGGG
DNA Sequence	GTCCCTGCTGGGGCTCTGCCTGGGCCTTGAGTTCATGGGCCTCCCCAACCAGTGGGCC
	CGCTACCTCCGCTGGGATGCCAGCACACGCAGTGACCTGAGTTTCCAGTTCAAGACCA
	ACGTCTCTACGGGGCTGCTCCTCTACCTGGATGATGGCGGCGTCTGCGACTTCCTATG
	CCTCTCCCTGGTGGATGGCCGCGTTCAGCTCCGCTTCAGCATGGACTGTGCCGAGACT
	GCCGTGCTGTCCAACAAGCAGGTGAATGACAGCAGCTGGCACTTCCTCATGGTGAGCC
	GTGACCGCCTGCGCACGGTGCTGATGCTTGATGGCGAGGGCCAGTCTGGGGAGCTGCA
	GCCCCAGCGGCCCTACATGGATGTGGTCAGTGACTTGTTCCTTGGTGGAGTCCCTACT
	GACATACGACCTTCTGCCCTGACCCTTGATGGAGTTCAGGCCATGCCCGGCTTCAAGG
	GGTTAATTCTGGATCTCAAGTATGGAAACTCGGAGCCTCGGCTTCTGGGGAGCCGGGG
	TGTCCAGATGGATGCCGAGGGACCCTGTGGTGAGCGTCCCTGTGAAAATGGTGGGATC
	TGCTTTCTCCTGGACGGCCACCCCACCTGTGACTGTTCTACCACTGGCTATGGTGGCA
	AGCTCTGCTCAGAAGGCCTCTCCCACCTCATGATGAGTGAACAAGCTCGAGAGGAGAA
	TGTGGCCACTTTCCGAGGCTCAGAGTATCTGTGCTACGACCTGTCTCAGAACCCGATC
	CAGAGCAGCAGTGATGAAATCACCCTCTCCTTTAAGACCTGGCAGCGTAACGGCCTCA
	TCCTGCACACGGGCAAGTCGGCTGACTATGTCAACCTGGCTCTGAAGGATGGTGCGGT
	CTCCTTGGTCATTAACCTGGGGTCCGGGGCCTTTGAGGCCATTGTGGAGCCAGTGAAT
	GGAAAATTCAACGACAACGCCTGGCATGATGTCAAAGTGACACGCAACCTCCGGCAGG
	TGACAATCTCTGTGGATGGCATTCTTACCACGACGGGCTACACTCAAGAGGACTATAC
	CATGCTGGGCTCGGACGACTTCTTCTATGTAGGAGGAAGCCCAAGTACCGCTGACTTG
	CCTGGCTCCCCTGTCAGCAACAACTTCATGGGCTGCCTTAAAGAGGTTGTTTATAAGA
	ATAATGACATCCGTCTGGAGCTGTCTCGCCTGGCCCGGATTGCGGACACCAAGATGAA
	AATCTATGGCGAAGTTGTGTTTAAGTGTGAGAATGTGGCCACACTGGACCCCATCAAC
	TTTGAGACCCCAGAGGCTTACATCAGCTTGCCCAAGTGGAACACTAAACGTATGGGCT
	CCATCTCCTTTGACTTCCGCACCACAGAGCCCAATGGCCTGATCCTCTTCACTCATGG
	AAAGCCCCAAGAGAGGAAGGATGCTCGGAGCCAGAAGAATACAAAAGTAGACTTCTTT
	GCCGTGGAACTCCTCGATGGCAACCTGTACTTGCTGCTTGACATGGGCTCTGGCACCA
	TCAAAGTGAAAGCCACTCAGAAGAAAGCCAATGATGGGGAATGGTACCATGTGGACAT
	TCAGCGAGATGGCAGATCAGGTACTATATCAGTGAACAGCAGGCGCACGCCATTCACC
	CCCAGTGGGGAGAGCGAGATCCTGGACCTGGAAGGAGACATGTACCTGGGAGGGCTGC
	CGGAGAACCGTGCTGGCCTTATTCTCCCCACCGAGCTGTGGACTGCCATGCTCAACTA
	TGGCTACGTGGGCTGCATCCGCGACCTATTCATTGATGGGCGCAGCAAGAACATTCGA
	CAGCTGGCAGAGATGCAGAATGCTGCGGGTGTCAAGTCCTCCTGTTCACGGATGAGTG
	CCAAGCAGTGTGACAGCTACCCCTGCAAGAATAATGCTGTGTGCAAGGACGGCTGGAA
	CCGCTTCATCTGCGACTGCACCGGCACCGGATACTGGGGAAGAACCTGCGAAAGGGAG
	GCATCCATCCTGAGCTATGATGGTAGCATGTACATGAAGATCATCATGCCCATGGTCA
	TGCATACTGAGGCAGAGGATGTGTCCTTCCGCTTCATGTCCCAGCGAGCTTATGGGCT
	GCTGGTGGCTACGACCTCCAGGGACTCTGCCGACACCCTGCGTCTGGAGCTGGATGGG
	GGGCGTGTCAAGCTCATGGTTAACTTAGACTGTATCAGGATAAACTGTAACTCCAGCA
	AAGGACCAGAGACCTTGTATGCAGGGCAGAAGCTCAATGACAACGAGTGGCACACCGT
	TCGGGTGGTGCGGAGAGGAAAAAGCCTTAAGTTAACCGTGGATGATGATGTGGCTGAG
	GGTACAATGGTGGGAGACCATACCCGTTTGGAGTTCCACAACATTGAAACGGGAATCA
	TGACTGAGAAACGCTACATCTCCGTTGTCCCCTCCAGCTTTATTGGCCATCTGCAGAG
	CCTCATGTTTAATGGCCTTCTCTACATTGACTTGTGCAAAAATGGTGACATTGATTAT
	TGTGAGCTGAAGGCTCGTTTTGGACTGAGGAACATCATCGCTGACCCTGTCACCTTTA
	AGACCAAGAGCAGCTACCTGAGCCTTGCCACTCTTCAGGCTTACACCTCCATGCACCT
	CTTCTTCCAGTTCAAGACCACCTCACCAGATGGCTTCATTCTCTTCAATAGTGGTGAT
	GGCAATGACTTCATTGCAGTCGAGCTTGTCAAGGGGTATATACACTACGTTTTTGACC
	TCGGAAACGGTCCCAATGTGATCAAAGGCAACAGTGACCGCCCCCTGAATGACAACCA
	GTGGCACAATGTCGTCATCACTCGGGACAATAGTAACACTCATAGCCTGAAAGTGGAC
	ACCAAAGTGGTCACTCAGGTTATCAATGGTGCCAAAAATCTGGATTTGAAAGGTGATC
	TCTATATGGCTGGTCTGGCCCAAGGCATGTACAGCAACCTCCCAAAGCTCGTGGCCTC
	TCGAGATGCCTTTCAGGGCTGTCTAGCATCAGTGGACTTGAATGGACGCCTGCCAGAC
	CTCATCAATGATGCTCTTCATCGGAGCGGACAGATCGAGCGTGGCTGTGAAGGTACAA
	CCTTACTAGGACCCAGTACCACCTGCCAGGAAGATTCATGTGCCAACCAGGGGGTCTG
	CATGCAACAATGGGAGGGCTTCACCTGTGATTGTTCTATGACCTCTTATTCTGGAAAC
	CAGTGCAATGATCCTGGCGCTACGTACATCTTTGGGAAAAGTGGTGGGCTTATCCTCT
	ACACCTGGCCAGCCAATGACAGGCCCAGCACGCGGTCTGACCGCCTTGCCGTGGGCTT
	CAGCACCACTGTGAAGGATGGCATCTTGGTCCGCATCGACAGTGCTCCAGGACTTGGT
	GACTTCCTCCAGCTTCACATAGAACAGGGGAAAATTGGAGTTGTCTTCAACATTGGCA
	CAGTTGACATCTCCATCAAAGAGGAGAGAACCCCTGTAAATGACGGCAAATACCATGT
	GGTACGCTTCACCAGGAACGGCGGCAACGCCACCCTGCAGGTGGACAACTGGCCAGTG
	AATGAACATTATCCTACAGGCAACACTGATAATGAACGCTTCCAAATGGTAAAACAGA
	AAATCCCCTTCAAATATAATCGGCCTGTAGAGGAGTGGCTGCAGGAAAAAGGCCGGCA
	GTTAACCATCTTCAACACTCAGGCGCAAATAGCCATTGGTGGAAAGGACAAAGGACGC
	CTCTTCCAAGGCCAACTCTCTGGGCTCTATTATGATGGTTTGAAAGTACTGAACATGG
	CGGCTGAGAACAACCCCAATATTAAAATCAATGGAAGTGTTCGGCTGGTTGGAGAAGT
	CCCATCAATTTTGGGAACAACACAGACGACCTCCATGCCACCAGAAATGTCTACTACT
	GTCATGGAAACCACTACTACAATGGCGACTACCACAACCCGTAAGAATCGCTCTACAG
	CCAGCATTCAGCCAACATCAGATGATCTTGTTTCATCTGCTGAATGTTCAAGTGATGA
	TGAAGACTTTGTTGAATGTGAGCCGAGTACAGGAGGTGAATTAGTTATCCCTCTTCTT
	GTAGAAGACCCTTTAGCTACCCCTCCTATTGCTACTCGTGCACCTTCCATTACACTCC
	CCCCTACCTTTCGCCCCCTCCTCACCATTATTGAGACCACCAAAGATTCCCTGTCCAT
	GACCTCTGAGGCGGGGTTACCTTGCTTGTCGGACCAAGGCAGCGATGGTTGTGATGAT
	GATGGCTTGGTGATATCTGGGTATGGCTCAGGGGAAACCTTTGACTCTAACCTGCCCC
	CTACTGATGATGAAGATTTTTACACCACCTTCTCCTTGGTAACAGATAAGAGTCTTTC
	CACTTCAATCTTCGAAGGTGGCTACAAAGCACATGCGCCCAAGTGGGAATCCAAGGAC
	TTTAGACCTAACAAAGTCTCCGAAACTAGTAGGACTACTACCACATCTTTATCCCCTG
	AGCTGATCCGCTTCACAGCTTCCTCCTCGTCTGGGATGGTGCCCAAATTGCCAGCTGG
	CAAAATGAATAACCGTGATCTCAAACCCCAGCCTGATATAGTCTTGCTTCCGTTGCCC
	ACTGCCTATGAGCTAGACAGCACCAAACTGAAGAGCCCACTAATTACTTCCCCCATGT
	TCCCTAATGTGCCCACAGCAAACCCCACGGAGCCGGGAATCAGACGGGTTCCGGGGGC
	CTCAGAGGTGATCCGGGAGTCGAGCAGCACAACAGGGATGGTCGTCGGCATTGTGGCT
	GCTGCCGCCCTCTGCATCTTGATCCTCCTGTACGCCATGTACAAGTACAGGAACAGGG
	ACGAGGGGTCCTATCAAGTGGACGAGACGCGGAACTACATCAGCAACTCCGCCCAGAG
	CAACGGCACGCTCATGAAGGAGAAGCAGCAGAGCTCGAAGAGCGGCCACAAGAAACAG
	AAAAACAAGGACAGGGAGTATTACGTGTAAACATGCGAACACTGCTCACACGCGAGTT
	TTCACAGTTATTTCTATCCACGCCTATGAATCTTTGGACGGTGAGATCTCACAGATGT
	CAGAACTGCTGGAACTATGAAATGGGGTATATAACCACGACTCTGGTGGGGAAAACCG
	TTTTTTAAAGGACACACACACACACACAGCGATGCATCTCTCTCTAAAGCTCAGCCAC
	GGCTGCGGCAAGGTCCCAGCGGTCGCTGGGAGACAGAAGGTTTTGTGCCCTGCTGTAT
	CATAAAGCACACACTTAGCGCTCTGGAGCCGGA
	ORF Start: ATG at 61	ORF Stop: TAA at 5074
	SEQ ID NO: 18	1671 aa	MW at 184075.2 Da
NOV 3a,	MSSTLHSVFFTLKVSILLGSLLGLCLGLEFMGLPNQWARYLRWDASTRSDLSFQFKTN
CG108175-01	VSTGLLLYLDDGGVCDFLCLSLVDGRVQLRFSMDCAETAVLSNKQVNDSSWHFLMVSR
Protein Sequence	DRLRTVLMLDGEGQSGELQPQRPYMDVVSDLFLGGVPTDIRPSALTLDGVQAMPGFKG
	LILDLKYGNSEPRLLGSRGVQMDAEGPCGERPCENGGICFLLDGHPTCDCSTTGYGGK
	LCSEGLSHLMMSEQAREENVATFRGSEYLCYDLSQNPIQSSSDEITLSFKTWQRNGLI
	LHTGKSADYVNLALKDGAVSLVINLGSGAFEAIVEPVNGKFNDNAWHDVKVTRNLRQV
	TISVDGILTTTGYTQEDYTMLGSDDFFYVGGSPSTADLPGSPVSNNFMGCLKEVVYKN
	NDIRLELSRLARIADTKMKIYGEVVFKCENVATLDPINFETPEAYISLPKWNTKRMGS
	ISFDFRTTEPNGLILFTHGKPQERKDARSQKNTKVDFFAVELLDGNLYLLLDMGSGTI
	KVKATQKKANDGEWYHVDIQRDGRSGTISVNSRRTPFTASGESEILDLEGDMYLGGLP
	ENRAGLILPTELWTAMLNYGYVGCIRDLFIDGRSKNIRQLAEMQNAAGVKSSCSRMSA
	KQCDSYPCKNNAVCKDGWNRFICDCTGTGYWGRTCEREASILSYDGSMYMKIIMPMVM
	HTEAEDVSFRFMSQRAYGLLVATTSRDSADTLRLELDGGRVKLMVNLDCIRINCNSSK
	GPETLYAGQKLNDNEWHTVRVVRRGKSLKLTVDDDVAEGTMVGDHTRLEFHNIETGIM
	TEKRYISVVPSSFIGHLQSLMFNGLLYIDLCKNGDIDYCELKARFGLRNIIADPVTFK
	TKSSYLSLATLQAYTSMHLFFQFKTTSPDGFILFNSGDGNDFIAVELVKGYIHYVFDL
	GNGPNVIKGNSDRPLNDNQWHNVVITRDNSNTHSLKVDTKVVTQVINGAKNLDLKGDL
	YMAGLAQGMYSNLPKLVASRDGFQGCLASVDLNGRLPDLINDALHRSGQIERGCEGTT
	LLGPSTTCQEDSCANQGVCMQQWEGFTCDCSMTSYSGNQCNDPGATYIFGKSGGLILY
	TWPANDRPSTRSDRLAVGFSTTVKDGILVRIDSAPGLGDFLQLHIEQGKIGVVFNIGT
	VDISIKEERTPVNDGKYHVVRFTRNGGNATLQVDNWPVNEHYPTGNTDNERFQMVKQK
	IPFKYNRPVEEWLQEKGRQLTIFNTQAQIAIGGKDKGRLFQGQLSGLYYDGLKVLNMA
	AENNPNIKINGSVRLVGEVPSILGTTQTTSMPPEMSTTVMETTTTMATTTTRKNRSTA
	SIQPTSDDLVSSAECSSDDEDFVECEPSTGGELVIPLLVEDPLATPPIATRAPSITLP
	PTFRPLLTIIETTKDSLSMTSEAGLPCLSDQGSDGCDDDGLVISGYGSGETFDSNLPP
	TDDEDFYTTFSLVTDKSLSTSIFEGGYKAHAPKWESKDFRPNKVSETSRTTTTSLSPE
	LIRFTASSSSGMVPKLPAGKMNNRDLKPQPDIVLLPLPTAYELDSTKLKSPLITSPMF
	RNVPTANPTEPGIRRVPGASEVIRESSSTTGMVVGIVAAAALCILILLYAMYKYRNRD
	EGSYQVDETRNYISNSAQSNGTLMKEKQQSSKSGHKKQKNKDREYYV
	SEQ ID NO: 19	5335 bp
NOV 3b,	CATACAGACAGATCCCAAATCTTCTGTTCAACTGGAAAGGTCTTTTCTCTGGAGTCCT
CG108175-02	GGGAGGCAAGTTATGGGCAGCACTGCTTCTGGCCGCACCATGAAGCCTGAGTCTGCTT
DNA Sequence	GCGCTCTGCCCAGGGCCCTGCTCTGTCTGAGCATTGGGCTTCTAGCTGCCCCCCTCCC
	CACAGCCTGCCGCTGCTAGGAGGTAGAACTTTAGGAGTGGTCCTTGGCCTGTTTCTAC
	CTGTCACCTGGCTCACCTCACCACTCACTCCTCCTCCATCACAGCACCCCGGCCCTCC
	CTGTCCCTGGCCTCCCTGGCTGGGGCATTTGGGGGTCCGCTGGGAGGAGTGCATCGCT
	GAAGGCTTCTTCCTACTCTCCTGCACCTTCTCCTCCTTGAGTCAAGGCCTCCGGATCC
	ACATGGATAGCTGAGATCTTTTCTTGGAGAAAGACGCTTTCCTCTTTACTCCAGTCCC
	TCACTTCCCCACCTGATTTTCCTCCTCTTCTGCTGGTCCTGTCTTTTTCTACTGCCTC
	TTTATTCAATTTCTTGCTTGTGTGCCCCTCTGGGACTCTCTTGTACACTTTCCTCCAT
	CTCCACTATCTCAGGATCTGTGTGTGTGCTGCCTTCCTCCTGTGTGCTTTCTGTCCCC
	CCATCTCTGTCTTGTCTTTCCCACTTCTATTGCCAAAGGGAGAGATCCTCTCCGGGCT
	GTTCCCTGGCCTGTCTGCTCCTCCGGGCTCTGTCCCAGCAGCGACAATGAGCTCCACA
	CTCCACTCGGTTTTCTTCACCCTGAAGGTCAGCATCCTGCTGGGGTCCCTGCTGGGGC
	TCTGCCTGGGCCTTGAGTTCATGGGCCTCCCCAACCAGTGGGCCCGCTACCTCCGCTG
	GGATGCCAGCACACGCAGTGACCTGAGTTTCCAGTTCAAGACCAACGTCTCTACGGGG
	CTGCTCCTCTACCTGGATGATGGCGGCGTCTGCGACTTCCTATGCCTCTCCCTGGTGG
	ATGGCCGCGTTCAGCTCCGCTTCAGCATGGACTGTGCCGAGACTGCCGTGCTGTCCAA
	CAAGCAGGTGAATCACAGCAGCTGGCACTTCCTCATGGTGAGCCGTGACCGCCTGCGC
	ACGGTGCTGATGCTTGATGGCCAGGGCCAGTCTGGGGAGCTGCAGCCCCAGCGGCCCT
	ACATGGATGTGGTCAGTGACTTGTTCCTTGGTGGAGTCCCTACTGACATACGACCTTC
	TGCCCTGACCCTTGATGGAGTTCAGGCCATGCCCGGCTTCAAGGGGTTAATTCTGGAT
	CTCAAGTATGGAAACTCGGAGCCTCGGCTTCTGGGGAGCCGGGGTGTCCAGATGGATG
	CCGAGGGACCCTGTGGTGAGCGTCCCTGTGAAAATGGTGGGATCTGCTTTCTCCTGGA
	CGGCCACCCCACCTGTGACTGTTCTACCACTGGCTATGGTGGCAAGCTCTGCTCAGAA
	GATGTCAGTCAAGATCCAGGCCTCTCCCACCTCATGATGAGTGAACAAGGTAGGTGCT
	TTGCTCGAGAGGAGAATCTGGCCACTTTCCGAGGCTCAGAGTATCTGTGCTACGACCT
	GTCTCAGAACCCGATCCAGAGCAGCAGTGATGAAATCACCCTCTCCTTTAAGACCTGG
	CAGCGTAACGGCCTCATCCTGCACACGGGCAAGTCGGCTGACTATGTCAACCTGGCTC
	TGAAGGATGGTGCGGTCTCCTTGGTCATTAACCTGGGGTCCGGGGCCTTTGAGGCCAT
	TGTGGAGCCAGTGAATGGAAAATTCAACGACAACGCCTGGCATGATGTCAAAGTGACA
	CGCAACCTCCGGCAGGTGACAATCTCTGTGGATGGCATTCTTACCACGACGGGCTACA
	CTCAAGAGGACTATACCATGCTGGGCTCGGACGACTTCTTCTATGTAGGAGGAAGCCC
	AAGTACCGCTGACTTGCCTGGCTCCCCTGTCAGCAACAACTTCATGGGCTGCCTTAAA
	GAGGTTGTTTATAAGAATAATGACATCCGTCTGGAGCTGTCTCGCCTGGCCCGGATTG
	CGGACACCAAGATGAAAATCTATGGCGAAGTTGTGTTTAAGTGTGAGAATGTGGCCAC
	ACTGGACCCCATCAACTTTGAGACCCCAGAGGCTTACATCAGCTTGCCCAAGTGGAAC
	ACTAAACGTATGGGCTCCATCTCCTTTGACTTCCGCACCACAGAGCCCAATGGCCTGA
	TCCTCTTCACTCATGGAAAGCCCCAAGAGAGGAAGGATGCTCGGAGCCAGAAGAATAC
	AAAAGTAGACTTCTTTGCCGTGGAACTCCTCGATGGCAACCTGTACTTGCTGCTTGAC
	ATGGGCTCTGGCACCATCAAAGTGAAAGCCACTCAGAAGAAAGCCAATGATGGGGAAT
	GGTACCATGTGGACATTCAGCGAGATGGCAGATCAGGTACTATATCAGTGAACAGCAG
	GCGCACGCCATTCACCGCCAGTGGGGAGAGCGAGATCCTGGACCTGGAAGGAGACATG
	TACCTGGGAGGGCTGCCGGAGAACCGTGCTGGCCTTATTCTCCCCACCGAGCTGTGGA
	CTGCCATGCTCAACTATGGCTACGTGGGCTGCATCCGCGACCTATTCATTGATGGGCG
	CAGCAAGAACATTCGACAGCTGGCAGAGATGCAGAATGCTGCGGGTGTCAAGTCCTCC
	TGTTCACGGATGAGTGCCAAGCAGTGTGACAGCTACCCCTGCAAGAATAATGCTGTGT
	GCAAGGACGGCTGGAACCGCTTCATCTGCGACTGCACCGGCACCGGATACTGGGGAAG
	AACCTGCGAAAGGGAGGCATCCATCCTGAGCTATGATGGTAGCATGTACATGAAGATC
	ATCATGCCCATGGTCATGCATACTGAGGCAGAGGATGTGTCCTTCCGCTTCATGTCCC
	AGCGAGCTTATGGGCTGCTGGTGGCTACGACCTCCAGGGACTCTGCCGACACCCTGCG
	TCTGGAGCTGGATGGGGGGCGTGTCAAGCTCATGGTTAACTTAGACTGTATCAGGATA
	AACTGTAACTCCAGCAAAGGACCAGAGACCTTGTATCCAGGGCAGAAGCTCAATGACA
	ACGAGTGGCACACCGTTCGGGTGGTGCGGAGAGGAAAAAGCCTTAAGTTAACCCTGGA
	TGATGATGTGGCTGAGGGTACAATGGTGGGAGACCATACCCGTTTGGAGTTCCACAAC
	ATTGAAACGGGAATCATGACTGAGAAACGCTACATCTCCGTTGTCCCCTCCAGCTTTA
	TTGGCCATCTGCAGAGCCTCATGTTTAATGGCCTTCTCTACATTGACTTGTGCAAAAA
	TGGTGACATTGATTATTGTGAGCTGAAGGCTCGTTTTGGACTGAGGAACATCATCGCT
	GACCCTGTCACCTTTAAGACCAAGAGCAGCTACCTGAGCCTTGCCACTCTTCAGGCTT
	ACACCTCCATGCACCTCTTCTTCCAGTTCAAGACCACCTCACCAGATGGCTTCATTCT
	CTTCAATAGTGGTGATGGCAATGACTTCATTGCAGTCGAGCTTGTCAAGGGGTATATA
	CACTACGTTTTTGACCTCGGAAACGGTCCCAATGTGATCAAAGGCAACAGTGACCGCC
	CCCTGAATGACAACCAGTGGCACAATGTCGTCATCACTCGGGACAATAGTAACACTCA
	TAGCCTGAAAGTGGACACCAAAGTGGTCACTCAGGTTATCAATGGTGCCAAAAATCTG
	GATTTGAAAGGTGATCTCTATATGGCTGGTCTGGCCCAAGGCATGTACAGCAACCTCC
	CAAAGCTCGTGGCCTCTCGAGATGGCTTTCAGGGCTGTCTAGCATCAGTGGACTTGAA
	TGGACGCCTGCCAGACCTCATCAATGATGCTCTTCATCGGAGCGGACAGATCGAGCGT
	GGCTGTGAAGGACCCAGTACCACCTGCCAGGAAGATTCATGTGCCAACCACGGGGTCT
	GCATGCAACAATGGGAGGGCTTCACCTGTGATTGTTCTATGACCTCTTATTCTGGAAA
	CCAGTGCAATGATCCTGGCGCTACGTACATCTTTGGGAAAAGTGGTGGGCTTATCCTC
	TACACCTGGCCAGCCAATGACAGGCCCAGCACGCGGTCTGACCGCCTTGCCGTGGGCT
	TCAGCACCACTGTGAAGGATGGCATCTTGGTCCGCATCGACAGTGCTCCAGGACTTGG
	TGACTTCCTCCAGCTTCACATAGAACAGGGGAAAATTGGAGTTGTCTTCAACATTGGC
	ACAGTTGACATCTCCATCAAAGAGGAGAGAACCCCTGTAAATGACGGCAAATACCATG
	TGGTACGCTTCACCAGGAACGGCGGCAACGCCACCCTGCAGGTGGACAACTGGCCAGT
	GAATGAACATTATCCTACAGGCAACACTGATAATGAACGCTTCCAAATGGTAAAACAG
	AAAATCCCCTTCAAATATAATCGGCCTGTAGAGGAGTGGCTGCAGGAAAAAGGCCGGC
	AGTTAACCATCTTCAACACTCAGGCGCAAATAGCCATTGGTGGAAAGGACAAAGGACG
	CCTCTTCCAAGGCCAACTCTCTGGGCTCTATTATGATGGTTTGAAGTACTGAAACATG
	GCGGCTGAGAACAACCCCAATATTAAAATCAATGGAAGTGTTCGGCTGGTTGGAGAAG
	TCCCATCAATTTTGGGAACAACACAGACGACCTCCATGCCACCAGAAATGTCTACTAC
	TGTCATGGAAACCACTACTACAATGGCGACTACCACAACCCGTAAGAATCGCTCTACA
	GCCAGCATTCAGCCAACATCAGATGATCTTGTTTCATCTGCTGAATGTTCAAGTGATG
	ATGAAGACTTTGTTGAATGTGAGCCGAGTACAGGTAGGTCAGCAAACCCCACGGAGCC
	GGGAATCAGACGGGTTCCGGGGGCCTCAGAGGTGATCCGGGAGTCGAGCAGCACAACA
	GGGATGGTCGTCGGCATTGTGGCTGCTGCCGCCCTCTGCATCTTGATCCTCCTGTACG
	CCATGTACAAGTACAGGAACAGGGACGAGGGGTCCTATCAAGTGGACGAGACGCGGAA
	CTACATCAGCAACTCCGCCCAGAGCAACGGCACGCTCATGAAGGAGAAGCAGCAGAGC
	TCGAAGAGCGGCCACAAGAAACAGAAAAACAAGGACAGGGAGTATTACGTGTAAACAT
	GCGAACACTGCTCACACGCGAGTTTTCACAGTTATTTCTATCCACGCCTATGAATCTT
	TGGACGGTGAGATCTCACAGATGTCAGAACTGCTGGAACTATGAAATGGGGTATATAA
	CCACGACTCTGGTGGGGAAAACCGTTTTTAAAGGACACACACACACACACAGCGATG
	ORF Start: ATG at 743	ORF Stop: TAA at 5156
	SEQ ID NO: 20	1471 aa	MW at 162660.3 Da
NOV 3b,	MSSTLHSVFFTLKVSILLGSLLGLCLGLEFMGLPNQWARYLRWDASTRSDLSFQFKTN
CG108175-02	VSTGLLLYLDDGGVCDFLCLSLVDGRVQLRFSMDCAETAVLSNKQVNDSSWHFLMVSR
Protein Sequence	DRLRTVLMLDGEGQSGELQPQRPYMDVVSDLFLGGVPTDIRPSALTLDGVQAMPGFKG
	LILDLKYGNSEPRLLGSRGVQMDAEGPCGERPCENGGICFLLDGHPTCDCSTTGYGGK
	LCSEDVSQDPGLSHLMMSEQGRCFAREENVATFRGSEYLCYDLSQNPIQSSSDEITLS
	FKTWQRNGLILHTGKSADYVNLALKDGAVSLVINLGSGAFEAIVEPVNGKFNDNAWHD
	VKVTRNLRQVTISVDGILTTTGYTQEDYTMLGSDDFFYVGGSPSTADLRGSPVSNNFM
	GCLKEVVYKNNDIRLELSRLARIADTKMKIYGEVVFKCENVATLDPINFETPEAYISL
	PKWNTKRMGSISFDFRTTEPNGLILFTHGKPQERKDARSQKNTKVDFFAVELLDGNLY
	LLLDMGSGTIKVKATQKKANDGEWYHVDIQRDGRSGTISVNSRRTPFTASGESEILDL
	EGDMYLGGLPENRAGLILPTELWTAMLNYGYVGCIRDLFIDGRSKNIRQLAEMQNAAG
	VKSSCSRMSAKQCDSYPCKNNAVCKDGWNRFICDCTGTGYWGRTCEREASILSYDGSM
	YMKIIMPMVMHTEAEDVSFRFMSQRAYGLLVATTSRDSADTLRLELDGGRVKLMVNLD
	CIRINCNSSKGPETLYAGQKLNDNEWHTVRVVRRGKSLKLTVDDDVAEGTMVGDHTRL
	EFHNIETGIMTEKRYISVVPSSFIGHLQSLMFNGLLYIDLCKNGDIDYCELKARFGLR
	NIIADPVTFKTKSSYLSLATLQAYTSMHLFFQFKTTSPDGFILFNSGDGNDFIAVELV
	KGYIHYVFDLGNGPNVIKGNSDRPLNDNQWHNVVITRDNSNTHSLKVDTKVVTQVING
	AKNLDLKGDLYMAGLAQGMYSNLPKLVASRDGFQGCLASVDLNGRLPDLINDALHRSG
	QIERGCEGPSTTCQEDSCANQGVCMQQWEGFTCDCSMTSYSGNQCNDPGATYIFGKSG
	GLILYTWPANDRPSTRSDRLAVGFSTTVKDGILVRIDSAPGLGDFLQLHIEQGKIGVV
	FNIGTVDISIKEERTPVNDGKYHVVRFTRNGGNATLQVDNWPVNEHYPTGNTDNERFQ
	MVKQKIPFKYNRPVEEWLQEKGRQLTIFNTQAQIAIGGKDKGRLFQGQLSGLYYDGLK
	VLNMAAENNPNIKINGSVRLVGEVPSILGTTQTTSMPPEMSTTVMETTTTMATTTTRK
	NRSTASIQPTSDDLVSSAECSSDDEDFVECEPSTGRSANPTEPGIRRVPGASEVIRES
	SSTTGMVVGIVAAAALCILILLYAMYKYRNRDEGSYQVDETRNYISNSAQSNGTLMKE
	KQQSSKSGHKKQKNKDREYYV
	SEQ ID NO: 21	5116 bp
NOV 3c,	CATACAGACAGATCCCAAATCTTCTGTTCAACTGGAAAGGTCTTTTCTCTGCAGTCCT
CG108175-03	GGGAGGCAAGTTATGGGCAGCACTGCTTCTGGCCGCACCATGAAGCCTGAGTCTGCTT
DNA Sequence	GCGCTCTGCCCAGGGCCCTGCTCTGTCTGAGCATTGGGCTTCTAGCTGCCCCCCTCCC
	CACAGCCTGCCGCTGCTAGGAGGTAGAACTTTAGGAGTGGTCCTTGGCCTGTTTCTAC
	CTGTCACCTGGCTCACCTCACCACTCACTCCTCCTCCATCACAGCACCCCGGCCCTCC
	CTGTCCCTGGCCTCCCTGGCTGGGGCATTTGGGGGTCCCCTGGGAGGAGTGCATCGCT
	GAAGGCTTCTTCCTACTCTCCTGCACCTTCTCCTCCTTGAGTCAAGGCCTCCGGATCC
	ACATGGATAGCTGAGATCTTTTCTTGGAGAAAGACGCTTTCCTCTTTACTCCAGTCCC
	TCACTTCCCCACCTGATTTTCCTCCTCTTCTGCTGGTCCTGTCTTTTTCTACTGCCTC
	TTTATTCAATTTCTTGCTTGTGTGCCCCTCTGGGACTCTCTTGTACACTTTCCTCCAT
	CTCCACTATCTCAGGATCTGTGTGTGTGCTGCCTTCCTCCTGTGTGCTTTCTGTCCCC
	CCATCTCTGTCTTGTCTTTCCCACTTCTATTGCCAAAGGGAGAGATCCTCTCCGGGCT
	GTTCCCTGGCCTGTCTGCTCCTCCGGGCTCTGTCCCAGCAGCGACAATGAGCTCCACA
	CTCCACTCGGTTTTCTTCACCCTGAAGGTCAGCATCCTGCTGGGGTCCCTGCTGGGGC
	TCTGCCTGGGCCTTGAGTTCATGGGCCTCCCCAACCAGTGGGCCCGCTACCTCCGCTG
	GGATGCCAGCACACGCAGTGACCTGAGTTTCCAGTTCAAGACCAACGTCTCTACGGGG
	CTGCTCCTCTACCTGGATGATGGCGGCGTCTGCGACTTCCTATGCCTCTCCCTGGTGG
	ATGGCCGCGTTCAGCTCCGCTTCAGCATGGACTGTGCCGAGACTGCCGTGCTGTCCAA
	CAAGCAGGTGAATGACAGCAGCTGGCACTTCCTCATGGTGAGCCGTGACCGCCTGCGC
	ACGGTGCTGATCCTTGATGGCGAGGGCCAGTCTGGGGAGCTGCAGCCCCAGCGGCCCT
	ACATGGATGTGGTCAGTGACTTGTTCCTTGGTGGAGTCCCTACTGACATACGACCTTC
	TGCCCTGACCCTTGATGGAGTTCAGGCCATGCCCGGCTTCAAGGGGTTAATTCTGGAT
	CTCAAGTATGGAAACTCGGAGCCTCGGCTTCTGGGGAGCCGGGGTGTCCAGATGGATG
	CCGAGGGACCCTGTGGTGAGCGTCCCTGTGAAAATGGTGGGATCTGCTTTCTCCTGGA
	CGGCCACCCCACCTGTGACTGTTCTACCACTGGCTATGGTGGCAAGCTCTGCTCAGAA
	GATGTCAGTCAAGATCCAGGCCTCTCCCACCTCATGATGAGTGAACAAGGTAGGTGCT
	TTGCTCGAGAGGAGAATGTGGCCACTTTCCGAGGCTCAGAGTATCTGTGCTACGACCT
	GTCTCAGAACCCGATCCAGAGCAGCAGTGATGAAATCACCCTCTCCTTTAAGACCTGG
	CAGCGTAACGGCCTCATCCTGCACACGGGCAAGTCGGCTGACTATGTCAACCTGGCTC
	TGAAGGATGGTGCGGTCTCCTTGGTCATTAACCTGGGGTCCGGGGCCTTTGAGGCCAT
	TGTGGAGCCAGTGAATGGAAAATTCAACGACAACGCCTGGCATGATGTCAAAGTGACA
	CGCAACCTCCGGCAGGTGACAATCTCTGTGGATGGCATTCTTACCACGACGGGCTACA
	CTCAAGAGGACTATACCATGCTGGGCTCGGACGACTTCTTCTATGTAGGAGGAAGCCC
	AAGTACCGCTGACTTGCCTGGCTCCCCTGTCAGCAACAACTTCATGGGCTGCCTTAAA
	GAGGTTGTTTATAAGAATAATGACATCCGTCTGGAGCTGTCTCGCCTGGCCCGGATTG
	CGGACACCAAGATGAAAATCTATGGCGAAGTTGTGTTTAAGTGTGAGAATGTGGCCAC
	ACTGGACCCCATCAACTTTGAGACCCCAGAGGCTTACATCAGCTTGCCCAAGTGGAAC
	ACTAAACGTATGGGCTCCATCTCCTTTGACTTCCGCACCACAGAGCCCAATGGCCTGA
	TCCTCTTCACTCATGGAAAGCCCCAAGAGAGGAAGGATGCTCGGAGCCAGAAGAATAC
	AAAAGTAGACTTCTTTGCCGTGGAACTCCTCGATGGCAACCTGTACTTGCTGCTTGAC
	ATGGGCTCTGGCACCATCAAAGTGAAAGCCACTCAGAAGAAAGCCAATGATGGGGAAT
	GGTACCATGTGGACATTCAGCGAGATGGCAGATCAGGTACTATATCAGTGAACAGCAG
	GCGCACGCCATTCACCGCCAGTGGGGAGAGCGAGATCCTGGACCTGGAAGGAGACATG
	TACCTGGGAGGGCTGCCGGAGAACCGTGCTGGCCTTATTCTCCCCACCGAGCTGTGGA
	CTGCCATGCTCAACTATGGCTACGTGGGCTGCATCCGCGACCTATTCATTGATGGGCG
	CAGCAAGAACATTCGACAGCTGGCAGAGATGCAGAATGCTGCGGGTGTCAAGTCCTCC
	TGTTCACGGATGAGTGCCAAGCAGTGTGACAGCTACCCCTGCAAGAATAATGCTGTGT
	GCAAGGACGGCTGGAACCGCTTCATCTGCGACTGCACCGGCACCGGATACTGGGGAAG
	AACCTGCGAAAGGGAGGCATCCATCCTGAGCTATGATGGTAGCATGTACATGAAGATC
	ATCATGCCCATGGTCATGCATACTGAGGCAGAGGATGTGTCCTTCCGCTTCATGTCCC
	AGCGAGCTTATGGGCTGCTGGTGGCTACGACCTCCAGGGACTCTGCCGACACCCTGCG
	TCTGGAGCTGGATGGGGGGCGTGTCAAGCTCATGGTTAACTTAGACTGTATCAGGATA
	AACTGTAACTCCAGCAAAGGACCAGAGACCTTGTATGCAGGGCAGAAGCTCAATGACA
	ACGAGTGGCACACCGTTCGGCTGGTGCGGAGAGGAAAAAGCCTTAAGTTAACCGTGGA
	TGATGATGTGGCTGAGGGTACAATGGTGGGAGACCATACCCGTTTGGAGTTCCACAAC
	ATTGAAACGGGAATCATGACTGAGAAACGCTACATCTCCGTTGTCCCCTCCAGCTTTA
	TTGGCCATCTGCAGAGCCTCATGTTTAATGGCCTTCTCTACATTGACTTGTGCAAAAA
	TGGTGACATTGATTATTGTGAGCTGAAGGCTCGTTTTGGACTGAGGAACATCATCGCT
	GACCCTGTCACCTTTAAGACCAAGAGCAGCTACCTGAGCCTTGCCACTCTTCAGGCTT
	ACACCTCCATGCACCTCTTCTTCCAGTTCAAGACCACCTCACCAGATGGCTTCATTCT
	CTTCAATAGTGGTGATGGCAATGACTTCATTGCAGTCGAGCTTGTCAAGGGGTATATA
	CACTACGTTTTTGACCTCGGAAACGGTCCCAATGTGATCAAAGGCAACAGTGACCGCC
	CCCTGAATGACAACCAGTGGCACAATGTCGTCATCACTCGGGACAATAGTAACACTCA
	TAGCCTGAAAGTGGACACCAAAGTGGTCACTCAGGTTATCAATGGTGCCAAAAATCTG
	GATTTGAAAGGTGATCTCTATATGGCTGGTCTGGCCCAAGGCATGTACAGCAACCTCC
	CAAAGCTCGTGGGCTCTCGAGATGGCTTTCAGGGCTGTCTAGCATCAGTGGACTTGAA
	TGGACGCCTGCCAGACCTCATCAATGATGCTCTTCATCGGAGCGGACAGATCGAGCGT
	GGCTGTGAAGGACCCAGTACCACCTGCCAGGAAGATTCATGTGCCAACCAGGGGGTCT
	GCATGCAACAATGGGAGGGCTTCACCTGTGATTGTTCTATGACCTCTTATTCTGGAAA
	CCAGTGCAATGATCCTGGCGCTACGTACATCTTTGGGAAAAGTGGTGGGCTTATCCTC
	TACACCTGGCCAGCCAATGACAGGCCCAGCACGCGGTCTGACCGCCTTGCCGTGGGCT
	TCAGCACCACTGTGAAGGATGGCATCTTGGTCCGCATCGACAGTGCTCCAGGACTTGG
	TGACTTCCTCCAGCTTCACATAGAACAGGGGAAAATTGGAGTTGTCTTCAACATTGGC
	ACAGTTGACATCTCCATCAAAGAGGAGAGAACCCCTGTAAATGACGGCAAATACCATG
	TGGTACGCTTCACCAGGAACGGCGGCAACGCCACCCTGCAGGTGGACAACTGGCCAGT
	GAATGAACATTATCCTACAGGCAACACTGATAATGAACGCTTCCAAATGGTAAAACAG
	AAAATCCCCTTCAAATATAATCGGCCTGTAGAGGAGTGGCTGCAGGAAAAAGGCCGGC
	AGTTAACCATCTTCAACACTCAGGCGCAAATAGCCATTGGTGGAAAGGACAAAGGACG
	CCTCTTCCAAGGCCAACTCTCTGGGCTCTATTATGATGGTTTGAAAGTACTGAACATG
	GCGGCTGAGAACAACCCCAATATTAAAATCAATGGAAGTGTTCGGCTGGTTGGAGAAG
	TCCCATCAATTTTGGGAACAACACAGACGACCTCCATGCCACCAGAAATGTCTACTAC
	TGTCATGGAAACCACTACTACAATGGCGACTACCACAACCCGTAAGAATCGCTCTACA
	GCCAGCATTCAGCCAACATCAGATGATCTTGTTTCATCTGCTGAATGTTCAAGTGATG
	ATGAAGACTTTGTTGAATGTGAGCCGAGTACAGGTAGGTCAGCCAGAAGCTCTAATGC
	AGCTAGAATCACTCCGTGCCGCCCTTACATGGACATGGCGACTCACTTACACATTTAC
	TCCTATCATCTTCATCTCCTGTGTAGTTCACTCATAGATATGACCCTCCCCTTCCTGC
	ATCTTTCCTTCCCCATTCTCCCCCTTTCTTTAGCATTGTTAAAATTTATGTGCTGTCA
	TCCATCTCCCTAAATTAAAGAAAGCCTAAAATTTGTCAAAAAGACAAAAAAATATATA
	TATCTGAAAACT
	ORF Start: ATG at 743	ORF Stop: TAA at 5057
	SEQ ID NO: 22	1143 aa	MW at 159120.8 Da
NOV3c,	MSSTLHSVFFTLKVSILLGSLLGLCLGLEFMGLPNQWARYLRWDASTRSDLSFQFKTN
CG108175-03	VSTGLLLYLDDGGVCDFLCLSLVDGRVQLRFSMDCAETAVLSNKQVNDSSWHFLMVSR
Protein Sequence	DRLRTVLMLDGEGQSGELQPQRPYMDVVSDLFLGGVPTDIRPSALTLDGVQAMPGFKG
	LILDLKYGNSEPRLLGSRGVQMDAEGPCGERPCENGGICFLLDGHPTCDCSTTGYGGK
	LCSEDVSQDPGLSHLMMSEQGRCFAREENVATFRGSEYLCYDLSQNPIQSSSDEITLS
	FKTWQRNGLILHTGKSADYVNLALKDGAVSLVINLGSGAFEAIVEPVNGKFNDNAWHD
	VKVTRNLRQVTISVDGILTTTGYTQEDYTMLGSDDFFYVGGSPSTADLPGSPVSNNFM
	GCLKEVVYKNNDIRLELSRLARIADTKMKIYGEVVFKCENVATLDPINFETPEAYISL
	PKWNTKRMGSISFDFRTTEPNGLILFTHGKPQERKDARSQKNTKVDFFAVELLDGNLY
	LLLDMGSGTIKVKATQKKANDGEWYHVDIQRDGRSGTISVNSRRTPFTASGESEILDL
	EGDMYLGGLPENRAGLILPTELWTAMLNYGYVGCIRDLFIDGRSKNIRQLAEMQNAAG
	VKSSCSRMSAKQCDSYPCKNNAVCKDGWNRFICDCTGTGYWGRTCEREASILSYDGSM
	YMKIIMPMVMHTEAEDVSFRFMSQRAYGLLVATTSRDSADTLRLELDGGRVKLMVNLD
	CIRINCNSSKGPETLYAGQKLNDNEWHTVRVVRRGKSLKLTVDDDVAEGTMVGDHTRL
	EFHNIETGIMTEKRYISVVPSSFIGHLQSLMFNGLLYIDLCKNGDIDYCELKARFGLR
	NIIADPVTFKTKSSYLSLATLQAYTSMHLFFQFKTTSPDGFILFNSGDGNDFIAVELV
	KGYIHYVFDLGNGPNVIKGNSDRPLNDNQWHNVVITRDNSNTHSLKVDTKVVTQVING
	AKNLDLKGDLYMAGLAQGMYSNLPKLVASRDGFQGCLASVDLNGRLPDLINDALHRSG
	QIERGCEGPSTTCQEDSCANQGVCMQQWEGFTCDCSMTSYSGNQCNDPGATYIFGKSG
	GLILYTWPANDRPSTRSDRLAVGFSTTVKDGILVRIDSAPGLGDFLQLHIEQGKIGVV
	FNIGTVDISIKEERTPVNDGKYHVVRFTRNGGNATLQVDNWPVNEHYPTGNTDNERFQ
	MVKQKIPFKYNRPVEEWLQEKGRQLTIFNTQAQIAIGGKDKGRLFQGQLSGLYYDGLK
	VLNMAAENNPNIKINGSVRLVGEVPSILGTTQTTSMPPEMSTTVMETTTTMATTTTRK
	NRSTASIQPTSDDLVSSAECSSDDEDFVECEPSTGRSARSSNAARITPCRPYMDMATH
	LHIYSYHLHLLCSSLIDMTLPFLHLSFPILPLSLALLKFMCCHPSP
	SEQ ID NO: 23	5656 bp
NOV3d,	CATACAGACAGATCCCAAATCTTCTGTTCAACTGGAAAGGTCTTTTCTCTGGAGTCCT
CG108175-04	GGGAGGCAAGTTATGGGCAGCACTGCTTCTGGCCGCACCATGAAGCCTGAGTCTGCTT
DNA Sequence	GCGCTCTGCCCAGGGCCCTGCTCTGTCTGAGCATTGGGCTTCTAGCTGCCCCCCTCCC
	CACAGCCTGCCGCTGCTAGGAGGTAGAACTTTAGGAGTGGTCCTTGGCCTGTTTCTAC
	CTGTCACCTGGCTCACCTCACCACTCACTCCTCCTCCATCACAGCACCCCGGCCCTCC
	CTGTCCCTGGCCTCCCTGGCTGGGGCATTTGGGGGTCCGCTGGGAGGAGTGCATCGCT
	GAACGCTTCTTCCTACTCTCCTGCACCTTCTCCTCCTTGAGTCAAGGCCTCCGGATCC
	ACATGGATAGCTGAGATCTTTTCTTGGAGAAAGACGCTTTCCTCTTTACTCCAGTCCC
	TCACTTCCCCACCTGATTTTCCTCCTCTTCTGCTGGTCCTGTCTTTTTCTACTGCCTC
	TTTATTCAATTTCTTGCTTGTGTGCCCCTCTGGGACTCTCTTGTACACTTTCCTCCAT
	CTCCACTATCTCAGGATCTGTGTGTGTGCTGCCTTCCTCCTGTGTGCTTTCTGTCCCC
	CCATCTCTGTCTTGTCTTTCCCACTTCTATTGCCAAAGGGAGAGATCCTCTCCGGGCT
	GTTCCCTGGCCTGTCTGCTCCTCCGGGCTCTGTCCCAGCAGCGACAATGAGCTCCACA
	CTCCACTCGGTTTTCTTCACCCTGAAGGTCAGCATCCTGCTGGGGTCCCTGCTGGGGC
	TCTGCCTGGGCCTTGAGTTCATGGGCCTCCCCAACCAGTGGGCCCGCTACCTCCGCTG
	GGATGCCAGCACACGCAGTGACCTGAGTTTCCAGTTCAAGACCAACGTCTCTACGGGG
	CTGCTCCTCTACCTGGATGATGGCGGCGTCTGCGACTTCCTATGCCTCTCCCTGGTGG
	ATGGCCGCGTTCAGCTCCGCTTCAGCATGGACTGTGCCGAGACTGCCGTGCTGTCCAA
	CAAGCAGGTGAATGACAGCAGCTGGCACTTCCTCATGGTGAGCCGTGACCGCCTGCGC
	ACGGTGCTGATGCTTGATGGCGAGGGCCAGTCTGGGGAGCTGCAGCCCCAGCGGCCCT
	ACATGGATGTGGTCAGTGACTTGTTCCTTGGTGGAGTCCCTACTGACATACGACCTTC
	TGCCCTGACCCTTGATGGAGTTCAGGCCATGCCCGGCTTCAAGGGGTTAATTCTGGAT
	CTCAAGTATGGAAACTCGGAGCCTCGGCTTCTGGGGAGCCGGGGTGTCCAGATGGATG
	CCGAGGGACCCTGTGGTGAGCGTCCCTGTGAAAATGGTGGGATCTGCTTTCTCCTGGA
	CGGCCACCCCACCTGTGACTGTTCTACCACTGGCTATGGTGGCAAGCTCTGCTCAGAA
	GATGTCAGTCAAGATCCAGGCCTCTCCCACCTCATGATGAGTGAACAAGGTAGGTGCT
	TTGCTCGAGAGGAGAATGTGGCCACTTTCCGAGGCTCAGAGTATCTGTGCTACGACCT
	GTCTCAGAACCCGATCCAGAGCAGCAGTGATGAAATCACCCTCTCCTTTAAGACCTGG
	CAGCGTAACGGCCTCATCCTGCACACGGGCAAGTCGGCTGACTATGTCAACCTGGCTC
	TGAAGGATGGTGCGGTCTCCTTGGTCATTAACCTGGGGTCCGGGGCCTTTGAGGCCAT
	TGTGGAGCCAGTGAATGGAAAATTCAACGACAACGCCTGGCATGATGTCAAAGTGACA
	CGCAACCTCCGGCAGGTGACAATCTCTGTGGATGGCATTCTTACCACGACGGGCTACA
	CTCAAGAGGACTATACCATGCTGGGCTCGGACGACTTCTTCTATGTAGGAGGAAGCCC
	AAGTACCGCTGACTTGCCTGGCTCCCCTGTCAGCAACAACTTCATGGGCTGCCTTAAA
	GAGGTTGTTTATAAGAATAATGACATCCGTCTGGAGCTGTCTCGCCTGGCCCGGATTG
	CGGACACCAAGATGAAAATCTATGGCGAAGTTGTGTTTAAGTGTGAGAATGTGGCCAC
	ACTGGACCCCATCAACTTTGAGACCCCAGAGGCTTACATCAGCTTGCCCAAGTGGAAC
	ACTAAACGTATGGGCTCCATCTCCTTTGACTTCCGCACCACAGAGCCCAATGGCCTGA
	TCCTCTTCACTCATGGAAAGCCCCAAGAGAGGAAGGATGCTCGGAGCCAGAAGAATAC
	AAAAGTAGACTTCTTTGCCGTGGAACTCCTCGATGGCAACCTGTACTTGCTGCTTGAC
	ATGGGCTCTGGCACCATCAAAGTGAAAGCCACTCAGAAGAAAGCCAATGATGGGGAAT
	GGTACCATGTGGACATTCAGCGAGATGGCAGATCAGGTACTATATCAGTGAACAGCAG
	GCGCACGCCATTCACCGCCAGTGGGGAGAGCCAGATCCTGGACCTGGAAGGAGACATG
	TACCTGGGAGGGCTGCCGGAGAACCGTGCTGGCCTTATTCTCCCCACCGAGCTGTGGA
	CTGCCATGCTCAACTATGGCTACGTGGGCTGCATCCGCGACCTATTCATTGATGGGCG
	CAGCAAGAACATTCGACAGCTGGCAGAGATGCAGAATGCTGCGGGTGTCAAGTCCTCC
	TGTTCACGGATGAGTGCCAAGCAGTGTGACAGCTACCCCTGCAAGAATAATGCTGTGT
	GCAAGGACGGCTGGAACCGCTTCATCTGCGACTGCACCGGCACCGGATACTGGGGAAG
	AACCTGCGAAAGGGAGGCATCCATCCTGAGCTATGATGGTAGCATGTACATGAAGATC
	ATCATGCCCATGGTCATGCATACTGAGGCAGAGGATGTGTCCTTCCGCTTCATGTCCC
	AGCGAGCTTATGGGCTGCTGGTGGCTACGACCTCCAGGGACTCTGCCGACACCCTGCG
	TCTGGAGCTGGATGGGGGGCGTGTCAAGCTCATGGTTAACTTAGACTGTATCAGGATA
	AACTGTAACTCCAGCAAAGGACCAGAGACCTTGTATGCAGGGCAGAACCTCAATGACA
	ACGAGTGGCACACCGTTCGGGTGGTGCGGAGAGGAAAAAGCCTTAAGTTAACCGTGGA
	TGATGATGTGGCTCAGGGTACAATGGTGGGAGACCATACCCGTTTGGAGTTCCACAAC
	ATTGAAACGGGAATCATGACTGAGAAACGCTACATCTCCGTTGTCCCCTCCAGCTTTA
	TTGGCCATCTGCAGAGCCTCATGTTTAATGCCCTTCTCTACATTGACTTGTGCAAAAA
	TGGTGACATTGATTATTGTGAGCTGAAGGCTCGTTTTGGACTGAGGAACATCATCGCT
	GACCCTGTCACCTTTAAGACCAAGAGCAGCTACCTGAGCCTTGCCACTCTTCAGGCTT
	ACACCTCCATGCACCTCTTCTTCCAGTTCAAGACCACCTCACCAGATGCCTTCATTCT
	CTTCAATAGTGGTGATGGCAATGACTTCATTGCAGTCGAGCTTGTCAAGGGGTATATA
	CACTACGTTTTTGACCTCGGAAACGGTCCCAATGTGATCAAAGGCAACAGTGACCGCC
	CCCTGAATGACAACCACTGGCACAATGTCGTCATCACTCGGGACAATAGTAACACTCA
	TAGCCTGAAAGTGGACACCAAAGTGGTCACTCAGGTTATCAATGGTGCCAAAAATCTG
	GATTTGAAAGGTGATCTCTATATGGCTGGTCTGGCCCAAGGCATGTACAGCAACCTCC
	CAAAGCTCGTGGCCTCTCGAGATGGCTTTCAGGGCTGTCTAGCATCAGTGGACTTGAA
	TGGACGCCTGCCAGACCTCATCAATGATGCTCTTCATCGGAGCGGACAGATCGAGCGT
	GGCTGTGAAGGACCCAGTACCACCTGCCAGGAAGATTCATGTGCCAACCAGGGGGTCT
	GCATGCAACAATGGGAGGGCTTCACCTGTGATTGTTCTATGACCTCTTATTCTGGAAA
	CCAGTGCAATGATCCTGGCGCTACGTACATCTTTGGGAAAAGTGGTGGGCTTATCCTC
	TACACCTGGCCAGCCAATGACAGGCCCAGCACGCGGTCTGACCGCCTTGCCGTGGGCT
	TCAGCACCACTGTGAAGGATGGCATCTTGGTCCGCATCGACAGTGCTCCAGGACTTGG
	TGACTTCCTCCAGCTTCACATAGAACAGGGGAAAATTGGAGTTGTCTTCAACATTGGC
	ACAGTTGACATCTCCATCAAAGAGGAGAGAACCCCTGTAAATGACGGCAAATACCATG
	TGGTACGCTTCACCAGGAACGGCGGCAACGCCACCCTGCAGGTGGACAACTGGCCAGT
	GAATGAACATTATCCTACAGGCAACACTGATAATGAACGCTTCCAAATGGTAAAACAG
	AAAATCCCCTTCAAATATAATCGGCCTGTAGAGGAGTGGCTGCAGGAAAAAGGCCGGC
	AGTTAACCATCTTCAACACTCAGGCGCAAATAGCCATTGGTGGAAAGGACAAAGGACG
	CCTCTTCCAAGGCCAACTCTCTGGGCTCTATTATGATGGTTTGAAAGTACTGAACATG
	GCGGCTGAGAACAACCCCAATATTAAAATCAATGGAAGTGTTCGGCTGGTTGGAGAAG
	TCCCATCAATTTTGGGAACAACACAGACGACCTCCATGCCACCAGAAATGTCTACTAC
	TGTCATGGAAACCACTACTACAATGGCGACTACCACAACCCGTAAGAATCGCTCTACA
	GCCAGCATTCAGCCAACATCAGATGATCTTGTTTCATCTGCTGAATGTTCAAGTGATG
	ATGAAGACTTTGTTGAATGTGAGCCGAGTACAGGTAGGTCAGATAAGAGTCTTTCCAC
	TTCAATCTTCGAAGGTGGCTACAAAGCACATGCGCCCAAGTGGGAATCCAAGGACTTT
	AGACCTAACAAAGTCTCCGAAACTAGTAGGACTACTACCACATCTTTATCCCCTGAGC
	TGATCCGCTTCACAGCTTCCTCCTCGTCTGGGATGGTGCCCAAATTGCCAGCTGGCAA
	AATGAATAACCGTGATCTCAAACCCCAGCCTGATATAGTCTTGCTTCCGTTGCCCACT
	GCCTATGAGCTAGACAGCACCAAACTGAAGAGCCCACTAATTACTTCCCCCATGTTCC
	GTAATGTGCCCACAGCAAACCCCACGGAGCCGGGAATCAGACGGGTTCCGGGGGCCTC
	AGAGGTGATCCGGGAGTCGAGCAGCACAACAGGGATGGTCGTCGGCATTGTGGCTGCT
	GCCGCCCTCTGCATCTTGATCCTCCTGTACGCCATGTACAAGTACAGGAACAGGGACG
	AGGGGTCCTATCAAGTGGACGAGACGCGGAACTACATCAGCAACTCCGCCCAGAGCAA
	CGGCACGCTCATGAAGGAGAAGCAGCAGAGCTCGAAGAGCGGCCACAAGAAACAGAAA
	AACAAGGACAGGGACTATTACGTGTAAACATGCGAACACTGCTCACACGCGAGTTTTC
	ACAGTTATTTCTATCCACGCCTATGAATCTTTGGACCGTGAGATCTCACAGATGTCAG
	AACTGCTGGAACTATGAAATGGGGTATATAACCACGACTCTGGTGGGGAAAACCGTTT
	TTAAAGGACACACACACACACACAGCGATG
	ORF Start: ATG at 743	ORF Stop: TAA at 5477
	SEQ ID NO: 24	1578 aa	MW at 174421.6 Da
NOV3d,	MSSTLHSVFFTLKVSILLGSLLGLCLGLEFMGLPNQWARYLRWDASTRSDLSFQFKTN
CG108175-04	VSTGLLLYLDDGGVCDFLCLSLVDGRVQLRFSMDCAETAVLSNKQVNDSSWHFLMVSR
Protein Sequence	DRLRTVLMLDGEGQSGELQPQRPYMDVVSDLFLGGVPTDIRPSALTLDGVQAMPGFKG
	LILDLKYGNSEPRLLGSRGVQMDAEGPCGERPCENGGICFLLDGHPTCDCSTTGYGGK
	LCSEDVSQDPGLSHLMMSEQGRCFAREENVATFRGSEYLCYDLSQNPIQSSSDEITLS
	FKTWQRNGLILHTGKSADYVNLALKDGAVSLVINLGSGAFEAIVEPVNGKFNDNAWHD
	VKVTRNLRQVTISVDGILTTTGYTQEDYTMLGSDDFFYVGGSPSTADLPGSPVSNNFM
	GCLKEVVYKNNDIRLELSRLARIADTKMKIYGEVVFKCENVATLDPINFETPEAYISL
	PKWNTKRMGSISFDFRTTEPNGLILFTHGKPQERKDARSQKNTKVDFFAVELLDGNLY
	LLLDMGSGTIKVKATQKKANDGEWYHVDIQRDGRSGTISVNSRRTPFTASGESEILDL
	EGDMYLGGLPENRAGLILPTELWTAMLNYGYVGCIRDLFIDGRSKNIRQLAEMQNAAG
	VKSSCSRMSAKQCDSYPCKNNAVCKDGWNRFICDCTGTGYWGRTCEREASILSYDGSM
	YMKIIMPMVMHTEAEDVSFRFMSQRAYGLLVATTSRDSADTLRLELDGGRVKLMVNLD
	CIRINCNSSKGPETLYAGQKLNDNEWHTVRVVRRGKSLKLTVDDDVAEGTMVGDHTRL
	EFHNIETGIMTEKRYISVVPSSFIGHLQSLMFNGLLYIDLCKNGDIDYCELKARFGLR
	NIIADPVTFKTKSSYLSLATLQAYTSMHLFFQFKTTSPDGFILFNSGDGNDFIAVELV
	KGYIHYVFDLGNGPNVIKGNSDRPLNDNQWHNVVITRDNSNTHSLKVDTKVVTQVING
	AKNLDLKGDLYMAGLAQGMYSNLPKLVASRDGFQGCLASVDLNGRLPDLINDALHRSG
	QIERGCEGPSTTCQEDSCANQGVCMQQWEGFTCDCSMTSYSGNQCNDPGATYIFGKSG
	GLILYTWPANDRPSTRSDRLAVGFSTTVKDGILVRIDSAPGLGDFLQLHIEQGKIGVV
	FNIGIVDISIKEERTPVNDGKYHVVRFTRNGGNATLQVDNWPVNEHYPTGNTDNERFQ
	MVKQKIPFKYNRPVEEWLQEKGRQLTIFNTQAQIAIGGKDKGRLFQGQLSGLYYDGLK
	VLNMAAENNPNIKINGSVRLVGEVPSILGTTQTTSMPPEMSTTVMETTTTMATTTTRK
	NRSTASIQPTSDDLVSSAECSSDDEDFVECEPSTGRSDKSLSTSIFEGGYKAHAPKWE
	SKDFRPNKVSETSRTTTTSLSPELIRFTASSSSGMVPKLPAGKMNNRDLKPQPDIVLL
	PLPTAYELDSTKLKSPLITSPMFRNVPTANPTEPGIRRVPGASEVIRESSSTTGMVVG
	IVAAAALCILILLYAMYKYRNRDEGSYQVDETRNYISNSAQSNGTLMKEKQQSSKSGH
	KKQKNKDREYYV
	SEQ ID NO: 25	4999 bp
NOV3e,	CATACAGACAGATCCCAAATCTTCTGTTCAACTGGAAAGGTCTTTTCTCTGGAGTCCT
CG108175-05	GGGAGGCAAGTTATGGGCAGCACTGCTTCTGGCCGCACCATGAAGCCTGAGTCTGCTT
DNA Sequence	GCGCTCTGCCCAGGGCCCTGCTCTGTCTGAGCATTGGGCTTCTAGCTGCCCCCCTCCC
	CACAGCCTGCCGCTGCTAGGAGGTAGAACTTTAGGAGTGGTCCTTGGCCTGTTTCTAC
	CTGTCACCTGGCTCACCTCACCACTCACTCCTCCTCCATCACAGCACCCCGGCCCTCC
	CTGTCCCTGGCCTCCCTGGCTGGGGCATTTGGGGGTCCGCTGGGAGGAGTGCATCGCT
	GAAGGCTTCTTCCTACTCTCCTGCACCTTCTCCTCCTTGAGTCAAGGCCTCCGGATCC
	ACATGGATAGCTGAGATCTTTTCTTGGAGAAAGACGCTTTCCTCTTTACTCCAGTCCC
	TCACTTCCCCACCTGATTTTCCTCCTCTTCTGCTGGTCCTGTCTTTTTCTACTGCCTC
	TTTATTCAATTTCTTGCTTGTGTGCCCCTCTGGGACTCTCTTGTACACTTTCCTCCAT
	CTCCACTATCTCAGGATCTGTGTGTGTGCTGCCTTCCTCCTGTGTGCTTTCTGTCCCC
	CCATCTCTGTCTTGTCTTTCCCACTTCTATTGCCAAAGGGAGAGATCCTCTCCGGGCT
	GTTCCCTGGCCTGTCTGCTCCTCCGGGCTCTGTCCCAGCAGCGACAATGAGCTCCACA
	CTCCACTCGGTTTTCTTCACCCTGAAGGTCAGCATCCTGCTGGGGTCCCTGCTGGGGC
	TCTGCCTGGGCCTTGAGTTCATGGGCCTCCCCAACCAGTGGGCCCGCTACCTCCGCTG
	GGATGCCAGCACACGCAGTGACCTGAGTTTCCAGTTCAAGACCAACGTCTCTACGGGG
	CTGCTCCTCTACCTGGATGATGGCGGCGTCTGCGACTTCCTATGCCTCTCCCTGGTGG
	ATGGCCGCGTTCAGCTCCGCTTCAGCATGGACTGTGCCGAGACTGCCGTGCTGTCCAA
	CAAGCAGGTGAATGACAGCAGCTGGCACTTCCTCATGGTGAGCCGTGACCGCCTGCGC
	ACGGTGCTGATGCTTGATGGCGAGCGCCAGTCTGGGGAGCTGCAGCCCCAGCGGCCCT
	ACATGGATGTGGTCAGTGACTTGTTCCTTGGTGGAGTCCCTACTGACATACGACCTTC
	TGCCCTGACCCTTGATGGAGTTCAGGCCATGCCCGGCTTCAAGGGGTTAATTCTGGAT
	CTCAAGTATGGAAACTCGGAGCCTCGGCTTCTGGGGAGCCGGGGTGTCCAGATCGATG
	CCGAGGGACCCTGTGGTGAGCGTCCCTGTGAAAATGGTGGGATCTGCTTTCTCCTGGA
	CGGCCACCCCACCTGTGACTGTTCTACCACTGGCTATGGTGGCAAGCTCTGCTCAGAA
	GATGTCAGTCAAGATCCAGGCCTCTCCCACCTCATGATGAGTGAACAAGGTAGGTGCT
	TTGCTCGAGAGGAGAATGTGGCCACTTTCCGAGGCTCACAGTATCTGTGCTACGACCT
	GTCTCAGAACCCGATCCAGAGCAGCAGTGATGAAATCACCCTCTCCTTTAAGACCTGG
	CAGCGTAACGGCCTCATCCTGCACACGGGCAAGTCGGCTGACTATGTCAACCTGGCTC
	TGAAGGATGGTGCGGTCTCCTTGGTCATTAACCTGGGGTCCGGGGCCTTTGAGGCCAT
	TGTGGAGCCAGTGAATGGAAAATTCAACGACAACGCCTGGCATGATGTCAAAGTGACA
	CGCAACCTCCGGCAGGTGACAATCTCTGTGGATGGCATTCTTACCACGACGGGCTACA
	CTCAAGAGGACTATACCATGCTGGGCTCGGACGACTTCTTCTATGTAGGAGGAAGCCC
	AAGTACCGCTGACTTGCCTGGCTCCCCTGTCAGCAACAACTTCATGGGCTGCCTTAAA
	GAGGTTGTTTATAAGAATAATGACATCCGTCTGGAGCTGTCTCGCCTGGCCCGGATTG
	CGGACACCAAGATGAAAATCTATGGCGAAGTTGTGTTTAAGTGTGAGAATGTGGCCAC
	ACTGGACCCCATCAACTTTGAGACCCCACAGGCTTACATCAGCTTGCCCAAGTGGAAC
	ACTAAACGTATGGGCTCCATCTCCTTTGACTTCCGCACCACACAGCCCAATGGCCTGA
	TCCTCTTCACTCATGGAAAGCCCCAAGAGAGGAAGGATGCTCGGAGCCAGAAGAATAC
	AAAAGTAGACTTCTTTGCCGTGGAACTCCTCGATGGCAACCTGTACTTGCTGCTTGAC
	ATGGGCTCTGGCACCATCAAAGTGAAAGCCACTCAGAAGAAAGCCAATGATGGGGAAT
	GGTACCATGTGGACATTCAGCGAGATGGCAGATCAGGTACTATATCAGTGAACAGCAG
	GCGCACGCCATTCACCGCCAGTGGGGAGAGCGAGATCCTGGACCTGGAAGGAGACATG
	TACCTGGGAGGGCTGCCGGAGAACCGTGCTGGCCTTATTCTCCCCACCGAGCTGTGGA
	CTGCCATGCTCAACTATGGCTACGTGGGCTGCATCCGCGACCTATTCATTGATGGGCG
	CAGCAAGAACATTCGACAGCTGGCAGAGATGCAGAATGCTGCGGGTGTCAAGTCCTCC
	TGTTCACGGATGAGTGCCAAGCAGTGTGACAGCTACCCCTGCAAGAATAATGCTGTGT
	GCAAGGACGGCTGGAACCGCTTCATCTGCGACTGCACCGGCACCGGATACTGGGGAAG
	AACCTGCGAAAGCGAGGCATCCATCCTGAGCTATGATGGTAGCATGTACATGAAGATC
	ATCATGCCCATGGTCATGCATACTGAGGCAGAGGATGTGTCCTTCCGCTTCATGTCCC
	AGCGAGCTTATGGGCTGCTGGTGGCTACGACCTCCAGGGACTCTGCCGACACCCTGCG
	TCTGGAGCTGGATGGGGGGCGTCTCAAGCTCATGGTTAACTTAGACTGTATCAGGATA
	AACTGTAACTCCAGCAAAGGACCAGAGACCTTGTATGCAGGGCAGAAGCTCAATGACA
	ACGAGTGGCACACCGTTCGGGTGGTGCGGAGAGGAAAAAGCCTTAAGTTAACCGTGGA
	TGATGATGTGGCTGAGGGTACAATGGTGGGAGACCATACCCGTTTGGAGTTCCACAAC
	ATTGAAACGGGAATCATGACTGAGAAACGCTACATCTCCGTTGTCCCCTCCAGCTTTA
	TTGGCCATCTGCAGAGCCTCATGTTTAATGGCCTTCTCTACATTGACTTGTGCAAAAA
	TGGTGACATTGATTATTGTGAGCTGAAGGCTCGTTTTGGACTGAGGAACATCATCGCT
	GACCCTGTCACCTTTAAGACCAAGAGCAGCTACCTGAGCCTTGCCACTCTTCAGGCTT
	ACACCTCCATGCACCTCTTCTTCCAGTTCAAGACCACCTCACCAGATGGCTTCATTCT
	CTTCAATAGTGGTGATGGCAATGACTTCATTGCAGTCGAGCTTGTCAAGGGGTATATA
	CACTACGTTTTTGACCTCGGAAACGGTCCCAATGTGATCAAAGGCAACAGTGACCGCC
	CCCTGAATGACAACCAGTGGCACAATGTCGTCATCACTCGGGACAATAGTAACACTCA
	TAGCCTGAAAGTGGACACCAAAGTGGTCACTCAGGTTATCAATGGTGCCAAAAATCTG
	GATTTGAAAGGTGATCTCTATATGGCTGGTCTGGCCCAAGGCATGTACAGCAACCTCC
	CAAAGCTCGTGGCCTCTCGAGATGGCTTTCAGGGCTGTCTAGCATCAGTGGACTTGAA
	TGGACGCCTGCCAGACCTCATCAATGATGCTCTTCATCGGAGCGGACAGATCGAGCGT
	GGCTGTGAAGGACCCAGTACCACCTGCCAGGAAGATTCATGTGCCAACCAGGGGGTCT
	GCATGCAACAATGGGAGGGCTTCACCTGTGATTGTTCTATGACCTCTTATTCTGGAAA
	CCAGTGCAATGATCCTGCCGCTACGTACATCTTTGGGAAAAGTGGTGGGCTTATCCTC
	TACACCTGGCCAGCCAATCACAGGCCCAGCACGCGGTCTGACCGCCTTGCCGTGGGCT
	TCAGCACCACTGTGAAGGATGGCATCTTGGTCCGCATCGACAGTGCTCCAGGACTTGG
	TGACTTCCTCCAGCTTCACATAGAACAGGGGAAAATTGGAGTTGTCTTCAACATTGGC
	ACAGTTGACATCTCCATCAAAGAGGAGAGAACCCCTGTAAATGACGGCAAATACCATG
	TGGTACGCTTCACCAGGAACGGCGGCAACGCCACCCTGCAGGTGGACAACTGGCCAGT
	GAATGAACATTATCCTACAGGCAACACTGATAATGAACGCTTCCAAATGGTAAAACAG
	AAAATCCCCTTCAAATATAATCGGCCTGTAGAGGAGTGGCTGCAGGAAAAAGGCCGGC
	AGTTAACCATCTTCAACACTCAGGCGCAAATAGCCATTGGTGGAAAGGACAAAGGACG
	CCTCTTCCAAGGCCAACTCTCTGGGCTCTATTATGATGGTTTGAAAGTACTGAACATG
	GCGGCTGAGAACAACCCCAATATTAAAATCAATGGAAGTGTTCGGCTGGTTGGAGAAG
	TCCCATCAATTTTGGGAACAACACAGACGACCTCCATGCCACCAGAAATGTCTACTAC
	TGTCATGGAAACCACTACTACAATGGCGACTACCACAACCCGTAAGAATCGCTCTACA
	GCCAGCATTCAGCCAACATCAGATGATCTTGTTTCATCTGCTGAATGTTCAAGTGATG
	ATGAAGACTTTGTTGAATGTGAGCCGAGTACAGGTAGGTCAGTAAGAAATGACAACAA
	AAAAAGCAAGTTACAAGAATGTGGCAATTCTATTTGTCCAAGAGCATTCTTACACAAC
	TTTCTTTTGTAAATTTTTCTTTCATGCCAAAAAACATGCGGGCAATTTGTTGATGTAA
	GTTGACTATAA
	ORF Start: ATG at 743	ORF Stop: TAA at 4940
	SEQ ID NO: 26	1399 aa	MW at 154757.5 Da
NOV3e,	MSSTLHSVFFTLKVSILLGSLLGLCLGLEFMGLPNQWARYLRWDASTRSDLSFQFKTN
CG108175-05	VSTGLLLYLDDGGVCDFLCLSLVDGRVQLRFSMDCAETAVLSNKQVNDSSWHFLMVSR
Protein Sequence	DRLRTVLMLDGEGQSGELQPQRPYMDVVSDLFLGGVPTDIRPSALTLDGVQAMPGFKG
	LILDLKYGNSEPRLLCSRGVQMDAEGPCGERPCENGGICFLLDGHPTCDCSTTGYGGK
	LCSEDVSQDPGLSHLMMSEQGRCFAREENVATFRGSEYLCYDLSQNPIQSSSDEITLS
	FKTWQRNGLILHTGKSADYVNLALKDGAVSLVINLGSGAFEAIVEPVNGKENDNAWHD
	VKVTRNLRQVTISVDGILTTTGYTQEDYTMLGSDDFFYVGGSPSTADLPGSPVSNNFM
	GCLKEVVYKNNDIRLELSRLARIADTKMKIYGEVVFKCENVATLDPINFETPEAYISL
	PKWNTKRMGSISFDFRTTEPNGLILFTHGKPQERKDARSQKNTKVDFFAVELLDGNLY
	LLLDMGSGTIKVKATQKKANDGEWYHVDIQRDGRSGTISVNSRRTPFTASGESEILDL
	EGDMYLGGLPENRAGLILPTELWTAMLNYGYVGCIRDLFIDGRSKJIRQLAEMQNAAG
	VKSSCSRMSAKQCDSYPCKNNAVCKDGWNRFICDCTGTGYWGRTCEREASILSYDGSM
	YMKIIMPMVMHTEAEDVSFRFMSQRAYGLLVATTSRDSADTLRLELDGGRVKLMVNLD
	CIRINCNSSKGPETLYAGQKLNDNEWHTVRVVRRGKSLKLTVDDDVAEGTMVGDHTRL
	EFHNIETGIMTEKRYISVVPSSFIGHLQSLMFNGLLYIDLCKNGDIDYCELKARFGLR
	NIIADPVTFKTKSSYLSLATLQAYTSMHLFFQFKTTSPDGFILFNSGDGNDFIAVELV
	KGYIHYVFDLGNGPNVIKGNSDRPLNDNQWHNVVTTRDNSNTHSLKVDTKVVTQVING
	AKNLDLKGDLYMAGLAQGMYSNLPKLVASRDGFQGCLASVDLNGRLPDLINDALHRSG
	QIERGCEGPSTTCQEDSCANQGVCMQQWEGFTCDCSMTSYSGNQCNDPGATYIFGKSG
	GLILYTWPANDRPSTRSDRLAVGFSTTVKDGILVRIDSAPGLGDFLQLHIEQGKIGVV
	FNIGTVDISIKEERTPVNDGKYHVVRFTRNGGNATLQVDNWPVNEHYPTGNTDNERFQ
	MVKQKIPFKYNRPVEEWLQEKGRQLTIFNTQAQIAIGGKDKGRLFQGQLSGLYYDGLK
	VLNMAAENNPNIKINGSVRLVGEVPSILGTTQTTSMPPEMSTTVMETTTTMATTTTRK
	NRSTASIQPTSDDLVSSAECSSDDEDFVECEPSTGRSVRNDNKKSKLQECGNSICPRA
	FLHNFLL

[0349] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 3B.

TABLE 3B
Comparison of NOV3a against NOV3b through NOV3e.
			Identities/
		NOV3a Residues/	Similarities for
	Protein Sequence	Match Residues	the Matched Region
	NOV3b	1 . . . 1364	1315/1374 (95%)
		1 . . . 1369	1315/1374 (95%)
	NOV3c	1 . . . 1364	1315/1374 (95%)
		1 . . . 1369	1315/1374 (95%)
	NOV3d	1 . . . 1364	1315/1374 (95%)
		1 . . . 1369	1315/1374 (95%)
	NOV3e	1 . . . 1364	1315/1374 (95%)
		1 . . . 1369	1315/1374 (95%)

[0350] Further analysis of the NOV3a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 3C.

TABLE 3C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV3a
PSort     0.4600 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic reticulum
          (membrane); 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic
          reticulum (lumen); 0.1000 probability located in outside
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 28 and 29
analysis:

[0351] A search of the NOV3a protein against the Geneseq database a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 3D.

TABLE 3D
Geneseq Results for NOV3a
		NOV3a
		Residues	Identities/
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	Similarities for the	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Matched Region	Value
AAE17600	Human extracellular messenger	1 . . . 1363	1328/1373 (96%)	0.0
	(XMES)-2 protein - Homo sapiens,	1 . . . 1338	1328/1373 (96%)
	1438 aa. [WO200194587-A2,
	13 DEC. 2001]
AAU28190	Novel human secretory protein, Seq ID	16 . . . 1671	1093/1724 (63%)	0.0
	No 359- Homo sapiens, 1712 aa.	17 . . . 1712	1324/1724 (76%)
	[WO200166689A-), 13 SEP. 2001]
AAU14241	Human novel protein #112 - Homo	368 . . . 1363	990/996 (99%)	0.0
	sapiens, 1091 aa. [WO200155437-A2,	1 . . . 991	990/996 (99%)
	02 AUG. 2001]
AAU14240	Human novel protein #111 - Homo	368 . . . 1363	960/996 (96%)	0.0
	sapiens, 1061 aa. [WO200155437-A2,	1 . . . 961	960/996 (96%)
	02 AUG. 2001]
AAM79855	Human protein SEQ ID NO 3501 -	16 . . . 1365	952/1392 (68%)	0.0
	Homo sapiens, 1522 aa.	65 . . . 1419	1108/1392 (79%)
	[WO200157190-A2, 09 AUG. 2001]

[0352] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV3a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 3E.

TABLE 3E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV3a
		NOV3a
Protein		Residues/	Identities/
Accession		Match	Similarities for the	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Matched Portion	Value
A48216	neurexin III-alpha secreted type 1	1 . . . 1364	1333/1374 (97%)	0.0
	precursor - rat, 1438 aa.	1 . . . 1369	1346/1374 (97%)
B48218	neurexin III-alpha membrane-bound	1 . . . 1364	1333/1374 (97%)	0.0
	type 3 precursor - rat, 1471 aa.	1 . . . 1369	1346/1374 (97%)
I48216	neurexin III-alpha membrane-bound	1 . . . 1364	1333/1374 (97%)	0.0
	type I precursor - rat, 1578 aa.	1 . . . 1369	1346/1374 (97%)
Q9Y4C0	Neurexin 3-alpha precursor	1 . . . 1367	1328/1373 (96%)	0.0
	(Neurexin III-alpha) - Homo sapiens	1 . . . 1338	1329/1373 (96%)
	(Human), 1541 aa.
Q07310	Neurexin 3-alpha precursor	1 . . . 1364	1318/1374 (95%)	0.0
	(Neurexin III-alpha) - Rattus	1 . . . 1369	1334/1374 (96%)
	norvegicus (Rat), 1578 aa.

[0353] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV3a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 3F.

TABLE 3F
Domain Analysis of NOV3a
		Identities/
Pfam	NOV3a	Similarities	Expect
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
laminin_G	55 . . . 174	37/132 (24%)	1.5e−11
		80/152 (53%)
EGF	202 . . . 234	15/47 (32%)	0.0033
		22/47 (47%)
laminin_G	281 . . . 410	41/161 (25%)	2.5e−22
		92/161 (57%)
laminin_G	469 . . . 616	53/169 (31%)	2.5e−30
		112/169 (66%)
EGF	641 . . . 673	10/47 (21%)	0.016
		26/47 (55%)
laminin_G	730 . . . 840	31/137 (23%)	2.1e−05
		86/137 (63%)
laminin_G	893 . . . 1024	49/164 (30%)	1.2e−18
		104/164 (63%)
EGF	1052 . . . 1084	13/47 (28%)	0.0034
		25/47 (53%)
laminin_G	1121 . . . 1196	26/89 (29%)	1e−06
		52/89 (58%)

Example 4

[0354] The NOV4 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 4A.

TABLE 4A
NOV4 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 27	2681 bp
NOV4a,	CTGGGATGTACCTTTCCATCTGTTGCTGCTTTCTTCTATGGGCCCCTGCCCTCACTCT
CG108624-01	CAAGAACCTCAACTACTCCGTGCCGGAGGAGCAAGGGGCCGGCACGGTGATCGGGAAC
DNA Sequence	ATCGGCAGGGATGCTCGACTGCAGCCTGGGCTTCCGCCTGCAGAGCGCGGCGCCGGAG
	GGCGCAGCAAGTCGGGTAGCTACCGGGTGCTGGAGAACTCCGCACCGCACCTGCTGGA
	CGTGGACGCAGACAGCGGGCTCCTCTACACCAAGCAGCGCATCGACCGCGAGTCCCTG
	TGCCGCCACAATGCCAAGTGCCAGCTGTCCCTCGAGGTGTTCGCCAACGACAAGGAGA
	TCTGCATGATCAAGGTAGAGATCCAGGACATCAACGACAACGCGCCCTCCTTCTCCTC
	GGACCAGATCGAAATGGACATCTCGGAGAACGCTGCTCCGGGCACCCGCTTCCCCCTC
	ACCAGCGCACATGACCCCGACGCCGGCGAGAATGGGCTCCGCACCTACCTGCTCACGC
	GCGACGATCACGGCCTCTTTGGACTGGACGTTAAGTCCCGCGGCGACGGCACCAAGTT
	CCCAGAACTGGTCATCCAGAAGGCTCTGGACCGCGAGCAACAGAATCACCATACGCTC
	GTGCTGACTGCCCTGGACGGTGGCGAGCCTCCACGTTCCGCCACCGTACAGATCAACG
	TGAAGGTGATTGACTCCAACGACAACAGCCCGGTCTTCGAGGCGCCATCCTACTTGGT
	GGAACTGCCCGAGAACGCTCCGCTGGGTACAGTGGTCATCGATCTGAACGCCACCGAC
	GCCGATGAAGGTCCCAATGGTGAAGTGCTCTACTCTTTCAGCAGCTACGTGCCTGACC
	GCGTGCGGGAGCTCTTCTCCATCGACCCCAAGACCGGCCTAATCCGTGTGAAGGGCAA
	TCTGGACTATGAGGAAAACGGGATGCTGGAGATTGACGTGCAGGCCCGAGACCTGGGG
	CCTAACCCTATCCCAGCCCACTGCAAAGTCACGGTCAAGCTCATCGACCGCAACGACA
	ATGCGCCGTCCATCGGTTTCGTCTCCGTGCGCCAGGGGGCGCTGAGCGAGGCCGCCCC
	TCCCGGCACCGTCATCGCCCTGGTGCGGGTCACTGACCGGGACTCTGGCAAGAACGGA
	CAGCTGCAGTGTCGGGTCCTAGGCGGAGGAGGGACGGGCGGCGGCGGGGGCCTGGGCG
	GGCCCGGGGGTTCCGTCCCCTTCAAGCTTGAGGAGAACTACGACAACTTCTACACGGT
	GGTGACTGACCGCCCGCTGGACCGCGAGACACAAGACGAGTACAACGTGACCATCGTG
	GCGCGGGACGGGGGCTCTCCTCCCCTCAACTCCACCAAGTCGTTCGCGATCAAGATTC
	TAGACGAGAACGACAACCCGCCTCGGTTCACCAAAGGGCTCTACGTGCTTCAGGTGCA
	CGAGAACAACATCCCGGGAGAGTACCTGGGCTCTGTGCTCGCCCAGGATCCCGACCTG
	GGCCAGAACGGCACCGTATCCTACTCTATCCTGCCCTCGCACATCGGCGACGTGTCTA
	TCTACACCTATGTGTCTGTGAATCCCACGAACGGGGCCATCTACGCCCTGCGCTCCTT
	TAACTTCGAGCAGACCAAGGCTTTTGAGTTCAAGGTGCTTGCTAAGGACTCGGGGGCG
	CCCGCGCACTTGGAGAGCAACGCCACGGTGAGGGTGACAGTGCTAGACGTGAATGACA
	ACGCGCCAGTGATCGTGCTCCCCACGCTGCAGAACGACACCGCGGAGCTGCAGGTGCC
	GCGCAACGCTGGCCTGGGCTATCTGGTGAGCACTGTGCGCGCCCTAGACAGCGACTTC
	GGCGAGAGCGGGCGTCTCACCTACGAGATCGTGGACGGCAACGACGACCACCTGTTTG
	AGATCGACCCGTCCAGCGGCGAGATCCGCACGCTGCACCCTTTCTGGGAGGACGTGAC
	GCCCGTGGTGGAGCTGGTGGTGAAGGTGACCGACCACGGCAAGCCTACCCTGTCCGCA
	GTGGCCAAGCTCATCATCCGCTCGGTGAGCGGATCCCTTCCCGAGGGGGTACCACGGG
	TGAATGGCGAGCAGCACCACTGGGACATGTCGCTGCCGCTCATCGTGACTCTGAGCAC
	TATCTCCATCATCCTCCTAGCGGCCATGATCACCATCGCCGTCAAGTGCAAGCGCGAG
	AACAAGGAGATCCGCACTTACAACTGCCGCATCGCCGAGTACAGCCACCCGCAGCTGG
	GTGGGGGCAAGGGCAAGAAGAAGAAGATCAACAAAAATGATATCATGCTGGTGCAGAG
	CGAAGTGGAGGAGAGGAACGCCATGAACGTCATGAACGTGGTGAGCAGCCCCTCCCTG
	GCCACCTCCCCCATGTACTTCGACTACCAGACCCGCCTGCCCCTCAGCTCGCCCCGGT
	CGGAGGTGATGTATCTCAAACCGGCCTCCAACAACCTGACTGTCCCTCAGGGGCACGC
	GGGCTGCCACACCAGCTTCACCGGACAAGGGACTAATGCAAGCGAGACCCCTGCCACT
	CGGATGTCCATAATTCAGACAGACAATTTTCCCGCAGAGCCCAATTACATGGGCAGCA
	GGCAGCAGTTTGTTCAATGTATTTCAGTAGCTCCACGTTTAAGGACCCAGAAAGAGCC
	AGCCTGAGAGACA
	ORF Start: ATG at 6	ORF Stop: TGA at 2673
	SEQ ID NO: 28	889 aa	MW at 96584.6 Da
NOV4a,	MYLSICCCFLLWAPALTLKNLNYSVPEEQGAGTVIGNIGRDARLQPGLPPAERGGGGR
CG108624-01	SKSGSYRVLENSAPHLLDVDADSGLLYTKQRIDRESLCRHNAKCQLSLEVFANDKEIC
Protein sequence	MIKVEIQDINDNAPSFSSDQIEMDISENAAPGTRFPLTSAHDPDAGENGLRTYLLTRD
	DHGLFGLDVKSRGDGTKFPELVIQKALDREQQNHHTLVLTALDGGEPPRSATVQINVK
	VIDSNDNSPVFEAPSYLVELPENAPLGTVVIDLNATDADEGPNGEVLYSFSSYVPDRV
	RELFSIDPKTGLIRVKGNLDYEENGMLEIDVQARDLGPNPIPAHCKVTVKLIDRNDNA
	PSIGFVSVRQGALSEAAPPGTVIALVRVTDRDSGKNGQLQCRVLGGGGTGGGGGLGGP
	GGSVPFKLEENYDNFYTVVTDRPLDRETQDEYNVTIVARDGGSPPLNSTKSFAIKILD
	ENDNPPRFTKGLYVLQVHENNIPGEYLGSVLAQDPDLGQNGTVSYSILPSHIGDVSIY
	TYVSVNPTNGAIYALRSFNFEQTKAFEFKVLAKDSGAPAHLESNATVRVTVLDVNDNA
	PVIVLPTLQNDTAELQVPRNAGLGYLVSTVRALDSDFGESGRLTYEIVDCNDDHLFEI
	DPSSGEIRTLHPFWEDVTPVVELVVKVTDHGKPTLSAVAKLIIRSVSGSLPEGVPRVN
	GEQHHWDMSLPLIVTLSTISIILLAAMITIAVKCKRENKEIRTYNCRIAEYSHPQLGG
	GKGKKKKINKNDIMLVQSEVEERNAMNVMNVVSSPSLATSPMYFDYQTRLPLSSPRSE
	VMYLKPASNNLTVPQGHAGCHTSFTGQGTNASETPATRMSIIQTDNFPAEPNYMGSRQ
	QFVQCISVAPRLRTQKEPA

[0355] Further analysis of the NOV4a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 4B.

TABLE 4B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV4a
PSort     0.4600 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic reticulum
          (membrane); 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic
          reticulum (lumen); 0.1000 probability located in outside
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 18 and 19
analysis:

[0356] A search of the NOV4a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 4C.

TABLE 4C
Geneseq Results for NOV4a
		NOV4a	Identities/
		Residues	Similarities
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	for the	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Matched Region	Value
AAY21687	Cadherin-like polypeptide, ontherin -	1 . . . 889	880/889 (98%)	0.0
	Vertebrata, 889 aa. [WO9929853-A1,	1 . . . 889	885/889 (98%)
	17 JUN. 1999]
AAY24913	Human ontherin - Homo sapiens, 889 aa.	10 . . . 889	880/889 (98%)	0.0
	[WO9929860-A1, 17 JUN. 1999]	1 . . . 889	885/889 (98%)
AAE17313	Human protocadherin protein,	10 . . . 874	466/869 (53%)	0.0
	sbg419582PROTOCADHERIN #2 - Homo	14 . . . 844	600/869 (68%)
	sapiens, 855 aa. [WO200198342-A1,
	27 DEC. 2001]
AAE17312	Human protocadherin protein,	10 . . . 840	460/882 (52%)	0.0
	sbg419582PROTOCADHERIN #1 - Homo	14 . . . 857	584/882 (66%)
	sapiens, 888 aa. [WO200198342-A1,
	27 DEC. 2001]
AAU19545	Human diagnostic and therapeutic	499 . . . 889	370/392 (94%)	0.0
	polypeptide (DITHP) #131 - Homo	36 . . . 427	373/392 (94%)
	sapiens, 427 aa. [WO200162927-A2,
	30 AUG 2001]

[0357] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV4a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 4D.

TABLE 4D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV4a
		NOV4a
Protein		Residues/	Identities/
Accession		Match	Similarities for the	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Matched Portion	Value
Q14917	protocadherin 68 - Homo sapiens	1 . . . 889	880/889 (98%)	0.0
	(Human), 889 aa.	1 . . . 889	883/889 (98%)
Q8TAB3	BA99E24.1.1 (Protocadherin 19	10 . . . 877	467/872 (53%)	0.0
	(KIAA1313) protein) - Homo sapiens	7 . . . 840	601/872 (68%)
	(Human), 1094 aa (fragment).
Q9P2E7	KIAA1400 protein - Homo sapiens	10 . . . 873	394/918 (42%)	0.0
	(Human), 1093 aa (fragment).	62 . . . 948	558/918 (59%)
Q96SF0	Protocadherin 10 - Homo sapiens	10 . . . 838	385/881 (43%)	0.0
	(Human), 896 aa.	9 . . . 859	541/881 (60%)
Q92518	OL-protocadherin isoform - Mus	10 . . . 873	393/918 (42%)	0.0
	musculus (Mouse), 1040 aa.	9 . . . 895	553/918 (59%)

[0358] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV4a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 4E.

TABLE 4E
Domain Analysis of NOV4a
		Identities/
Pfam	NOV4a	Similarities	Expect
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
cadherin	137 . . . 234	30/111 (27%)	2.3e−17
		74/111 (67%)
cadherin	248 . . . 342	41/110 (37%)	5.4e−22
cadherin	357 . . . 463	37/119 (31%)	1.3e−16
		86/119 (72%)
cadherin	477 . . . 574	1.2e−13
		33/112 (29%)
		71/112 (63%)
cadherin	593 . . . 685	38/108 (35%)	1.3e−10
		64/108 (59%)

Example 5

[0359] The NOV5 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences arc shown in Table 5A.

TABLE 5A
NOV5 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 29	718 bp
NOV5a,	AAAAACTAAGCCTGCTTCCAGTCCCCNCGGGAGTCGTAGGAACCCGTTCCTGGACGCT
CG108771-01	GACGTCGGCTTTCAGGGATCCCTCGCCGGACGCCGCGGAGGGACAGAGCCTGGGAAGC
DNA Sequence	CGTCGCCCCGCCCCGTCCCCGCCCCCGCGCGCAGCGGGCCCGGGGCGCTGAGACCCGC
	GTAGAGCAAAGCGCAAGGTCCCAGCGCCCCTTGGATCCTCGGTGGCAGGGTCCGGGCA
	AGTGTCATTGCGAGGGTTCAGGAAGCCCCGGCCTGTGATCGTGAGCGGAAACCCCTCC
	TGGAGTTTCCCCAAAGCCATGGACAGCCCTAGTCTTCGTGAGCTTCAACAGCCTCTGC
	TGGAGGGCACAGAATGTGAGACCCCTGCCCAGAAGCCTGGCAGGCATGACCTGGGGTC
	CCCCTTAAGAGAGATAGCCTTTGCCGAGTCCCTGAGGGGTTTGCAGTTCCTCTCACCG
	CCTCTTCCCTCCGTGAGCGCTGGCCTGGGGGAACCAAGGCCCCCTGATGTTGAGGACA
	TGTCATCCAGTGACAGTGACTCGGACTGGGATGGAGGCAGCCGTCTTTCACCATTTCT
	ACCCCACGACCACCTCGGCTTGGCTGTCTTCTCCATGCTGTGTTGTTTCTGGCCCGTT
	GGCATCGCTGCCTTCTGTCTAGCCCAGAAGGTCAGTCTGTGTGTGGGACTTGGAGGGG
	ACTGGAAGCAGGCTTAGTTTTT
	ORF Start: ATG at 309	ORF Stop: TAG at 711
	SEQ ID NO: 30	134 aa	MW at 14376.1 Da
NOV5a,	MDSPSLRELQQPLLEGTECETPAQKPGRHELGSPLREIAFAESLRGLQFLSPPLPSVS
CG108771-01	AGLGEPRPPDVEDMSSSDSDSDWDGGSRLSPFLPHDHLGLAVFSMLCCFWPVGIAAFC
Protein Sequence	LAQKVSLCVGLGGDWKQA

[0360] Further analysis of the NOV5a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 5B.

TABLE 5B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV5a
PSort     0.7000 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.4412 probability located in microbody (perxisome):
          0.2000 probability located in endoplasmic reticulum
          (membrane); 0.1000 probability located in mitochondrial inner
          membrane
SignalP   No Known Signal Sequence Predicted
analysis:

[0361] A search of the NOV5a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 5C.

TABLE 5C
Geneseq Results for NOV5a
		NOV5a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similiarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
ABB90246	Human polypeptide SEQ ID NO 2622 -	1 . . . 122	120/122 (98%)	1e−67
	Homo sapiens, 172 aa. [WO200190304-	1 . . . 122	121/122 (98%)
	A2, 29 NOV. 2001]
AAB25755	Human secreted protein sequence encoded	1 . . . 122	120/122 (98%)	1e−67
	by gene 33 SEQ ID NO: 144 - Homo	1 . . . 122	121/122 (98%)
	sapiens, 172 aa. [WO200043495-A2,
	27 JUL. 2000]
AAB25754	Human secreted protein sequence encoded	15 . . . 71	57/57 (100%)	2e−27
	by gene 33 SEQ ID NO: 143 - Homo	1 . . . 57	57/57 (100%)
	sapiens, 57 aa. [WO200043495-A2,
	27 JUL. 2000]
AAB25697	Human secreted protein sequence encoded	72 . . . 122	49/51 (96%)	3e−24
	by gene 33 SEQ ID NO: 86 - Homo	1 . . . 51	50/51 (97%)
	sapiens, 101 aa. [WO200043495-A2,
	27 JUL. 2000]
AAB43155	Human ORFX ORF2919 polypeptide	86 . . . 122	35/37 (94%)	2e−15
	sequence SEQ ID NO: 5838 - Homo	2 . . . 38	36/37 (96%)
	sapiens, 88 aa. [WO200058473-A2,
	05 OCT. 2000]

[0362] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV5a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 5D.

TABLE 5D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV5a
			Identities/
Protein		NOV5a	Similiarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q9H7V2	CDNA FLJ14220 fis, clone	75 . . . 128	28/54 (51%)	7e−09
	NT2RP3003828 - Homo sapiens (Human),	161 . . . 214	34/54 (62%)
	258 aa.
Q9H514	BA526K17.1 (Novel protein) - Homo	75 . . . 120	26/46 (56%)	5e−08
	sapiens (Human), 206 aa (fragment)	161 . . . 206	31/46 (66%)
O35449	Hypothetical 31.4 kDa protein - Mus	92 . . . 128	16/37 (43%)	0.005
	musculus (Mouse), 306 aa.	220 . . . 256	23/37 (61%)
Q96NQ8	CDNA FLJ30323 fis, clone	92 . . . 128	16/37 (43%)	0.005
	BRACE2007109, highly similar to	220 . . . 256	23/37 (61%)
	extensin-like protein NG5 - Homo sapiens
	(Human), 306 aa.
Q96DW3	Similar to chromosome 6 open reading	92 . . . 128	16/37 (43%)	0.005
	frame 31 - Homo sapiens (Human), 225 aa.	139 . . . 175	23/37 (61%)

[0363] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV5a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 5E.

TABLE 5E
Domain Analysis of NOV5a
		Identities/
Pfam		Similarities	Expect
Domain	NOV5a Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
No Significant Known Matches Found

Example 6

[0364] The NOV6 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 6A.

TABLE 6A
NOV6 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 31	1174 bp
NOV6a,	ACGCGTGGGCGGACGCGTGGTTGGACTCCGCCCGTGGAGCCCTGGGCCTGTTGACCCA
CG108782-01	CCAGCTTAGGAGCACCCACCAAGCTCTGGGTCAACGTGGAGGTACCAGGCCACCATGC
DNA Sequence	TCAGTCTCAAGCTGCCCCAACTTCTTCAAGTCCACCAGGTCCCCCGGGTGTTCTGGGA
	AGATGGCATCATCTCTGGCTACCGCCGCCCCACCAGCTCGGCTTTGGACTGTGTCCTC
	AGCTCCTTCCAGATGACCAACGAGACGGTCAACATCTGGACTCACTTCCTGCCCACCT
	GGTACTTCCTGTGGCGGCTCCTGGCGCTGGCGGGCGGCCCCGGCTTCCGTGCGGAGCC
	GTACCACTGGCCGCTGCTGGTCTTCCTGCTGCCCGCCTGCCTCTACCCCTTCGCGTCG
	TGCTGCGCGCACACCTTCAGCTCCATGTCGCCCCGCATGCGCCACATCTGCTACTTCC
	TCGACTACGGCGCGCTCAGCCTCTACAGTCTGGGCTGCGCCTTCCCCTATGCCGCCTA
	CTCCATGCCGGCCTCCTGGCTGCACGGCCACCTGCACCAGTTCTTTGTGCCTGCCGCC
	GCACTCAACTCCTTCCTGTGCACCGGCCTCTCCTGCTACTCCCGGTTCCTGGAGCTGG
	AAACCCCTGGGCTCAGTAAGGTCCTCCGCACAGGAGCCTTCGCCTATCCATTCCTGTT
	CGACAACCTCCCACTCTTTTATCGGCTCGGGCTGTGCTGGGGCAGGGGCCACGGCTGT
	GGGCAGGAGGCCCTGAGCACCAGCCATGGCTACCATCTCTTCTGCGCGCTGCTCACTG
	GCTTCCTCTTCGCCTCCCACCTGCCTGAAAGGCTGGCACCAGGACGCTTTGATTACAT
	CGGTCACAGCCACCAGTTATTCCACATCTGTGCAGTGCTGGGCACCCACTTCCAGCTG
	GAGGCAGTGCTGGCTGATATGGGATCACGCAGAGCCTGGCTGGCCACACAGGAACCTG
	CCCTGGGCCTGGCAGGCACAGTGGCCACACTGGTCTTGGCTGCAGCTGGGAACCTACT
	CATTATTGCTGCTTTCACAGCCACCCTGCTTCGGGCCCCCAGTACATGCCCTCTGCTG
	CAGGGTGGCCCACTGGAGGGGGGTACCCAGGCCAAACAACAGTGAGGCCCCATCCCTG
	ACCCTGTCCTGGAG
	ORF Start: ATG at 113	ORF Stop: TGA at 1145
	SEQ ID NO: 32	344 aa	MW at 37988.7 Da
NOV6a,	MLSLKLPQLLQVHQVPRVFWEDGIMSGYRRPTSSALDCVLSSFQMTNETVNIWTHFLP
CC108782-01	TWYFLWRLLALAGGPGFRAEPYHWPLLVFLLPACLYPFASCCAHTFSSMSPRMRHICY
Protein Sequence	FLDYGALSLYSLGCAFPYAAYSMPASWLHGHLHQFFVPAAALNSFLCTGLSCYSRFLE
	LESPGLSKVLRTGAFAYPFLFDNLPLFYRLGLCWGRGHGCGQEALSTSHGYHLFCALL
	TGFLFASHLPERLAPGRFDYIGHSHQLFHICAVLGTHFQLEAVLADMGSRRAWLATQE
	PALGLAGTVATLVLAAAGNLLIIAAFTATLLRAPSTCPLLQGGPLEGGTQAKQQ
	SEQ ID NO: 33	1081 bp
NOV6b,	CAAGCTCTGGGTCAACGTGGAGGTACCAGGCCACCATGCTCAGTCTCAAGCTGCCCCA
CG108782-02	ACTTCTTCAAGTCCACCAGGTCCCCCGGGTGTTCTGGGAAGATGGCATCATGTCTGGC
DNA Sequence	TACCGCCGCCCCACCAGCTCGGCTTTGGACTGTGTCCTCAGCTCCTTCCAGATGACCA
	ACGAGACGGTCAACATCTGGACTCACTTCCTGCCCACCTGGTACTTCCTGTGGCCGCT
	TCTGGCGCTGGCGGGCGGCCCCGGCTTCCGTGCGGAGCCGTACCACTGGCCGCTGCTG
	GTCTTCCTGCTGCCCGCCTGCCTCTACCCCTTCGCGTCGTGCTGCGCGCACACCTTCA
	GCTCCATGTCGCCCCGCATGCGCCACATCTGCTACTTCCTCGACTACGGCGCGCTCAG
	CCTCTACAGTCTGGGCTGCGCCTTCCCCTATGCCGCCTACTCCATGCCGGCCTCCTGG
	CTGCACGGCCACCTGCACCAGTTCTTTGTGCCTGCCGCCGCACTCAACTCCTTCCTGT
	GCACCGGCCTCTCCTGCTACTCCCGTTTCCTCGAGCTGGAAAGCCCTGGGCTCAGTAA
	GGTCCTCCGCACAGGAGCCTTCGCCTATCCATTCCTGTTCGACAACCTCCCACTCTTT
	TATCGGCTCGGGCTGTGCTGGGGCAGGGGCCACGGCTGTGGGCAGGAGGCCCTGAGCA
	CCAGCCATGGCTACCATCTCTTCTGCGCGCTGCTCACTGGCTTCCTCTTCGCCTCCCA
	CCTGCCTGAAAGGCTGGCACCAGGACGCTTTGATTACATCGGCCACAGCCACCAGTTA
	TTCCACATCTGTGCAGTGCTGGGCACCCACTTCCAGCTGGAGGCAGTGCTGGCTGATA
	TGGGATCACGCAGAGCCTGGCTGGCCACACAGGAACCTGCCCTGGGCCTGGCAGGCAC
	AGTGGCCACACTGGTCTTGGCTGCAGCTGGGAACCTACTCATTATTGCTGCTTTCACA
	GCCACCCTGCTTCGGGCCCCCGGTACATGCCCTCTGCTGCAGGGTGGCCCACTGGAGG
	GGGGTACCCAGCCCAAACAACAGTGAGCCCCCATCCC
	ORF Start: ATG at 36	ORF Stop: TGA at 1068
	SEQ ID NO: 34	344 aa	MW at 37958.7 Da
NOV6b,	MLSLKLPQLLQVHQVPRVFWEDGIMSGYRRPTSSALDCVLSSFQMTNETVNIWTHFLP
CG108782-02	TWYFLWRLLALAGGPGFRAEPYHWPLLVFLLPACLYPFASCCAHTFSSMSPRMRHICY
Protein Sequence	FLDYGALSLYSLGCAFPYAAYSMPASWLHGHLHQFFVPAAALNSFLCTGLSCYSRFLE
	LESPGLSKVLRTGAFAYPFLFDNLPLFYRLGLCWGRGHGCGQEALSTSHGYHLFCALL
	TGFLFASHLPERLAPGRFDYIGHSHQLFHICAVLGTHFQLEAVLADMGSRRAWLATQE
	PALGLAGTVATLVLAAAGNLLIIAAFTATLLRAPGTCPLLQGGPLEGGTQAKQQ

[0365] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 6B.

TABLE 6B
Comparison of NOV6a against NOV6b.
Protein	NOV6a Residues/
Sequence	Match Residues	Similarities for the Matched Region
NOV6b	1 . . . 344	311/344 (90%)
	1 . . . 344	311/344 (90%)

[0366] Further analysis of the NOV6a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 6C.

TABLE 6C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV6a
PSort     0.6000 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.4000 probability located in Golgi body; 0.3000 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane); 0.3000
          probability located in microbody (peroxisome)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 21 and 22
analysis:

[0367] A search of the NOV6a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 6D.

TABLE 6D
Geneseq Results for NOV6a
		NOV6a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similiarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
ABB11063	Human secreted protein homologue, SEQ	176 . . . 271	96/96 (100%)	2e−54
	ID NO: 1433 - Homo sapiens, 96 aa.	1 . . . 96	96/96 (100%)
	[WO200157188-A2, 09 AUG. 2001]
ABB89827	Human polypeptide SEQ ID NO 2203 -	57 . . . 243	102/190 (53%)	2e−41
	Homo sapiens, 284 aa. [WO200190304-	36 . . . 179	105/190 (54%)
	A2, 29 NOV. 2001]
AAG01602	Human secreted protein, SEQ ID NO:	1 . . . 61	59/61 (96%)	2e−28
	5683 - Homo sapiens, 87 aa.	1 . . . 61	60/61 (97%)
	[EP1033401-A2, 06 SEP. 2000]
AAG01600	Human secreted protein, SEQ ID NO	1 . . . 61	59/61 (96%)	2e−28
	5681 - Homo sapiens, 87 aa.	1 . . . 61	60/61 (97%)
	[EP1033401-A2, 06 SEP. 2000]
AAY35973	Extended human secreted protein	14 . . . 283	82/271 (30%)	5e−28
	sequence, SEQ ID NO. 222 - Homo	37 . . . 301	126/271 (46%)
	sapiens, 346 aa. [WO9931236-A2,
	24 JUN. 1999]

[0368] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV6a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 6E.

TABLE 6E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV6a
			Identities/
Protein		NOV6a	Similiarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q9BGW7	Hypothetical 25.8 kDa protein - Macaca	107 . . . 344	229/238 (96%)	e−135
	fascicularis (Crab eating macaque)	1 . . . 238	230/238 (96%)
	(Cynomolgus monkey), 238 aa.
Q9H621	CDNA: FLJ22672 fis, clone HS109265 -	139 . . . 344	205/206 (99%)	e−119
	Homo sapiens (Human), 206 aa.	1 . . . 206	205/206 (99%)
Q9NXK6	CDNA FLJ20190 fis, clone COLF0714 -	1 . . . 324	166/324 (51%)	1e−96
	Homo sapiens (Human), 330 aa.	1 . . . 321	215/324 (66%)
Q9DCU0	0610010115Rik protein - Mus musculus	1 . . . 324	171/324 (52%)	2e−96
	(Mouse), 330 aa.	1 . . . 321	217/324 (66%)
Q9DA71	1700019B16Rik protein - Mus musculus	5 . . . 322	104/321 (32%)	7e−34
	(Mouse), 354 aa.	32 . . . 342	151/321 (46%)

[0369] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV6a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 6F.

TABLE 6F
Domain Analysis of NOV6a
		Identities/
Pfam		Similarities	Expect
Domain	NOV6a Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
UPF0073	33 . . . 276	70/292 (24%)	1.5e−09
		152/292 (52%)

Example 7

[0370] The NOV7 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 7A.

TABLE 7A
NOV7 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 35	1441 bp
NOV7a,	GGCAGCCGCTTCGGCGCCCGGCCCCGCGGCCAGCTAGGGGCGGCCCCGCGCTCCCTCA
CG108801-01	CGGCCCCTCGGCGGCGCCCGTCGGATCCGGCCTCTCTCTGCGCCCCGGGGCGCGCCAC
DNA Sequence	CTCCCCGCCGGAGGTGTCCACGCGTCCGGCCGTCCATCCGTCCGTCCCTCCTGGGGCC
	GGCGCTGACCATGCCCAGCGGCTGCCGCTGCCTGCATCTCGTGTGCCTGTTGTGCATT
	CTGGGGGCTCCCGGTCAGCCTGTCCGAGCCGATGACTGCAGCTCCCACTGTGACCTGG
	CCCACGGCTGCTGTGCACCTGACGGCTCCTGCAGGTGTGACCCGGGCTGGGAGGGGCT
	GCACTGTGAGCGCTGTGTGAGGATGCCTGGCTGCCAGCACGGTACCTGCCACCAGCCA
	TGGCAGTGCATCTGCCACAGTGGCTGGGCAGGCAAGTTCTGTGACAAAGATGAACATA
	TCTGTACCACGCAGTCCCCCTGCCAGAATGGAGGCCAGTGCATGTATGACGGGGGCGG
	TGAGTACCATTGTGTGTGCTTACCAGGCTTCCATGGGCGTGACTGCGAGCGCAAGCCT
	GGACCCTGTGAACAGGCAGGCTCCCCATGCCGCAATGGCGGGCAGTGCCAGGACGACC
	AGGGCTTTGCTCTCAACTTCACGTGCCGCTGCTTGGTGGGCTCTGTGGGTGCCCGCTG
	TGAGGTAAATGTGGATGACTGCCTGATGCGGCCTTGTGCTAACGGTGCCACCTGCCTT
	GACGGCATAAACCGCTTCTCCTGCCTCTGTCCTGAGGGCTTTGCTGGACGCTTCTGCA
	CCATCAACCTGGATGACTGTGCCAGCCGCCCATGCCAGAGAGGGGCCCGCTGTCGGGA
	CCGTGTCCACGACTTCGACTGCCTCTGCCCCAGTGGCTATGGTGGCAAGACCTGTGAG
	CTTGTCTTACCTGTCCCAGACCCCCCAACCACAGTCGACACCCCTCTAGGGCCCACCT
	CAGCTGTAGTGGTACCTGCCACGGGGCCAGCCCCCCACAGCGCAGGGGCTGGTCTGCT
	GCGGATCTCAGTGAAGGAGGTGGTGCGGAGGCAAGAGGCTGGGCTAGGTGAGCCTAGC
	TTGGTGGCCCTGGTGGTGTTTGGGGCCCTCACTCCTGCCCTGGTTCTGGCTACTGTGT
	TGCTGACCCTGAGGGCCTGGCGCCGGGGTGTCTGCCCTCCTGGACCCTGTTGCTACCC
	TGCCCCACACTATGCTCCAGCGTGCCAGGACCAGGAGTGTCAGGTTAGCATGCTGCCA
	GCAGGGCTCCCCCTGCCACGTGACTTGCCCCCTGAGCCTGGAAAGACCACAGCACTGT
	GATGGAGGTGGGGGCTTTCTGGCCCCCTTCCTCACCTCTTCCACCCCTCAGACTGGAG
	TGGTCCGTTCTCACCACCCTTCAGCTTGGGTACACACACAGAAGGGCGA
	ORF Start: ATG at 185	ORF Stop: TGA at 1334
	SEQ ID NO: 36	383 aa	MW at 40487.0 Da
NOV7a,	MPSGCRCLHLVCLLCILGAPGQPVRADDCSSHCDLAHGCCAPDGSCRCDPGWEGLHCE
CG108801-01	RCVRMPGCQHGTCHQPWQCICHSGWAGKPCDKDEHICTTQSPCQNGGQCMYDGGGEYH
Protein Sequence	CVCLPGFHGRDCERKAGPCEQAGSPCRNGGQCQDDQGFALNFTCRCLVGSVGARCEVN
	VDDCLMRPCANGATCLDGINRFSCLCPEGFAGRFCTINLDDCASRPCQRGARCRDRVH
	DFDCLCPSGYGGKTCELVLPVPDPPTTVDTPLGPTSAVVVPATGPAPHSAGAGLLRIS
	VKEVVRRQEAGLGEPSLVALVVFGALTAALVLATVLLTLRAWRRGVCPPGPCCYPAPH
	YAPACQDQECQVSMLPAGLPLPRDLPPEPGKTTAL
	SEQ ID NO: 37	1348 bp
NOV7b,	GGCAGCCGCTTCGGCGCCCGGCCCCGCGGCCAGCTAGGGGCGGCCCCGCGCTCCCTCA
CG108801-02	CGGCCCCTCGGCGCCGCCCGTCGGATCCGGCCTCTCTCTGCGCCCCGGGGCGCGCCAC
DNA Sequence	CTCCCCGCCGGAGGTGTCCACGCGTCCGCCCGTCCATCCGTCCGTCCCTCCTGGGGCC
	GGCGCTGACCATGCCCAGCGGCTGCCGCTGCCTGCATCTCGTGTGCCTGTTGTGCATT
	CTGGGGGCTCCCGGTCAGCCTGTCCGAGCCGATGACTGCAGCTCCCACTGTGACCTGG
	CCCACGGCTGCTGTGCACCTCACGGCTCCTGCAGGTGTGACCCGGGCTGGGAGGGGCT
	GCACTGTGAGCGCTGTGTGAGGATGCCTGGCTGCCAGCACGGTACCTGCCACCAGCCA
	TGGCAGTGCATCTGCCACAGTGGCTGGGCAGGCAAGTTCTGTGACAAAGGCTTCCATG
	GGCGTGACTGCGAGCGCAAGGCTGGACCCTGTGAACACGCAGGCTCCCCATGCCGCAA
	TGGCGGGCAGTGCCAGGACGACCAGGGCTTTGCTCTCAACTTCACGTGCCGCTGCTTG
	GTGGGCTCTGTGGGTGCCCGCTGTGAGGTAAATGTGGATGACTGCCTGATGCGGCCTT
	GTGCTAACGGTGCCACCTGCCTTGACGGCATAAACCGCTTCTCCTGCCTCTGTCCTGA
	GGGCTTTGCTGGACGCTTCTGCACCATCAACCTGGATGACTGTGCCAGCCGCCCATGC
	CAGAGAGGGGCCCGCTGTCGGGACCGTGTCCACGACTTCGACTGCCTCTGCCCCAGTG
	GCTATGGTGGCAAGACCTGTGAGCTTGTCTTACCTGTCCCAGACCCCCCAACCACAGT
	GGACACCCCTCTAGGGCCCACCTCAGCTGTAGTGGTACCTGCCACGGGGCCAGCCCCC
	CACAGCGCAGGGGCTGGTCTGCTGCGGATCTCAGTGAAGGAGGTGGTGCGGAGGCAAG
	AGGCTGGGCTAGGTGAGCCTAGCTTGGTGGCCCTGGTGGTGTTTGGGGCCCTCACTGC
	TGCCCTGGTTCTGGCTACTGTGTTGCTGACCCTGAGGGCCTGGCGCCGGGGTGTCTGC
	CCTCCTGGACCCTGTTGCTACCCTGCCCCACACTATGCTCCAGCGTGCCAGGACCAGG
	AGTGTCAGGTTAGCATGCTGCCAGCAGGGCTCCCCCTGCCACGTGACTTGCCCCCTGA
	GCCTGGAAAGACCACAGCACTGTGATGGAGGTCGGGGCTTTCTGGCCCCCTTCCTCAC
	CTCTTCCACCCCTCAGACTGGAGTGGTCCGTTCTCACCACCCTTCAGCTTGGGTACAC
	ACACAGAAGGGCGA
	ORF Start: ATG at 185	ORF Stop: TGA at 1241
	SEQ ID NO: 38	352 aa	MW at 37158.3 Da
NOV7b,	MPSGCRCLHLVCLLCILGAPGQPVRADDCSSHCDLAHGCCAPDGSCRCDPGWEGLHCE
CG108801-02	RCVRMPGCQHGTCHQPWQCICHSGWAGKFCDKGFHGRDCERKAGPCEQAGSPCRNGGQ
Protein Sequence	CQDDQGFALNFTCRCLVGSVGARCEVNVDDCLMRPCANGATCLDGINRFSCLCPEGFA
	GRFCTINLDDCASRPCQRGARCRDRVHDFDCLCPSGYGGKTCELVLPVPDPPTTVDTP
	LGPTSAVVVPATGPAPHSAGAGLLRISVKEVVRRQEAGLGEPSLVALVVFGALTAALV
	LATVLLTLRAWRRGVCPPGPCCYPAPHYAPACQDQECQVSMLPAGLPLPRDLPPEPGK
	TTAL

[0371] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 7B.

TABLE 7B
Comparison of NOV7a against NOV7b.
Protein	NOV7a Residues/	Identities/
Sequence	Match Residues	Similarities for the Matched Region
NOV7b	1 . . . 383	296/383 (77%)
	1 . . . 352	296/383 (77%)

[0372] Further analysis of the NOV7a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 7C.

TABLE 7C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV7a
PSort     0.4600 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic reticulum
          (membrane); 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic
          reticulum (lumen); 0.1000 probability located in outside
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 27 and 28
analysis:

[0373] A search of the NOV7a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 7D.

TABLE 7D
Geneseq Results for NOV7a
		NOV7a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAG67516	Amino acid sequence of a human	1 . . . 383	382/383 (99%)	0.0
	secreted polypeptide - Homo sapiens,	1 . . . 383	382/383 (99%)
	383 aa. [WO200166690-A2,
	13 SEP. 2001]
AAE01167	Human gene 4 encoded secreted protein	1 . . . 383	382/383 (99%)	0.0
	HKAAV61, SEQ ID NO: 68 - Homo	1 . . . 383	382/383 (99%)
	sapiens, 383 aa. [WO200134768-A2,
	17 MAY 2001]
AAE13632	Human preadipocyte factor-1-like	1 . . . 383	381/383 (99%)	0.0
	protein - Homo sapiens, 383 aa.	1 . . . 383	381/383 (99%)
	[WO200157233-A2, 09 AUG. 2001]
AAE13639	Human preadipocyte factor-1-like	27 . . . 383	356/357 (99%)	0.0
	protein fragment #1 - Homo sapiens,	1 . . . 357	356/357 (99%)
	357 aa. [WO200157233-A2,
	09 AUG. 2001]
AAE13641	Wheat germ agglutinin #1 found in	57 . . . 233	176/177 999%)	e−116
	human Pref-1-like protein - Triticum	1 . . . 177	176/177 (99%)
	aestivum, 177 aa. [WO200157233-A2,
	09 AUG. 2001]

[0374] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV7a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in in Table 7E.

TABLE 7E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV7a
		NOV7a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q9BQ54	Hypothetical 21.3 kDa protein (Unknown)	180 . . . 383	204/204 (100%)	e−122
	(Protein for MGC: 2487) - Homo sapiens	1 . . . 204	204/204 (100%)
	(Human), 204 aa.
O70534	ZOG protein - Rattus norvegicus (Rat),	10 . . . 327	127/325 (39%)	2e−67
	383 aa.	7 . . . 324	171/325 (52%)
Q62779	Preadipocyte factor 1 - Rattus norvegicus	10 . . . 325	127/323 (39%)	9e−67
	(Rat), 383 aa.	7 . . . 322	169/323 (52%)
Q925U3	Dlk (Delta like) (Delta-like) - Mus	10 . . . 327	126/327 (38%)	1e−64
	musculus (Mouse), 385 aa.	7 . . . 326	170/327 (51%)
Q09163	Delta-like protein precursor (DLK)	10 . . . 327	126/327 (38%)	1e−64
	(Preadipocyte factor 1) (Pref-1)	7 . . . 326	170/327 (51%)
	(Adipocyte differentiation inhibitor
	protein) [Contains: Fetal antigen 1 (FA1)]-
	Mus musculus (Mouse), 385 aa.

[0375] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV7a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 7F.

TABLE 7F
Domain Analysis of NOV7a
		Identities
Pfam	NOV7a	Similarities
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Expect Value
EGF	60 . . . 88	11/47 (23%)	0.0016
		23/47 (49%)
EGF	95 . . . 128	16/47 (34%)	8e−08
		30/47 (64%)
EGF	135 . . . 171	15/47 (32%)	0.0003
		23/47 (49%)
EGF	178 . . . 209	13/47 (28%)	61e−09
		26/47 (55%)
EGF	216 . . . 247	14/47 (30%)	5.2e−06
		24/47 (51%)

Example 8

[0376] The NOV8 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 8A.

TABLE 8A
NOV8 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 39	2484 bp
NOV8a,	GGATCTCAGCACTCTGACCCAAGGGGAAGCATGTCGAAGAAAGGCCGGAGCAAGGGCG
CG109717-01	AGAAGCCCGAGATGGAGACGGACGCGGTGCAGATGGCCAACGAGGAGCTGCCGGCCAA
DNA Sequence	GCTGACCAGCATTCAGATCGAGTTCCAGCAGGAAAAAAGCAAGGTGGGCAAACTGCGC
	GAGCGGCTGCAGGAGGCGAAGCTGGAGCGCGAGCAGGAGCAGCGACGGCACACGGCCT
	ACATTTCGGAGCTCAAGGCCAAGCTGCATGAGGAGAAGACCAAGGAGCTGCAGGCGCT
	GCGCGAGGGGCTCATCCGGCAGCACGAGCAGGAGGCGCCGCGCACCGCCAAGATCAAG
	GAGGGCGAGCTGCAGCGGCTGCAGGCCACGCTGAACGTGCTGCGCGACGGCGCGGCCG
	ACAAGGTCAAGACGGCGCTGCTGACCGAGGCGCGCGAGGAGGCGCGCAGGGCCTTCGA
	GCAGAGGAGGCGCTCAGTAACTGCATGCAGGCTGACAAGACCAAGGCAGCCGACCTGC
	GTGCCGCCTACCAGGCGCACCAAGACGAGGTGCACCGCATCAAGCGCGAGTGCGAGCG
	CGACATCCGCAGGCTGATGGATGAGATCAAAGGCAAAGACCGTGTGATTCTGGCCTTG
	GAGAAGGAACTTGGCGTGCAGGCTGGGCAGACCCAGAAGCTGCTTCTGCAGAAAGAGG
	CTTTGGATGAGCAGCTGGTTCAGGTCAAGGAGGCCGAGCGGCACCACAGTAGTCCAAA
	GAGAGAGCTCCCGCCCGGGATCGGGGACATGGTGGAGCTCATGGGCGTCCAGGATCAA
	CATATGGACGAGCGAGATGTGAGGCGATTTCAACTAAAAATTGCTGAACTGAATTCAG
	TGATACGGAAGCTGGAAGACAGAAATACGCTGTTGGCAGATGAGAGGAATGAACTGCT
	GAAACGCTCACGAGAGACCGAGGTTCAGCTGAAGCCCCTGGTGGAGAAGAACAAGCGG
	ATGAACAAGAAGAATGAGGATCTGTTGCAGAGTATCCAGAGGATGGAGGAGAAAATCA
	AGAACCTCACGCGGGAAAACGTGGAAATGCTGTCAGCGCAGGCGTCTCTGAAGCGGCA
	TACCTCCTTGAATGACCTCAGCCTGACGAGGGATGAGCAGGAGATCGAGTTCCTGAGG
	CTGCAGGTGCTGGAGCAGCAGCACGTCATTGACGACCTCTCACTGGAGAGAGAACGGC
	TGTTGCGCTCCAAAAGGCATCGAGGGAAAAGTCTGAAACCGCCCAAGAAGCATGTTGT
	GGAGACATTTTTTGGATTTGATCAGGAGTCTGTGGACTCAGAAACGTTGTCCGAAACA
	TCCTACAACACAGACAGGACAGACAGGACCCCAGCCACGCCCGAAGAAGACTTGGACG
	ATAAGGCCACAGCCCGAGAGGAGGCTGACCTGCGCTTCTGCCAGCTGACCCGGGAGTA
	CCAGGCCCTGCAACGCGCCTACGCCCTGCTCCAGGAGCAGGTGGGAGGCACGCTGGAC
	GCTGAGAGGGAGGCCCGGACTCGGGAGCAGCTACAAGCTGATCTGCTGAGGTGTCAGG
	CCAAAATCGAAGATTTGGAGAAGTTACTGGTTGAGAAGGGACAGGTGAGCAGGAGTGA
	TATGGAAGAGAACCAGCTGAAGAATGAAATGCAAGACGCCAAGGATCAGAACGAGCTG
	TTAGAATTCAGAGTGCTAGAACTCGAAGAGAGAGAGAGGAGGTCGCCAGCATTTAACC
	TCCAAATCACCACCTTCCCCGAGAACCACAGCAGCGCTCTCCAGCTGTTCTGTCACCA
	GGAAGGAGTTAAGGATGTGAATGTTTCTGAACTTATGAAGAAATTAGATATCCTTGGC
	GATAACGGGAATTTGAGAAATGAAGAACAGGTTGCAATAATCCAAGCTGGAACTGTGC
	TTGCCCTGTGTGAAAAGTGGCTGAAGCAAATAGAGGGGACCGAGGCCGCCCTGACCCA
	GAAGATGCTGGACCTGGAGAAGGAGCAGGACCTGTTCAGCAGGCAGAAGGGCTACCTG
	GAAGAGGAGCTCGACTACCGGAAGCAAGCCCTTGACCAGGCTTACCTGAAAATCCAAG
	ACCTGGAGGCCACACTGTACACAGCGCTGCAGCAGGAGCCGGGGCGGAGGGCCGGTGA
	GGCGCTGAGCGAGGGCCAGCGGGACGACCTGCAGGCTGCTGTGGAAAAGGTGCGCAGG
	CAGATCCTCAGGCAGAGCCGCGAGTTCGACAGCCAGATCCTGCGGGAGCGCATGGAGC
	TGCTGCAGCAGGCCCAGCAGAGAATCCGAGAACTGGAGGACAAACTGGAGTTTCAGAA
	GCGGCACCTGAAAGAACTGGAGGAAAAGTTTTTGTTCCTTTTTTTGTTTTTCTCACTA
	GCATTCATTCTGTGGCCTTGATGACTTCAGTGAGCCAAGAACTCGGGT
	ORF Start: ATG at 31	ORF Stop: TGA at 2455
	SEQ ID NO: 40	808 aa	MW at 94479.1 Da
NOV8a,	MSKKGRSKGEKPEMETDAVQMANEELRAKLTSIQIEFQQEKSKVGKLRERLQEAKLER
CG109717-01	EQEQRRHTAYISELKAKLHEEKTKELQALREGLIRQHEQEAARTAKIKEGELQRLQAT
Protein Sequence	LNVLRDGAADKVKTALLTEAREEARRAFDGERLRLQQEILELKAARKQAEEALSNCMQ
	ADKTKAADLRAAYQAHQDEVHRIKRECERDIRRLMDEIKGKDRVILALEKELGVQAGQ
	TQKLLLQKEALDEQLVQVKEAERHHSSPKRELPPGIGDMVELMGVQDQHMDERDVRRF
	QLKIAELNSVIRKLEDRNTLLADERNELLKRSRETEVQLKPLVEKNKRMNKKNEDLLQ
	SIQRMEEKIKNLTRENVEMLSAQASLKRHTSLNDLSLTRDEQEIEFLRLQVLEQQHVI
	DDLSLERERLLRSKRHRGKSLKPPKKHVVETFFGFDEESVDSETLSETSYNTDRTDRT
	PATPEEDLDDKATAREEADLRFCQLTREYQALQRAYALLQEQVGGTLDAEREARTREQ
	LQADLLRCQAKIEDLEKLLVEKGQVSRSDMEENQLKNEMQDAKDQNELLEPRVLELEE
	RERRSPAFNLQITTFPENHSSALQLFCHQEGVKDVNVSELMKKLDILGDNGNLRNEEQ
	VAIIQAGTVLALCEKWLKQIEGTEAALTQKMLDLEKEQDLFSRQKGYLEEELDYRKQA
	LDQAYLKIQDLEATLYTALQQEPGRRAGEALSEGQREDLQAAVEKVRRQILRQSREFD
	SQILRERMELLQQAQQRIRELEDKLEFQKRHLKELEEKFLFLFLFFSLAFILWP

[0377] Further analysis of the NOV8a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 8B.

TABLE 8B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV8a
PSort     0 8500 probability located in endoplasmic reticulum
analysis: (membrane); 0.4400 probability located in plasma
          membrane; 0.3000 probability located in microbody
          (peroxisome); 0.1000 probability located in mitochondrial
          inner membrane
SignalP   No Known Signal Sequence Predicted
analysis;

[0378] A search of the NOV8a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 8C.

TABLE 8C
Geneseq Results for NOV8a
		NOV8a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
ABB04608	Human xylose isomerase 43 protein	173 . . . 582	323/431 (74%)	e−162
	SEQ ID NO: 2 - Homo sapiens, 387 aa.	1 . . . 366	332/431 (76%)
	[CN1307130-A, 08 AUG. 2001]
AAB42436	Human ORFX ORF2200 polypeptide	194 . . . 431	238/241 (98%)	e−128
	sequence SEQ ID NO: 4400 - Homo	1 . . . 241	238/241 (98%)
	sapiens, 241 aa. [WO200058473-A2,
	05 OCT. 2000]
AAAM85650	Human immune/haematopoietic antigen	445 . . . 808	238/390 (61%)	e−124
	SEQ ID NO: 13243 - Homo sapiens, 388	4 . . . 388	298/390 (76%)
	aa. [WO200157182-A2, 09 AUG. 2001]
ABB61173	Drosophila melanogaster polypeptide	6 . . . 788	179/877 (20%)	4e−24
	SEQ ID NO 10311 - Drosophila	423 . . . 1263	360/877 (40%)
	melanogaster, 1690 aa. [WO200171042-A2,
	27 SEP. 2001]
AAY30795	A human trichohyalin (TRHY) protein-	24 . . . 794	171/792 (21%)	5e−24
	Homo sapiens, 1898 aa. [U.S. Pat. No.	258 . . . 991	345/792 (42%)
	5958752-A, 28 SEP. 1999]

[0379] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV8a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 8D.

TABLE 8D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV8a
		NOV8a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q96N16	CDNA FLJ31564 fis, clone	1 . . . 582	575/606 (94%)	0.0
	NT2R12001450, weakly similar to	1 . . . 605	578/606 (94%)
	trichohyalin - Homo sapiens (Human),
	626 aa.
T00331	hypothetical protein KIAA0555 -	1 . . . 808	530/812 (65%)	0.0
	human, 799 aa.	1 . . . 799	656/812 (80%)
Q96AA8	Hypothetical protein KIAA0555 - Homo	1 . . . 792	513/817 (62%)	0.0
	sapiens (Human), 810 aa.	1 . . . 804	641/817 (77%)
Q9CU41	6330417G02Rik protein - Mus musculus	1 . . . 418	262/436 (60%)	e−139
	(Mouse), 437 aa (fragment).	1 . . . 435	333/436 (76%)
Q9BGP2	Hypothetical 23.9 kDa protein - Macaca	609 . . . 808	148/200 (74%)	1e−79
	fascicularis (Crab eating macaque)	2 . . . 201	177/200 (88%)
	(Cynomolgus monkey), 201 aa.

[0380] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV8a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 8E.

TABLE 8E
Domain Analysis of NOV8a
		Identities
Pfam	NOV8a	Similarities
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Expect Value
No significant Known Matches Found

Example 9

[0381] The NOV9 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 9A.

TABLE 9A
NOV9 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 41	3040 bp
NOV9a,	ACAATGATGGGGCTCTTCCCCAGAACTACAGGGGCTCTGGCCATCTTCGTGGTAGTCA
CG10477-01	TATTGGTTCATGGAGAATTGCGAATAGAGACTAAAGGTCAATATGATGAAGAAGAGAT
DNA Sequence	GACTATGCAACAAGCTAAAAGAAGGCAAAAACGTGAATGGGTGAAATTTGCCAAACCC
	TGCAGAGAAGGAGAAGATAACTCAAAAAGAAACCCAATTGCCAAGATTACTTCAGATT
	ACCAAGCAACCCAGAAAATCACCTACCGAATCTCTGGAGTGGGAATCGATCAGCCGCC
	TTTTGGAATCTTTGTTGTTGACAAAAACACTGGAGATATTAACATAACAGCTATAGTC
	GACCGGGAGGAAACTCCAAGCTTCCTGATCACATGTCGGGCTCTAAATGCCCAAGGAC
	TAGATGTAGAGAAACCACTTATACTAACGGTTAAAATTTTGGATATTAATGATAATCC
	TCCAGTATTTTCACAACAAATTTTCATGGGTGAAATTGAAGAAAATAGTGCCTCAGAC
	TCACTGGTGATGATACTAAATGCCACAGATGCAGATGAACCAAACCACTTGAATTCTA
	AAATTGCCTTCAAAATTGTCTCTCAGGAACCAGCAGGCACACCCATGTTCCTCCTAAG
	CAGAAACACTGGGGAAGTCCGTACTTTGACCAATTCTCTTGACCGAGAGCAAGCTAGC
	AGCTATCGTCTGGTTGTGAGTGGTGCAGACAAAGATGGAGAAGGACTATCAACTCAAT
	GTGAATGTAATATTAAAGTGAAAGATGTCAACGATAACTTCCCAATGTTTAGAGACTC
	TCAGTATTCAGCACGTATTGAAGAAAATATTTTAAGTTCTGAATTACTTCGATTTCAA
	GTAACAGATTTGGATGAAGAGTACACAGATAATTGGCTTGCAGTATATTTCTTTACCT
	CTGGGAATGAAGGAAATTGGTTTGAAATACAAACTGATCCTAGAACTAATGAAGGCAT
	CCTGAAAGTGGTGAAGGCTCTAGATTATGAACAACTACAAAGCGTGAAACTTAGTATT
	GCTGTCAAAAACAAAGCTGAATTTCACCAATCAGTTATCTCTCGATACCGAGTTCAGT
	CAACCCCAGTCACAATTCAGGTAATAAATGTAAGAGAAGGAATTGCATTCCGTCCTGC
	TTCCAAGACATTTACTGTGCAAAAAGGCATAAGTAGCAAAAAATTGGTGGATTATATC
	CTGGGAACATATCAAGCCATCGATGAGGACACTAACAAAGCTGCCTCAAATGTCAAGT
	ATGTCATGGGACGTAACGATGGTGGATACCTAATGATTGATTCAAAAACTGCTGAAAT
	CAAATTTGTCAAAAATATGAACCGAGATTCTACTTTCATAGTTAACAAAACAATCACA
	GCTGAGGTTCTGGCCATAGATGAATACACGGGTAAAACTTCTACAGGCACGGTATATG
	TTAGAGTACCCGATTTCAATGACAATTGTCCAACAGCTGTCCTCGAAAAAGATGCAGT
	TTGCAGTTCTTCACCTTCCGTGGTTGTCTCCGCTAGAACACTGAATAATAGATACACT
	GGCCCCTATACATTTGCACTGGAAGATCAACCTGTAAAGTTGCCTGCCGTATGGAGTA
	TCACAACCCTCAATGCTACCTCGGCCCTCCTCAGAGCCCAGGAACAGATACCTCCTGG
	AGTATACCACATCTCCCTGGTACTTACAGACAGTCAGAACAATCGGTGTGAGATGCCA
	CGCAGCTTGACACTGGAAGTCTGTCAGTGTGACAACAGGGGCATCTGTGGAACTTCTT
	ACCCAACCACAAGCCCTGGGACCAGGTATGGCAGGCCGCACTCAGGGAGGCTGGGGCC
	TGCCGCCATCGGCCTGCTGCTCCTTGGTCTCCTGCTGCTGCTGGTGGCCCCCCTTCTG
	CTGTTGACCTGTGACTGTGGGGCAGGTTCTACTGGGGGAGTGACAGGTGGTTTTATCC
	CAGTTCCTGATGGCTCAGAAGGAACAATTCATCAGTGGGGAATTGAAGGAGCCCATCC
	TGAAGACAAGGAAATCACAAATATTTGTGTGCCTCCTGTAACAGCCAATGGAGCCGAT
	TTCATGGAAAGTTCTGAAGTTTGTACAAATACGTATGCCAGAGGCACAGCGGTGGAAG
	GCACTTCAGGAATGGAAATGACCACTAAGCTTGGAGCAGCCACTGAATCTGGAGGTGC
	TGCAGGCTTTGCAACAGGGACAGTGTCAGGAGCTGCTTCAGGATTCGGAGCAGCCACT
	GGAGTTGGCATCTGTTCCTCAGGGCAGTCTGGAACCATGAGAACAAGGCATTCCACTG
	GAGGAACCAATAAGGACTACGCTGATGGGGCGATAAGCATGAATTTTCTGGACTCCTA
	CTTTTCTCAGAAAGCATTTGCCTGTGCGGAGGAAGACGATGGCCAGGAAGCAAATGAC
	TGCTTGTTGATCTATGATAATGAAGGCGCAGATGCCACTGGTTCTCCTGTGGGCTCCG
	TGGGTTGTTGCAGTTTTATTGCTGATGACCTGGATGACAGCTTCTTGGACTCACTTGG
	ACCCAAATTTAAAAAACTTGCAGAGATAAGCCTTGGTGTTGATGGTGAAGGCAAAGAA
	GTTCAGCCACCCTCTAAAGACAGCGGTTATGGGATTGAATCCTGTGGCCATCCCATAG
	AAGTCCAGCAGACAGGATTTGTTAAGTGCCAGACTTTGTCAGGAAGTCAAGGAGCTTC
	TGCTTTGTCCACCTCTGGGTCTGTCCAGCCAGCTGTTTCCATCCCTGACCCTCTGCAG
	CATGGTAACTATTTAGTAACGGAGACTTACTCGGCTTCTGGTTCCCTCGTGCAACCTT
	CCACTGCAGGCTTTGATCCACTTCTCACACAAAATGTGATAGTGACAGAAAGGGTGAT
	CTGTCCCATTTCCAGTGTTCCTGGCAACCTAGCTGGCCCAACGCAGCTACGAGGGTCA
	CATACTATGCTCTGTACAGAGGATCCTTGCTCCCGTCTAATATGACCAGAATGAGCTG
	GAATACCACACTGACCAAATCTGG
	ORF Start: ATG at 4	ORF Stop: TGA at 3001
	SEQ ID NO: 42	999aa	MW at 107518.8 Da
NOV9a,	MMGLFPRTTGALAIFVVVILVHGELRIETKGQYDEEEMTMQQAKRRQKREWVKFAKPC
CG110477-01	REGEDNSKRNPIAKITSDYQATQKITYRISGVGIDQPPFGIFVVDKNTGDINITAIVD
Protein Sequence	REETPSFLITCRALNAQGLDVEKPLILTVKILDINDNPPVFSQQIFMGEIEENSASDS
	LVMILNATDADEPNHLNSKIAFKIVSQEPAGTPMFLLSRNTGEVRTLTNSLDREQASS
	YRLVVSGADKDGEGLSTQCECNIKVKDVNDNFPMFRDSQYSARIEENILSSELLRFQV
	TDLDEEYTDNWLAVYFFTSGNEGNWFEIQTDPRTNEGILKVVKALDYEQLQSVKLSIA
	VKNKAEFHQSVISRYRVQSTPVTIQVINVREGIAFRPASKTFTVQKGISSKKLVDYIL
	EVLAIDEYTGKTSTGTVYVRVPDFNDNCPTAVLEKDAVCSSSPSVVVSARTLNNRYTG
	PYTFALEDQPVKLPAVWSITTLNATSALLRAQEQIPPGVYHISLVLTDSQNNRCEMPR
	SLTLEVCQCDNRGICGTSYPTTSPGTRYGRPHSGRLGPAAIGLLLLGLLLLLVAPLLL
	LTCDCGAGSTGGVTGGFIPVPDGSEGTIHQWGIEGAHPEDKEITNICVPPVTANGADF
	MESSEVCTNTYARGTAVEGTSGMEMTTKLGAATESGGAAGFATGTVSGAASGFGAATG
	VGICSSGQSGTMRTRHSTGGTNKDYADGAISMNFLDSYFSQKAFACAEEDDGQEANDC
	LLIYDNEGADATGSPVGSVGCCSFIADDLDDSFLDSLGPKFKKLAEISLGVDGEGKEV
	QPPSKDSGYGIESCGHPIEVQQTGFVKCQTLSGSQGASALSTSGSVQPAVSIPDPLQH
	GNYLVTETYSASGSLVQPSTAGFDPLLTQNVIVTERVICPISSVPGNLAGPTQLRGSH
	TMLCTEDPCSRLI

[0382] Further analysis of the NOV9a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 9B.

TABLE 9B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV9a
PSort     0.4600 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic reticulum
          (membrane); 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic
          reticulum (lumen); 0.1000 probability located in outside
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 24 and 25
          analysis.

[0383] A search of the NOV9a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 9C.

TABLE 9C
Geneseq Results for NOV9a
		NOV9a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAU78054	Human desmoglein 3 (pemphigus	1 . . . 999	996/999 (99%)	0.0
	vulgaris antigen) protein sequence -	1 . . . 999	998/999 (99%)
	Homo sapiens, 999 aa. [WO200210767-A2,
	07 FEB. 2002]
ABG12435	Novel human diagnostic protein #12426 -	1 . . . 999	996/999 (99%)	0.0
	Homo sapiens, 1014 aa. [WO200175067-A2,	16 . . . 1014	998/999 (99%)
	11 OCT. 2001]
ABG12435	Novel human diagnostic protein #12426 -	1 . . . 999	996/999 (99%)	0.0
	Homo sapiens, 1014 aa. [WO200175067-A2,	16 . . . 1014	998/999 (99%)
	11 OCT. 2001]
AAR30742	Human pemphigus vulgaris 130kD	1 . . . 999	996/999 (99%)	0.0
	antigen - Homo sapiens, 999 aa.	1 . . . 999	998/999 (99%)
	[USN7798918-N, 15 DEC. 1992]
AAW07908	Pemphigus vulgaris antigen protein	2 . . . 615	610/614 (99%)	0.0
	extracellular region - Homo sapiens, 614	1 . . . 614	612/614 (99%)
	aa. [JP08188540-A, 23 JUL. 1996]

[0384] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV9a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 9D.

TABLE 9D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV9a
		NOV9a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
P32926	Desmoglein 3 precursor (130 kDa	1 . . . 999	996/999 (99%)	0.0
	pemphigus vulgaris antigen) (PVA) -	1 . . . 999	998/999 (99%)
	Homo sapiens (Human), 999 aa.
O35902	Desmoglein 3 precursor (130 kDa	1 . . . 998	729/1018 (71%)	0.0
	pemphigus vulgaris antigen homolog) -	1 . . . 993	832/1018 (81%)
	Mus musculus (Mouse), 993 aa
	(fragment).
Q02413	Desmoglein 1 precursor (Desmosomal	5 . . . 992	429/1003 (42%)	0.0
	glycoprotein 1) (DG1) (DG1) (Pemphigus	5 . . . 896	581/1003 (57%)
	foliaceus antigen) - Homo sapiens
	(Human), 1049aa.
Q8R517	Desmoglein 2 - Mus musculus (Mouse),	46 . . . 972	393/960 (40%)	0.0
	1122 aa.	51 . . . 977	559/960 (57%)
Q14126	Desmoglein 2 precursor (HDGC) - Homo	46 . . . 972	376/963 (39%)	e−177
	sapiens (Human), 1117 aa.	45 . . . 973	558/963 (57%)

[0385] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV9a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 9E.

TABLE 9E
Domain Analysis of NOV9a
		Identities/
Pfam		Similarities	Expect
Domain	NOV9a Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
cadherin	54 . . . 148	23/111 (21%)	6.5e−06
		68/111 (61%)
cadherin	162 . . . 258	30/110 (27%)	4e−21
		75/110 (68%)
cadherin	272 . . . 375	33/107 (31%)	1.6e−30
		88/107 (82%)
cadherin	388 . . . 486	24/113 (21%)	0.00099
		68/113 (60%)

Example 10

[0386] The NOV10 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 10A.

TABLE 10A
NOV10 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 43	898 bp
NOV 10a,	TAAGATGAATAAAAACAACAAACCTTCCAGTTTCATAGCCATAAGAAATGCTGCTTTC
CG110540-01	TCTGAAGTCGGCATTGGGATCTCTGCCAATGCCATGCTCCTTCTCTTCCACATCCTCA
DNA Sequence	CGTGCCTTCTCAAGCACAGGACCAAGCCCGCTGACCTGATCGTTTGTCATGTGGCTCT
	AATCCATATCATATTGCTGCTACCCACAGAGTTCATAGCTACAGATATTTTTGGGTCT
	CAGGATTCAGAGGATGACATCAAACATAAGTCAGTTATCTACAGGTACAGGTTGATGA
	GAGGCCTCTCCATTTCCACCACCTGCCTGCTGAGTATCCTCCCGGCCATCACCTGCAG
	CCCCAGAAGCTCCTGTTTGGCAGTGTTCAAAAGATTCTCACATCACCAACCACGTTGC
	TTTCTCTTCCTATGGGTCTTCCACATATCCATTAGTGACAGCTTCTTAGTCTCCACTC
	TTCCCATCAAAAATCTGGCCTCAAATAGCCTTACATTTGTCACTCAATCCTGCTCTGC
	TGGGATCCTGAGTTGCTTCCTTGAGCAGACAATTTTCACACTGATGACATTTCAGGAT
	GTCTCCCTTGCAGGGCTCACGGCCCCCTCCAGTGGATACATGGTGATTCTCTTGTCCA
	GGCGTAACAGGCAGTCCCAGCATTTTCACAGCACCAACCTTTCTCCAAAAGCACCCCC
	AGAAAAAATGGCCACGCAGACCATTCTTCTGCTCGTGAGTTGCTTTGTGATTGTGTAT
	GTTTTGGACTGTGTTGTCGCCTCCTGCTCAGGACTGGTGTGGAACAGTGATCCAGTCC
	GTCATCGAGTCCAGATGCTGGTGGACAATGGCTATGCCACCATCAGTCCTTCAGTGCT
	AGTCAGTACTGAAAAATGAATGATCAAA
	ORF Start: ATG at 5	ORF Stop: TGA at 887
	SEQ ID NO: 44	294 aa	MW at 32551.7 Da
NOV10a,	MNKNNKPSSFIAIRNAAFSEVGIGISANAMLLLFHILTCLLKHRTKPADLIVCHVALI
CG110540-01	HIILLLPTEFIATDIFGSQDSEDDIKHKSVIYRYRLMRGLSISTTCLLSILPAITCSP
Protein Sequence	RSSCLAVFKRFSHHQPRCFLFLWVFHISISDSFLVSTLPIKNLASNSLTFVTQSCSAG
	ILSCFLEQTIFTLMTFQDVSLAGLTAPSSGYMVILLSRRNRQSQHFHSTNLSPKAPPE
	KMATQTILLLVSCFVIVYVLDCVVASCSGLVWNSDPVRHRVQMLVDNGYATISPSVLV
	STEK
	SEQ ID NO: 45	1420 bp
NOV10b,	TGTGGGTCGCTGCTTCCTGGCCCTTCTCCGACCCCGCTCTAGCAGCAGACCTCCTGGG
CG110578-02	GTCTGTGGGTTGATCTGTGGCCCCTGTGCCTCCGTGTCCTTTTCGTCTCCCTTCCTCC
DNA Sequence	CGACTCCGCTCCCGGACCAGCGGCCTGACCCTGGGGAAAGGATGGTTCCCGAGGTGAG
	GGTCCTCTCCTCCTTGCTGGGACTCGCGCTGCTCTGGTTCCCCCTGGACTCCCACGCT
	CGAGCCCGCCCAGACATGTTCTGCCTTTTCCATGGGAAGAGATACTCCCCCGGCGAGA
	GCTGGCACCCCTACTTGGAGCCACAAGGCCTGATGTACTGCCTGCGCTGTACCTGCTC
	AGAGGGCGCCCATGTGAGTTGTTACCGCCTCCACTGTCCGCCTGTCCACTGCCCCCAG
	CCTGTGACGGAGCCACAGCAATGCTGTCCCAAGTGTGTGGAACCTCACACTCCCTCTG
	GACTCCGGGCCCCACCAAAGTCCTGCCAGCACAACGGGACCATGTACCAACACGGAGA
	GATCTTCAGTGCCCATGAGCTGTTCCCCTCCCGCCTGCCCAACCAGTGTGTCCTCTGC
	AGCTGCACAGAGGGCCAGATCTACTGCGGCCTCACAACCTGCCCCGAACCAGGCTGCC
	CAGCACCCCTCCCGCTGCCAGACTCCTGCTGCCAGGCCTGCAAAGATGAGGCAAGTGA
	GCAATCGGATGAAGAGGACAGTGTGCAGTCGCTCCATGGGGTGAGACATCCTCAGGAT
	CCATGTTCCAGTGATGCTGGGAGAAAGAGAGGCCCGGGCACCCCAGCCCCCACTGGCC
	TCAGCGCCCCTCTGAGCTTCATCCCTCGCCACTTCAGACCCAAGGGAGCAGGCAGCAC
	AACTGTCAAGATCGTCCTGAAGGAGAAACATAAGAAAGCCTGTGTGCATGGCGGGAAG
	ACGTACTCCCACGGGGAGGTGTGGCACCCGGCCTTCCGTGCCTTCGGCCCCTTGCCCT
	GCATCCTATGCACCTGTGAGGATGGCCGCCAGGACTGCCAGCGTGTGACCTGTCCCAC
	CGAGTACCCCTGCCGTCACCCCGAGAAAGTGGCTGGGAAGTGCTGCAAGATTTGCCCA
	GAGGACAAAGCAGACCCTGGCCACAGTGAGATCAGTTCTACCAGGTGTCCCAAGGCAC
	CGGGCCGGGTCCTCGTCCACACATCGGTATCCCCAAGCCCAGACAACCTGCGTCGCTT
	TGCCCTGGAACACGAGGCCTCGGACTTGGTGGAGATCTACCTCTGGAAGCTGGTAAAA
	GGAATCTTCCACTTGACTCAGATCAAGAAAGTCAGGAAGCAAGACTTCCAGAAACACA
	TACGCCTCTTCCCTCTTCTGCCCTCCTCCATGCAGGTCACTGGAACGTCTTCCTAGcc
	CAGATCCTGGAGCTGAAGGTCACGGCCA
	ORF Start: ATG at 158	ORF Stop: TAG at 1388
	SEQ ID NO: 46	410 aa	MW at 45294.6 Da
NOV10b,	MVPEVRVLSSLLGLALLWFPLDSHARARPDMFCLFHGKRYSPGESWHPYLEPQGLMYC
CG110578-02	LRCTCSEGAHVSCYRLHCPPVHCPQPVTEPQQCCPKCVEPHTPSGLRAPPKSCQHNGT
Protein Sequence	MYQHGEIFSAHELFPSRLPNQCVLCSCTEGQIYCGLTTCPEPGCPAPLPLPDSCCQAC
	KDEASEQSDEEDSVQSLHGVRHPQDPCSSDAGRKRGPGTPAPTGLSAPLSFIPRHFRP
	KGAGSTTVKIVLKEKHKKACVHGGKTYSHGEVWHPAFRAFGPLPCILCTCEDGRQDCQ
	RVTCPTEYPCRHPEKVAGKCCKICPEDKADPGHSEISSTRCPKAPGRVLVHTSVSPSP
	DNLRRFALEHEASDLVEIYLWKLVKGIFHLTQIKKVRKQDFQKHIRLFPLLPSSMQVT
	GTSS

[0387] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 10B.

TABLE 10B
Comparison of NOV10a against NOV 10b.
Protein	NOV10a Residues/	Identities/
Sequence	Match Residues	Similarities for the Matched Region
NOV 10b	254 . . . 260	4/7 (57%)
	138 . . . 144	6/7 (85%)

[0388] Further analysis of the NOV10a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 10C.

TABLE 10C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV10a
PSort     0.6000 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.4000 probability located in Golgi body; 0.3331 probability
          located in mitochondrial inner membrane; 0.3000 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 46 and 47
analysis:

[0389] A search of the NOV10a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 10D.

TABLE 10D
Geneseq Results for NOV10a
		NOV10a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAE18646	Human G-protein coupled receptor	1 . . . 294	258/294 (87%)	e−138
	(GCREC-7) - Homo sapiens, 271 aa.	1 . . . 27	258/294 (87%)
	[WO200210387-A2, 07 FEB. 2002]
AAW19107	Rat pheromone receptor VN6 - Rattus	18 . . . 293	140/277 (50%)	7e−67
	sp, 310 aa. [WO9714790-A1,	18 . . . 293	181/277 (64%)
	24 APR. 1997]
AAM48284	Pheromone receptor protein VN1-18-	1 . . . 125	125/125 (100%)	6e−66
	Unidentified, 165 aa. [WO200206333-	17 . . . 141	125/125 (100%)
	A1, 24 JAN. 2002]
AAW19104	Rat pheromone receptor VN3 - Rattus	1 . . . 294	135/295 (45%)	8e−62
	sp, 311 aa. [WO9714790-A1,	2 . . . 295	185/295 (61%)
	24 APR. 1997]
AAW19103	Rat pheromone receptor VN1 - Rattus	1 . . . 294	133/295 (45%)	7e−61
	sp, 315 aa. [WO9714790-A1,	2 . . . 295	190/295 (64%)
	24 APR. 1997]

[0390] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV10a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 10E.

TABLE 10E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV10a
		NOV10a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q8WNV6	Putative pheromone receptor gVIR1 -	3 . . . 294	172/293 (58%	6e−84
	Capra hircus (Goat), 308 aa.	2 . . . 294	205/293 (69%)
Q62855	Pheromone receptor VN6 - Rattus	18 . . . 293	140/277 (50%)	2e−66
	norvegicus (Rat), 310 aa.	18 . . . 293	181/277 (64%)
Q9EPA4	VN12 (VOMERONASAL receptor	1 . . . 294	136/295 (46%)	7e−64
	VIRA1) - Mus musculus (Mouse),	1 . . . 294	193/295 (65%)
	303 aa.
Q8VIC6	Vomeronasal receptor 1 A8 - Mus	1 . . . 294	136/295 (46%)	7e−64
	musculus (Mouse), 329 aa.	27 . . . 320	193/295 (65%)
Q9Z195	Pheromone receptor 1 - Mus	1 . . . 294	136/295 (46%)	7e−64
	musculus (Mouse), 305 aa.	3 . . . 296	193/295 (65%)

[0391] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV10a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 10F.

TABLE 10F
Domain Analysis of NOV10a
		Identities/
Pfam	NOV10a	Similarities	Expect
Domain	NOV10a Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
No Significant Known Matches Found

Example 11

[0392] The NOV11 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 11A.

TABLE 11A !NOV11 Sequence Analysis
SEQ ID NO: 47	1024 bp
NOV11a,	GACTCGTCTCAGGCCAGTTGCAGCCTTCTCAGCCAAACGCCGACCAAGGAAAACTCAC
CG110725-	TACCATGAGAATTGCAGTGATTTGCTTTTGCCTCCTAGGCATCACCTGTGCCATACCA
01 DNA	GTTAAACAGGCTGATTCTGGAAGTTCTGAGGAAAAGCAGCTTTACAACAAATACCCAG
Sequence	ATGCTGTGGCCACATGGCTAAACCCTGACCCATCTCAGAAGCAGAATCTCCTAGCCCC
	ACAGAATGCTGTGTCCTCTGAAGAAACCAATGACTTTAAACAAGAGACCCTTCCAAGT
	AAGTCCAACGAAAGCCATGACCACATGGATGATATGGATGATGAAGATGATGATGACC
	ATGTGGACAGCCAGGACTCCATTGACTCGAACGACTCTGATGATGTAGATGACACTGA
	TGATTCTCACCAGTCTGATGAGTCTCACCATTCTGATGAATCTGATGAACTGGTCACT
	GATTTTCCCACGGACCTGCCAGCAACCGAAGTTTTCACTCCAGTTGTCCCCACAGTAG
	ACACATATGATGGCCGAGGTGATAGTGTGGTTTATGGACTGAGGTCAAAATCTAAGAA
	GTTTCGCAGACCTGACATCCAGTACCCTGATGCTACAGACGAGGACATCACCTCACAC
	ATGGAAAGCGAGGAGTTGAATGGTGCATACAAGGCCATCCCCGTTGCCCAGGACCTGA
	ACGCGCCTTCTGATTGGGACAGCCGTGGGAAGGACAGTTATGAAACGAGTCAGCTGGA
	TGACCAGAGTGCTGAAACCCACAGCCACAAGCAGTCCAAAGTCAGCCGTGAATTCCAC
	AGCCATGAATTTCACAGCCATGAAGATATGCTGGTTGTAGACCCCAAAAGTAAGGAAG
	AAGATAAACACCTGAAATTTCGTATTTCTCATGAATTAGATAGTGCATCTTCTGAGGT
	CAATTAAAAGGAGAAAAAAATACAATTTCTCACTTTGCATTTAGTCAAAAGAAAAAAT
	GCTTTATAGCAAAATGAAAGAGAACATGAAATGCTTCT
	ORF Start: ATG at 63	ORF Stop: TAA at 933
	SEQ ID NO: 48	290 aa	MW at 32606.4 Da
NOV11a,	MRIAVICFCLLGITCAIPVKQADSGSSEEKQLYNKYPDAVATWLNPDPSQKQNLLAPQ
CG110725-	NAVSSEETNDFKQETLPSKSNESHDHMDDMDDEDDDDHVDSQDSIDSNDSDDVDDTDD
01 Protein	SHQSDESHHSDESDELVTDFPTDLPATEVFTPVVPTVDTYDGRGDSVVYGLRSKSKKF
Sequence	RRPDIQYPDATDEDITSHMESEELNGAYKAIPVAQDLNAPSDWDSRGKDSYETSQLDD
	QSAETHSHKQSKVSREFHSHEFHSHEDMLVVDPKSKEEDKHLKFRISHELDSASSEVN
	SEQ ID NO: 119	834 bp
NOV11b,	GGATCCATACCAGTTAAACAGGCTGATTCTGGAAGTTCTGAGGAAAAGCAGCTTTACAACAAATACCCAG
209934449	ATGCTGTGGCCACATGGCTAAACCCTGACCCATCTCAGAAGCAGAATCTCCTAGCCCCACAGAATGCTGT
DNA	GTCCTCTGAAGAAACCAATGACTTTAAACAAGAGACCCTTCCAAGTAAGTCCAACGAAAGCCATGACCAC
Sequence	ATGGATGATATGGATGATGAAGATGATGATGACCATGTGGACAGCCAGGACTCCATTGACTCGAACGACT
	CTGATGATGTAGATGACACTGATGATTCTCACCAGTCTGATGAGTCTCACCATTCTGATGAATCTGATGA
	ACTGGTCACTGATTTTCCCACGGACCTGCCAGCAACCGAAGTTTTCACTCCAGTTGTCCCCACAGTAGAC
	ACATATGATGGCCGAGGTGATAGTGTGGTTTATGGACTGAGGTCAAAATCTAAGAAGTTTCGCAGACCTG
	ACATCCAGTACCCTGATGCTACAGACGAGGACATCACCTCACACATGGAAAGCGAGGAGTTGAATGGTGC
	ATACAAGGCCATCCCCCTTGCCCAGGACCTGAACGCGCCTTCTGATTGGGACAGCCGTGGGAAGGACAGT
	TATGAAACGAGTCAGCTGGATGACCAGAGTGCTGAAACCCACAGCCACAAGCAGTCCAAAGTCAGCCGTG
	AATTCCACAGCCATGAATTTCACAGCCATGAAGATATGCTGGTTGTAGACCCCAAAAGTAAGGAAGAAGA
	TAAACACCTGAAATTTCGTATTTCTCATGAATTAGATAGTGCATCTTCTGAGGTCAATCTCGAG
	ORF Start: ATG at 1	ORF Stop: at 834
	SEQ ID NO: 120	278 aa	MW at 31282.25 Da
NOV11b,	GSIPVKQADSGSSEEKQLYNKYPDAVATWLNPDPSQKQNLLAPQNAVSSEETNDFKQETL
209934449	PSKSNESHDHMDDMDDEDDDDHVDSQDSIDSNDSDDVDDTDDSHQSDESHHSDESDELVT
Protein	DFPTDLPATEVFTPVVPTVDTYDGRGDSVVYGLRSKSKKFRRPDIQYPDATDEDITSHME
Sequence	SEELNGAYKAIPVAQDLNAPSDWDSRGKDSYETSQLDDQSAETHSHKQSKVSREFHSHEF
	HSHEDMLVVDPKSKEEDKHLKFRISHELDSASSEVNLE

[0393] Further analysis of the NOV11a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 11B.

TABLE 11B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV11a
PSort     0.8200 probability located in outside; 0.1900 probability
analysis: located in lysosome (lumen); 0.1000 probability located in
          endoplasmic reticulum (membrane); 0.1000 probability
          located in encloplasmic reticulum (lumen)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 17 and 18
analysis:

[0394] A search of the NOV11a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 11C.

TABLE 11C
Geneseq Results for NOV11a
		NOV11a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAB30573	A human Eta-1/osteopontin-a protein -	1 . . . 290	290/314 (92%)	e−168
	Homo sapiens, 314 aa.	1 . . . 314	290/314 (92%)
	[WO200063241-A2, 26 OCT. 2000]
AAE12683	Human osteopontin (OPN) - Homo	1 . . . 290	290/314 (92%)	e−168
	sapiens, 314 aa. [WO200171358-A1,	1 . . . 314	290/314 (92%)
	27 SEP. 2001]
AAB01351	Human osteopontin - Homo sapiens,	1 . . . 290	290/314 (92%)	e−168
	314aa. [WO200033865-A1, 15 JUN. 2000]	1 . . . 314	290/314 (92%)
AAB19770	Human osteopontin - Homo sapiens,	1 . . . 290	290/314 (92%)	e−168
	314 aa. [WO200062065-A1, 19 OCT. 2000]	1 . . . 314	290/314 (92%)
AAW99779	Human osteopontin - Homo sapiens,	1 . . . 290	290/314 (92%)	e−168
	314 aa. [WO9908730-A1, 25 FEB. 1999]	1 . . . 314	290/314 (92%)

[0395] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV11a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 11D.

TABLE 11D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV11a
		NOV11a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
P10451	Osteopontin precursor (Bone sialoprotein	1 . . . 290	290/314 (92%)	e−167
	1) (Urinary stone protein) (Secreted	1 . . . 314	290/314 (92%)
	phosphoprotein 1) (SPP-1) (Nephropontin)
	(Uropontin) - Homo sapiens (Human), 314
	aa.
Q961Z1	Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (osteopontin,	1 . . . 290	276/314 (87%)	e−156
	bone sialoprotein 1, early T-lymphocyte	1 . . . 300	276/314 (87%)
	activation 1) - Homo sapiens (Human),
	300 aa.
CAC16643	Sequence 5 from Patent WO0063241 -	1 . . . 290	263/314 (83%)	e−145
	Homo sapiens (Human), 287 aa.	1 . . . 287	263/314 (83%)
P31097	Osteopontin precursor (Bone sialoprotein	1 . . . 290	200/315 (63%)	e−110
	1) (Secreted phosphoprotein 1) (SPP-1)	1 . . . 311	242/315 (76%)
	(OC-1) - Oryctolagus cuniculus (Rabbit),
	311 aa.
P14287	Osteopontin precursor (Bone sialoprotein	1 . . . 290	204/309 (66%)	e−104
	1) (Secreted phosphoprotein 1) (SPP-1) -	1 . . . 303	231/309 (74%)
	Sus scrofa (Pig), 303 aa.

[0396] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV11a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 11E.

TABLE 11E
Domain Analysis of NOV11a
		Identities/
Pfam	NOV11a	Similarities	Expect
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
Osteopontin	1 . . . 290	245/334 (73%)	6.7e−198
		290/334 (87%)

Example 12

[0397] The NOV12 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 12A.

TABLE 12A
NOV12 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 49	1042 bp
NOV 12a,	ATGGATGTGGGCAGCAAAGAGGTCCTGATGGAGAGCCCGCCGCCGTGTCAGGACTACT
CG111683-01	CCGCAGCTCCCCGGGGCCGATTTGGCATTCCCTGCTGCCCAGTGCACCTGAAACGCCT
DNA Sequence	TCTTATCGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGTCTCCATCGTCGTGGTGATTGTGGGAGCCCTGCTC
	ATGGGTCTCCACATGAGCCAGAAACACTTTCCCCAGGTTCTGGAGATGAGCATTGGGG
	CGCCGGAAGCCCAGCAACGCCTGGCCCTGAGTGAGCACCTGGTTACCACTGCCACCTT
	CTCCATCGGCTCCACTGGCCTCGTGGTGTATGACTACCAGCAGCTGCTGATCGCCTAC
	AAGCCAGCCCCTGGCACCTGCTGCTACATCATGAAGATAGCTCCAGAGAGCATCCCCA
	GTCTTGAGGCTCTCACTAGAAAAGTCCACAACTTCCAGGCCAAGCCCGCAGTGCCTAC
	GTCTAAGCTGGGCCAGGCAGAGGGGCGAGATGCAGGCTCAGCACCCTCCGGAGGGGAC
	CCGGCCTTCCTGGGCATGGCCGTGAGCACCCTGTGTGGCGAGGTGCCGCTCTACTACA
	TCTAGGACGCCTCCGGTGAGCAGGTGTGATCCCAGGGCCCCTGATCAGCAGCGGAGGA
	GCGCTCGGGCCACCTGCCCGGGCTGTGGAGGAGCGCTCGCGCTGACCAGGCGCTGGGG
	CGTCCACTGAAGCGGGGTCATCCAGGCAACTCGGGGGAGGGGAAGCTCACAGACCGGT
	ACTTCCCACTCCCCTGAATTCTCTCTGTCCATCCTCAACATTCCTTTGCTTCACAGGG
	TCAGTGGAAGCCCCAACGGGAAAGGAAACGCCCCGGGCAAAGGGTCTTTTGCAGCTTT
	TGCAGACGGGCAAGAAGCTGCTTCTGCCCACACCGCAGGGACAAACCCTGGAGAAATG
	GGAGCTTGGGGAGAGGATGGGAGTGGGCAGAGGTGGCACCCAGGGGCCCGGGAACTCC
	TGCCACAACAGAATAAAGCAGCCTGATTGAAAAGCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACTC
	ORF Start: ATG at 1	ORF Stop: TAG at 583
	SEQ ID NO: 50	194 aa	MW at 20634.0 Da
NOV 12a,	MDVGSKEVLMESPPPCQDYSAAPRGRFGIPCCPVHLKRLLIVVVVVVSIVVVIVGALL
CG111683-01	MGLHMSQKHFPQVLEMSIGAPEAQQRLALSEHLVTTATFSIGSTGLVVYDYQQLLIAY
Protein Sequence	KPAPGTCCYIMKIAPESIPSLEALTRKVHNFQAKPAVPTSKLGQAEGRDAGSAPSGGD
	PAFLGMAVSTLCGEVPLYYI
	SEQ ID NO: 51	590 bp
NOV 12b,	ATGGATGTGGGCAGCAAAGAGGTCCTGATGGAGAGCCCGCCGGACTACTCCGCAGCTC
CG111683-02	CCCGGGGCCGATTTGGCATTCCCTGCTGCCCAGTGCACCTGAAACGCCTTCTTATCGT
DNA Sequence	GGTGGTGGTGGTGGTCCTCATCGTCGTGGTGATTGTGGGAGCCCTGCTCATGGGTCTC
	CACATGAGCCAGAAACACACGGAGATGGTTCTGGAGATGAGCATTGGGGCGCCGGAAG
	CCCAGCAACGCCTGGCCCTGAGTGAGCACCTGGTTACCACTGCCACCTTCTCCATCGG
	CTCCACTGGCCTCGTGGTGTATGACTACCAGCAGCTGCTGATCGCCTACAAGCCAGCC
	CCTGGCACCTGCTGCTACATCATGAAGATAGCTCCAGAGAGCATCCCCAGTCTTGAGG
	CTCTCAATAGAAAAGTCCACAACTTCCAGGCCAAGCCCGCAGTGCCTACGTCTAAGCT
	GGGCCAGGCAGAGGGGCGAGATGCAGGCTCAGCACCCTCCGGAGGGGACCCGGCCTTC
	CTGGGCATGGCCGTGAACACCCTGTGTGGCGAGGTGCCGCTCTACTACATCTAGGCGC
	CTCCGGTGAG
	ORF Start: ATG at 1	ORF Stop: TAG at 574
	SEQ ID NO: 52	191 aa	MW at 20360.8 Da
NOV12b,	MDVGSKEVLMESPPDYSAAPRGRFGIPCCPVHLKRLLIVVVVVVLIVVVIVGALLMGL
CG111683-02	HMSQKHTEMVLEMSIGAPEAQQRLALSEHLVTTATFSIGSTGLVVYDYQQLLIAYKPA
Protein Sequence	PGTCCYIMKIAPESIPSLEALNRKVHNFQAKPAVPTSKLGQAEGRDAGSAPSGGDPAF
	LGMAVNTLCGEVPLYYI
	SEQ ID NO: 53	530 bp
NOV12c,	TGGATGTGGGCAGCAAAGAGGTCCTGATGGAGAGCCCGCCGGACTACTCCGCAGCTCC
CG111683-03	CCGGGGCCGATTTGGCATTCCCTGCTGCCCAGTGCACCTGAAACGCCTTCTTATCGTG
DNA Sequence	GTGGTGGTGGTCCTCATCGTCGTGGTGATTGTGGAAGCCCAGCAACGCCTGGCCCTGA
	GTGAGCACCTGGTTACCACTGCCACCTTCTCCATCGGCTCCACTGGCCTCGTGGTGTA
	TGACTACCAGCAGCTGCTGATCGCCTACAAGCCAGCCCCTGGCACCTGCTGCTACATC
	ATGAAGATAGCTCCAGAGAGCATCCCCAGTCTTGAGGCTCTCAATAGAAAAGTCCACA
	ACTTCCAGATGGAATGCTCTCTGCAGGCCAAGCCCGCAGTGCCTACGTCTAAGCTGGG
	CCAGGCAGAGGGGCGAGATGCAGGCTCAGCACCCTCCGGAGGGGACCCGGCCTTCCTG
	GGCATGGCCGTGAACACCCTGTGTGGCGAGGTGCCGCTCTACTACATCTAGGACGCCT
	CCGGTGAG
	ORF Start: at 3	ORF Stop: TAG at 513
	SEQ ID NO: 54	170 aa	MW at 18158.0 Da
NOV12c,	DVGSKEVLMESPPDYSAAPRGRFGIPCCPVHLKRLLIVVVVVLIVVVIVEAQQRLALS
CG111683-03	EHLVTTATFSIGSTGLVVYDYQQLLIAYKPAPGTCCYIMKIAPESIPSLEALNRKVHN
Protein Sequence	FQMECSLQAKPAVPTSKLGQAEGRDAGSAPSGGDPAFLGMAVNTLCGEVPLYYI

[0398] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 12B.

TABLE 12B
Comparison of NOV12a against NOV12b and NOV12c.
Protein	NOV12a Residues/	Identities/
Sequence	Match Residues	Similarities for the Matched Region
NOV12b	1 . . . 194	170/194 (87%)
	1 . . . 191	171/194 (87%)
NOV12c	2 . . . 194	147/199 (73%)
	1 . . . 170	148/199 (73%)

[0399] Further analysis of the NOV12a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 12C.

TABLE 12C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV12a
PSort     0.7900 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.3000 probability located in microbody (peroxisome); 0.3000
          probability located in Golgi body; 0.2000 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 57 and 58
analysis:

[0400] A search of the NOV12a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 12D.

TABLE 12D
Geneseq Results for NOV12a
		NOV12a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAB58144	Lung cancer associated polypeptide	1 . . . 194	187/194 (96%)	e−102
	sequence SEQ ID 482 - Homo sapiens,	26 . . . 216	187/194 (96%)
	216 aa. [WO200055180-A2,
	21 SEP. 2000]
AAP82978	Human SP5 protein - Homo sapiens, 197	1 . . . 194	187/200 (93%)	e−100
	aa. [WO8805820-A, 11 AUG 1988]	1 . . . 197	187/200 (93%)
AAP70440	Sequence of a canine 5 kd alveolar	1 . . . 194	187/200 (93%)	e−100
	surfactant protein (ASP) from clone	1 . . . 197	187/200 (93%)
	cDNA #19 - Dog, 197 aa. [WO8706588-
	A, 05 NOV. 1987]
AAR15609	SP-5 clone #19 - Homo sapiens, 197 aa.	1 . . . 194	186/200 (93%)	2e−99
	[WO9118015-A, 28 NOV. 1991]	1 . . . 197	187/200 (93%)
AAP90038	Deduced sequence of cDNA number 19	1 . . . 194	186/200 (93%)	2e−99
	encoding human SP-5-derived protein -	1 . . . 197	187/200 (93%)
	Homo sapiens, 197 aa. [WO8904326-A,
	18 MAY 1989]

[0401] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV12a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 12E.

TABLE 12E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV12a
		NOV12a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
P11686	Pulmonary surfactant-associated protein C	1 . . . 194	185/200 (92%)	2e−98
	precursor (SP-C) (SP5) (Pulmonary	1 . . . 197	186/200 (92%)
	surfactant-associated proteolipid
	SPL(Val)) - Homo sapiens (Human), 197
	aa.
P55152	Pulmonary surfactant-associated protein C	1 . . . 194	174/194 (89%)	5e−92
	precursor (SP-C) (Pulmonary surfactant-	1 . . . 191	176/194 (90%)
	associated proteolipid SPL(Val)) - Macaca
	mulatta (Rhesus macaque), 191 aa.
Q9N276	Pulmonary surfactant-associated protein	1 . . . 193	159/193 (82%)	9e−83
	C - Ovis aries (Sheep), 190 aa.	1 . . . 189	169/193 (87%)
Q9BDX5	Pulmonary surfactant-associated protein C	1 . . . 193	156/193 (80%)	5e−81
	proSP-C - Bos taurus (Bovine), 190 aa.	1 . . . 189	168/193 (86%)
P35245	Pulmonary surfactant-associated protein C	1 . . . 194	154/194 (79%)	1e−80
	precursor (SP-C) - Mustela vison	1 . . . 190	167/194 (85%)
	(American mink), 190 aa.

[0402] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV12a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 12F.

TABLE 12F
Domain Analysis of NOV12a
		Identities/
Pfam		Similarities	Expect
Domain	NOV12a Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
PSAP	27 . . . 194	150/171 (88%)	6.2e−126
		164/171 (96%)

Example 13

[0403] The NOV13 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 13A.

TABLE 13A
NOV13 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 55	1659 bp
NOV13a,	CGGGCCATGGCCAGAGACCCCCTCCTCTGGGCTCCCTGAAGTCCTGGGGAGCCGTGAC
CG112655-01	CCATGGGATCGTCGAGCAGCCGGGTGCTGGGCCAGCCGAGGCGAGCCCTTGCCCAGCA
DNA Sequence	GGAACAGGGTGCCAGGGCCAGGGGCTCGGCCCGGAGGCCGGACACTGGAGACGATGCG
	GCGAGCTACGGCTTCTGTTACTGCCCGGGCAGTCACAAGCGCAAGCGGAGCAGCGGGG
	CCTGCCGCTACTGTGACCCGGACTCGCACAGGGAGGAGCATGAGGAGGAGGGGGACAA
	GCAGCAGCCGCTCCTCAACACCCCTGCAAGGAAAAAATTAAGGAGTACATCCAAATAT
	ATTTATCAAACATTATTTTTGAATGGTGAAAACAGTGACATTAAGATTTGTGCTCTAG
	GAGAAGAATGGCGATTACACAAAATATATTTATGTCAATCTGGCTACTTTTCTAGTAT
	GTTCAGTGGTTCTTGGAAAGAATCCAGCATGAATATTATTGAACTGGAGATTCCTGAC
	CAGAACATTGATGTAGACGCACTGCAGGTTGCGTTTGGTTCACTGTATCGAGATGATG
	TCTTGATAAAACCCAGTCGAGTTGTTGCCATTTTGGCAGCAGCTTGTATGCTGCAGCT
	GGATGGTTTAATACAGCAGTGTGGTGAGACAATGAAGGAAACAATTAATGTGAAAACT
	GTATGCGGTTATTACACATCAGTAGAGATCTATGGATTAGATTCTGTAAAGAAAAAGT
	GCCTTGAATGGCTTCTAAACAATTTGATGACTCACCAGAATGTTAAACTTTTTAAAGA
	ACTCGGTATAAATGTCATGAAACAGCTCATTGGTTCCTCTAACTTATTTGTGATGCAA
	GTGGAGATGGATGTATACACCACTCTAAAAAAGTGGATGTTCCTTCAACTTGTGCCTT
	CTTGGAATGGATCTTTAAAACAGCTTTTGACAGAAACAGATGTCTGGTTTTCTAAACA
	GAGAAAAGATTTTGAAGGTATGGCCTTTCTTGAAACTGAACCAGGAAAACCATTTGTG
	TCAGTATTCAGACATTTAAGGTTACAATATATTATCAGTGACCTAGCTTCTGCAAGAA
	TTATTGAACAAGATGGTATAGTACCTTCAGAATGGCTGTCTTCTGTGTATAAACAGCA
	GTGGTTTGCTATGCTGCGGGCAGAACAAGACCATGAGGTAGGGCCTCAAGAAATCAAT
	AAAGAAGACCTAGAGGGAAGTAGCATGAGGTGTGGTAGAAAGCTTGCCAAAGATGGTG
	AATACTACTGGTGTTGGACGGGTTTTAACTTCGGCTTTGACCTACTTGTAATTTACAC
	CAATGGATACATCATTTTCAAACGCAATACACTGAATCAGCCATGCAGCGGGTCTGTC
	AGTTTACGGCCTCGAAGGAGCATAGCATTTAGATTACGCTTGGCTTCTTTTGATAGTA
	GTGGAAAACTAGTATGTAGTAGAACAACTGGCTATCAAATACTTATACTTAAAAAGGA
	TCAGGAACAAGTGGTGATGAACTTGGACAGCAGGTTTCTGACCTTCCCTTTATATATC
	TGCTGTAACTTCTTGTATATATCACCAGAAAAAGGAATTGAAAATAATCGCCACCCAG
	AAGATCCAGAAAACTGAAGATCTCATCAGTTGGAA
	ORF Start: ATG at 61	ORF Stop: TGA at 1639
	SEQ ID NO: 56	526 aa	MW at 60200.2 Da
NOV13a,	MGSSSSRVLGQPRRALAQQEQGARARGSARRPDTGDDAASYGFCYCPGSHKRKRSSGA
CG112655-01	CRYCDPDSHREEHEEEGDKQQPLLNTPARKKLRSTSKYIYQTLFLNGENSDIKICALG
Protein Sequence	EEWRLHKIYLCQSGYFSSMFSGSWKESSMNIIELEIPDQNIDVDALQVAFGSLYRDDV
	LIKPSRVVAILAAACMLQLDGLIQQCGLTMKETINVKTVCGYYTSVEIYGLDSVKKKC
	LEWLLNNLMTHQNVKLFKELGINVMKQLIGSSNLFVMQVEMDVYTTLKKWMFLQLVPS
	WNGSLKQLLTETDVWFSKQRKDFEGMAFLETEPGKPFVSVFRHLRLQYIISDLASARI
	IEQDGIVPSEWLSSVYKQQWFAMLRAEQDHEVGPQEINKEDLEGSSMRCGRKLAKDGE
	YYWCWTGFNFGFDLLVIYTNGYIIFKRNTLNQPCSGSVSLRPRRSIAFRLRLASFDSS
	GKLVCSRTTGYQILILKKDQEQVVMNLDSRFLTFPLYICCNFLYISPEKGIENNRHPE
	DPEN

[0404] Further analysis of the NOV13a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 13B.

TABLE 13B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV13a
PSort     0.6850 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.4605 probability located in mitochondrial inner membrane;
          0.3500 probability located in nucleus; 0.2000
          probability located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane)
SignalP   No Known Signal Sequence Predicted
analysis:

[0405] A search of the NOV13a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 13C.

TABLE 13C
Geneseq Results for NOV13a
		NOV13a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAB944442	Human protein sequence SEQ ID	1 . . . 513	465/513 (90%)	0.0
	NO: 15072 - Homo sapiens, 515 aa.	1 . . . 513	482/513 (93%)
	[EP1074617-A2, 07 FEB. 2001]
AAB95625	Human protein sequence SEQ ID	1 . . . 510	462/510 (90%)	0.0
	NO: 18346 - Homo sapiens, 510 aa.	1 . . . 510	477/510 (92%)
	[EP1074617-A2, 07 FEB. 2001]
AAY18025	Murine DIP protein sequence - Mus sp,	1 . . . 524	442/524 (84%)	0.0
	524 aa. [WO9927091-A1, 03 JUN. 1999]	1 . . . 522	470/524 (89%)
AAY01080	Human testis specific growth factor,	48 . . . 513	427/466 (91%)	0.0
	ZGCL-1, protein sequence - Homo	12 . . . 477	442/466 (94%)
	sapiens, 478 aa. [WO9909168-A1,
	25 FEB. 1999]
AAB94515	Human protein sequence SEQ ID	135 . . . 513	352/379 (92%)	0.0
	NO: 15231 - Homo sapiens, 381 aa.	1 . . . 379	362/379 (94%)
	[EP1074617-A2, 07 FEB. 2001]

[0406] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV13a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 13D.

TABLE 13D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV13a
		NOV13a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q8TC88	Hypothetical 60.2 kDa protein - Homo	1 . . . 526	525/526 (99%)	0.0
	sapiens (Human), 526 aa.	1 . . . 526	526/526 (99%)
Q8TC89	Hypothetical 60.2 kDa protein - Homo	1 . . . 526	524/526 (99%)	0.0
	sapiens (Human), 526 aa.	1 . . . 526	525/526 (99%)
Q961K5	Hypothetical 58.7 kDa protein - Homo	1 . . . 513	466/513 (90%)	0.0
	sapiens (Human), 515 aa.	1 . . . 513	482/513 (93%)
Q9H927	CDNA FLJ13057 fis, clone	1 . . . 513	465/513 (90%)	0.0
	NT2RP3001580, highly similar to Mus	1 . . . 513	482/513 (93%)
	musculus strain C57BL/J germ cell-less
	protein (Gel) mRNA - Homo sapiens
	(Human), 515 aa.
Q9H826	CDNA FLJ13980 fis, clone	1 . . . 511	463/511 (90%)	0.0
	Y79AA1001692, weakly similar to germ	1 . . . 511	478/511 (92%)
	cell-LESS protein - Homo sapiens
	(Human), 511 aa (fragment).

[0407] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV13a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 13E.

TABLE 13E
Domain Analysis of NOV13a
		Identities/
Pfam		Similarities	Expect
Domain	NOV13a Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
BTB	92 . . . 208	23/144 (16%)	1.5e−11
		83/144 (58%)

Example 14

[0408] The NOV14 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 14A.

TABLE 14A
NOV14 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 57	1225 bp
NOV14a,	TGGCACCATGGCCCCCAAACTCATCACCGTCCTGTGTCTGGGATTCTGCCTGAACCAG
CG112813-01	AAGATCTGCCCACATGCGGGTGCTCAGGACAAGTTCTCCCTGTCAGCCTGGCCGAGCC
DNA Sequence	CTGTGGTTCCCCTAGGAGGACGTGTGACTCTCTCCTGTCATTCCCATCTTCGGTTTGT
	CATATGGACAATATTCCAAACAACTGGGACCCGAAGCCATGAGTTGCACACTGGCCTT
	TCCAACAACATCACCATCAGCCCTGTGACCCCAGAACACGCAGGGACCTACAGATGTG
	TTGGAATTTACAAGCACGCCTCAAAGTGGTCAGCTGAGAGCAACTCCCTGAAGATCAT
	CGTCACAGGCTTGTTCACAAAACCCTCCATCTCAGCGCACCCAAGCTCCCTGGTGCAT
	GCAGGAGCCAGGGTGAGCCTGCGCTGTCACTCAGAACTGGCCTTTGATGAATTTATCT
	TATACAAAGAGGGGCACATACAGCATTCCCAGCAGCTTGACCAGGGGATGGAGGCTGG
	GATCCATTACGTCGAGGCTGTCTTTTCCATGGGTCCTGTAACGCCTGCCCATGCAGGA
	GCCTACAGATGCTGTGGTTGTTTCAGTCACTCCCGCTATGAGTGGTCGGCTCCCAGTG
	ACCCCCTGGACATTGTGATCACAGGAAAATACAAAAAGCCTTCTCTCTCCACCCAGGT
	GGACCCCATGATGAGGCTGGGAGAGAAGTTGACCCTCTTCTGCAGCTCTGAAATCTCA
	TTTGACCAGTACCATCTGTTCAGACACGGGGTTGCTCATGGACAGTGGCTCAGTGGAG
	GGCAGAGACACAGGGAAGCATTCCAGGCCAATTTTTCTGTGGGCCGTGCAACGCCAGT
	CCCTGGCGGGACCTATAGATGCTATGGTTCCTTCAATGACTCTCCCTATAAGCCCCCA
	GTGACCCGCTGCAACTTTACACCACAGGAAACACTAAGAGTACTCCTCTGTCATTCAC
	AGAATCCACCCCTGAATCTGGAGCCTGCAGCAGAAGAGACACAGGAGATCATATATGC
	CCAGTTAAACCACCAGGCCCTCTCACAGACAGGATTCCCTCCTGCCTCCCAGTGTCCC
	CACTACCTCTCGGAGGATCCTAGTATCTACATCACTGTCCACCAAGCCCAGGCTGAGG
	CCAGAGCTGCCCCCAGTCTTTGGCACAAAGGGCATTAATACGCAAGGACCTGGATCTA
	TTCCTAG
	ORF Start: ATG at 8	ORF Stop: TAA at 1196
	SEQ ID NO: 58	396 aa	MW at 43739.2 Da
NOV14a,	MAPKLITVLCLGFCLNQKICPHAGAQDKFSLSAWPSPVVPLGGRVTLSCHSHLRFVIW
CG112813-01	TIFQTTGTRSHELHTGLSNNITISPVTPEHAGTYRCVGIYKHASKWSAESNSLKIIVT
Protein Sequence	GLFTKPSISAHPSSLVHAGARVSLRCHSELAFDEFILYKEGHIQHSQQLDQGMEAGIH
	YVEAVFSMGPVTPAHAGAYRCCGCFSHSRYEWSAPSDPLDIVITGKYKKPSLSTQVDP
	MMRLGEKLTLFCSSEISFDQYHLFRHGVAHGQWLSGGQRHREAFQANFSVGRATPVPG
	GTYRCYGSFNDSPYKPPVTRCNFTPQETLRVLLCHSQNPPLNLEPAAEETQEIIYAQL
	NHQALSQTGFPPASQCPHYLSEDPSIYITVHQAQAEARAAPSLWHKGH
	SEQ ID NO: 59	1399 bp
NOV14b,	TGGCACCATGGCCCCCAAACTCATCACCGTCCTGTGTCTGGGATTCTGCCTGAACCAG
CG112813-02	AAGATCTGCCCACATGCGGGTGCTCAGGACAAGTTCTCCCTGTCAGCCTGGCCGAGCC
DNA Sequence	CTGTGGTTCCCCTAGGAGGACGTGTGACTCTCTCCTGTCATTCCCATCTTCGGTTTGT
	CATATGGACAATATTCCAAACAACTGGGACCCGAAGCCATGAGTTGCACACTGGCCTT
	TCCAACAACATCACCATCAGCCCTGTGACCCCAGAACACGCAGGGACCTACAGATGTG
	TTGGAATTTACAAGCACGCCTCAAAGTGGTCAGCTGAGAGCAACTCCCTGAAGATCAT
	CGTCACAGGCTTGTTCACAAAACCCTCCATCTCAGCGCACCCAAGCTCCCTGGTGCAT
	GCAGGAGCCAGGGTGAGCCTGCGCTGTCACTCAGAACTGGCCTTTGATGAATTTATCT
	TATACAAAGAGGGGCACATACAGCATTCCCAGCAGCTTGACCAGGGGATGGAGGCTGG
	GATCCATTACGTCGAGGCTGTCTTTTCCATGGGTCCTGTAACGCCTGCCCATGCAGGA
	GCCTACAGATGCTGTGGTTGTTTCAGTCACTCCCGCTATGAGTGGTCGGCTCCCAGTG
	ACCCCCTGGACATTGTGATCACAGGAAAATACAAAAAGCCTTCTCTCTCCACCCAGGT
	GGACCCCATGATGAGGCTGGGAGAGAAGTTGACCCTCTTCTGCAGCTCTGAAATCTCA
	TTTGACCAGTACCATCTGTTCAGACACGGGGTTGCTCATGGACAGTGGCTCAGTGGAG
	GGCAGAGACACAGGGAAGCATTCCAGGCCAATTTTTCTGTGGGCCGTGCAACGCCAGT
	CCCTGGCGGGACCTATAGATGCTATGGTTCCTTCAATGACTCTCCCTATAAGCCCCCA
	GTGACCCACTGCAACTTTACACCACAGGAAACACTAAGAGTACTCCTCTGTCATTCAC
	AGAATCCACCCCTGAATCTGACACACCTCGCCCTCAAGGACAGTCCAGCAACCTGCAT
	ATGCTCACTGGACTCTCAGTAGCCATCATCTCCATTGGCGTTTGCCTCTCTGCTTTTA
	TTGGTTTCTGGTGTTACATAAAATATCACACCACCATGGCAAACACAGAGCCCACGGA
	AGGCCAACGGACGGATGAAGAGGAGCCTGCAGCAGAAGAGACACAGGAGATCATATAT
	GCCCAGTTAAACCACCAGGCCCTCTCACAGACAGGATTCCCTCCTGCCTCCCAGTGTC
	CCCACTACCTCTCGAAGGATCCTAGTATCTACATCACTGTCCACCAAGCCCAGGCTGA
	GGCCAGAGCTGCCCCCAGTCTTTGGCACAAAGGGCATTAATACGCAAGGACCTGGATC
	TATTCCT
	ORF Start: ATG at 8	ORF Stop: TAG at 1064
	SEQ ID NO: 60	352 aa	MW at 38757.9 Da
NOV14b,	MAPKLITVLCLGFCLNQKICPHAGAQDKFSLSAWPSPVVPLGGRVTLSCHSHLRFVIW
CG112813-02	TIFQTTGTRSHELHTGLSNNITISPVTPEHAGTYRCVGIYKHASKWSAESNSLKIIVT
Protein Sequence	GLFTKPSISAHPSSLVHAGARVSLRCHSELAFDEFILYKEGHIQHSQQLDQGMEAGIH
	YVEAVFSMGPVTPAHAGAYRCCGCFSHSRYEWSAPSDPLDIVITGKYKKPSLSTQVDP
	MMRLGEKLTLFCSSEISFDQYHLFRHGVAHGQWLSGGQRHREAFQANFSVGRATPVPG
	GTYRCYGSFNDSPYKPPVTHCNFTPQETLRVLLCHSQNPPLNLTHLALKDSPATCICS
	LDSQ
	SEQ ID NO 61	1369 bp
NOV14c,	ATGGCCCCCAAACTCATCACCGTCCTGTGTCTGGGATTCTGCCTGAACCAGAAGATCT
CG112813-04	GCCCACATGCGGGTGCTCAGGACAAGTTCTCCCTGTCAGCCTGGCCGAGCCCTGTGGT
DNA Sequence	TCCCCTAGGAGGACGTGTGACTCTCTCCTGTCATTCCCATCTTCGGTTTGTCATATGG
	ACAATATTCCAAACAACTGGGACCCGAAGCCATGAGTTGCACACTGGCCTTTCCAACA
	ACATCACCATCAGCCCTGTGACCCCAGAACACGCAGGGACCTACAGATGTGTTGGAAT
	TTACAAGCACGCCTCAAAGTGGTCAGCTGAGAGCAACTCCCTGAAGATCATCGTCACA
	GGCTTGTTCACAAAACCCTCCATCTCAGCGCACCCAAGCTCCCTGGTGCATGCAGGAG
	CCAGGGTGAGCCTGCGCTGTCACTCAGAACTGGCCTTTGATGAATTTATCTTATACAA
	AGAGGGGCACATACAGCATTCCCAGCAGCTTGACCAGGGGATGGAGGCTGGGATCCAC
	TACGTCGAGGCTGTCTTTTCCATGGGTCCTGTAACGCCTGCCCATGCAGGAGCCTACA
	GATGCTGTGGTTGTTTCAGTCACTCCCGCTATGAGTGGTCGGCTCCCAGTGACCCCCT
	GGACATTGTGATCACAGGAAAATACAAAAAGCCTTCTCTCTCCACCCAGGTGGACCCC
	ATGATGAGGCTGGGAGAGAAGTTGACCCTCTTCTGCAGCTCTGAAATCTCATTTGACC
	AGTACCATCTGTTCAGACACGGGGTTGCTCATGGACAGTGGCTCAGTGGAGGGCAGAG
	ACACAGGGAAGCATTCCAGGCCAATTTTTCTGTGGGCCGTGCAACGCCAGTCCCTGGC
	GGGACCTATAGATGCTATGGTTCCTTCAATGACTCTCCCTATAAGCCCCCAGTGACCC
	ACTGCAACTTTACACCACAGGAAACACTAAGAGTACTCCTCTGTCATTCACAGAATCC
	ACCCCTGAATCTGACACACCTCGCCCTCAAGGACAGTCCAGCAACCTGCATATGCTCA
	CTGGACTCTCAGTAGCCATCATCTCCATTGGCGTTTGCCTCTCTGCTTTTATTGGTTT
	CTGGTGTTACATAAAATATCACACCACCATGGCAAACACAGAGCCCACGGAAGGCCAA
	CGGACGGATGAAGAGGAGCCTGCAGCAGAAGAGACACAGGAGATCATATATGCCCAGT
	TAAACCACCAGGCCCTCTCACAGACAGGATTCCCTCCTGCCTCCCAGTGTCCCCACTA
	CCTCTCGAAGGATCCTAGTATCTACATCACTGTCCACCAAGCCCAGGCTGAGGCCAGA
	GCTGCCCCCAGTCTTTGGCACAAAGGGCATTAATA
	ORF Start: ATG at 1	ORF Stop: TAG at 1057
	SEQ ID NO: 62	352 aa	MW at 38757.9 Da
NOV14c,	MAPKLITVLCLGFCLNQKICPHAGAQDKFSLSAWPSPVVPLGGRVTLSCHSHLRFVIW
CG112813-04	TIFQTTGTRSHELHTGLSNNITISPVTPEHAGTYRCVGIYKHASKWSAESNSLKIIVT
Protein Sequence	GLFTKPSISAHPSSLVHAGARVSLRCHSELAFDEFILYKEGHIQHSQQLDQGMEAGIH
	YVEAVFSMGPVTPAHAGAYRCCGCFSHSRYEWSAPSDPLDIVITGKYKKPSLSTQVDP
	MMRLGEKLTLFCSSEISFDQYHLFRHGVAHGQWLSGGQRHREAFQANFSVGRATPVPG
	GTYRCYGSFNDSPYKPPVTHCNFTPQETLRVLLCHSQNPPLNLTHLALKDSPATCICS
	LDSQ
	SEQ ID NO: 63	1502 bp
NOV14d,	ATGGCCCCCAAACTCATCACCGTCCTGTGCCTAGGATTCTGCCTGAACCAGAAGATCT
ICG112813-05	GCCCACATGCGGGTGCTCAGGACAAGTTCTCCCTGTCAGCCTGGCCGAGCCCTGTGGT
DNA Sequence	TCCCCTAGGAGGACGTGTGACTCTCTCCTGTCATTCCCATCTTCGGTTTGTCATATGG
	ACAATATTCCAAACAACTGGGACCCGAAGCCATGAGTTGCACACTGGCCTTTCCAACA
	ACATCACCATCAGCCCTGTGACCCCAGAACACGCAGGGACCTACAGATGTGTTGGAAT
	TTACAAGCACGCCTCAAAGTGGTCAGCTGAGAGCAACTCCCTGAAGATCATCGTCACA
	GGCTTGTTCACAAAACCCTCCATCTCAGCGCACCCAAGCTCCCTGGTGCATGCAGGAG
	CCAGGGTGAGCCTGCGCTGTCACTCAGAACTGGCCTTTGATGAATTTATCTTATACAA
	AGAGGGGCACATACAGCATTCCCAGCAGCTTGACCAGGGGATGGAGGCTGGGATCCAT
	TACGTCGAGGCTGTCTTTTCCATGGGTCCTGTAACGCCTGCCCATGCAGGAGCCTACA
	GATGCTGTGGTTGTTTCAGTCACTCCCGCTATGAGTGGTCGGCTCCCAGTGACCCCCT
	GGACATTGTGATCACAGGAAAATACAAAAAGCCTTCTCTCTCCACCCAGGTGGACCCC
	ATGATGAGGCTGGGAGAGAAGTTGACCCTCTTCTGCAGCTCTGAAATCTCATTTGACC
	AGTACCATCTGTTCAGACACGGGGTTGCTCATGGACAGTGGCTCAGTGGAGGGCAGAG
	ACACAGGGAAGCATTCCAGGCCAATTTTTCTGTGGGCCGTGCAACGCCAGTCCCTGGC
	GGGACCTATAGATGCTATGGTTCCTTCAATGACTCTCCCTATAAGCCCCCAGTGACCC
	GCTGCAACTTTACACCACAGGAAACACTAAGAGTACTCCTCTGTCATTCACAGAATCC
	ACCCCTGAATCTGACACCACCATGGCAAACACAGAGCCCACGGAAGGCCAACGGACGG
	ATGAAGAGGAGCCTGCAGCAGAAGAGACACAGGAGATCATATATGCCCAGTTAAACCA
	CCAGGCCCTCTCACAGACAGGATTCCCTCCTGCCTCCCAGTGTCCCCACTACCTCTCG
	GAGGATCCTAGTATCTACATCACTGTCCACCAAGCCCAGGCTGAGGCCAGAGCTGCCC
	CCAGTCTTTGGCACAAAGGGCATTAATACGCAAGGACCTGGATCTATTCCTAGGAGGA
	TTTTTTTTCCACGGACATTCTTCCTCCTTCTGGTACCATCTTGACACCTCGAAGCTGG
	CAACAGCAGTGTCTGAATGCTTGTGGGATTATCTTAAAATTCCAGCACTGCTGAACAG
	ACAACTAGCCATTCTACAATTCTATTTTGAGCATCCAACCATTTCAGGTGATTTGACT
	CTTACCACACACTCATCCTGGATATCTCATTAATATCATCTGAATTATCCTG
	ORF Start: ATG at 1	ORF Stop: TAA at 1096
	SEQ ID NO: 64	365 aa	MW at 40669.1 Da
NOV14d,	MAPKLITVLCLGFCLNQKICPHAGAQDKFSLSAWPSPVVPLGGRVTLSCHSHLRFVIW
CG112813-05	TIFQTTGTRSHELHTGLSNNITISPVTPEHAGTYRCVGIYKHASKWSAESNSLKIIVT
Protein Sequence	GLFTKPSISAHPSSLVHAGARVSLRCHSELAFDEFILYKEGHIQHSQQLDQGMEAGIH
	YVEAVFSMGPVTPAHAGAYRCCGCFSHSRYEWSAPSDPLDIVITGKYKKPSLSTQVDP
	MMRLGEKLTLFCSSEISFDQYHLFRHGVAHGQWLSGGQRHREAFQANFSVGRATPVPG
	GTYRCYGSFNDSPYKPPVTRCNFTPQETLRVLLCHSQNPPLNLTPPWQTQSPRKANGR
	MKRSLQQKRHRRSYMPS
	SEQ ID NO: 65	1327 bp
NOV14e,	AATAGAAGTGGCACCATGGCCCCCAAACTCATCACCGTCCTGTGCCTAGGATTCTGCC
CG112813-06	TGAACCAGAAGATCTGCCCACATGCGGGTGCTCAGGACAAGTTCTCCCTGTCAGCCTG
DNA Sequence	GCCGAGCCCTGTGGTTCCCCTAGGAGGACGTGTGACTCTCTCCTGTCATTCCCATCTT
	CGGTTTGTCATATGGACAATATTCCAAACAACTGGGACCCGAAGCCATGAGTTGCACA
	CTGGCCTTTCCAACAACATCACCATCAGCCCTGTGACCCCAGAACACGCAGGGACCTA
	CAGATGTGTTGGAATTTACAAGCACGCCTCAAAGTGGTCAGCTGAGAGCAACTCCCTG
	AAGATCATCGTCACAGGTAGGTTCACAAAACCCTCCATCTCAGCGCACCCAAGCTCCC
	TGGTGCATGCAGGAGCCAGGGTGAGCCTGCGCTGTCACTCAGAACTGGCCTTTGATGA
	ATTTATCTTATACAAAGAGGGGCACATACAGCATTCCCAGCAGCTTGACCAGGGGATG
	GAGGCTGGGATCCATTACGTCGAGGCTGTCTTTTCCATGGGTCCTGTAACGCCTGCCC
	ATGCAGGAGCCTACAGATGCTGTGGTTGTTTCAGTCACTCCCGCTATGAGTGGTCGGC
	TCCCAGTGACCCCCTGGACATTGTGATCACAGGTAAATACAAAAAGCCTTCTCTCTCC
	ACCCAGGTGGACCCCATGATGAGGCTGGGAGAGAAGTTGACCCTCTTCTGCAGCTCTG
	AAATCTCATTTGACCAGTACCATCTGTTCAGACACGGGGTTGCTCATGGACAGTGGCT
	CAGTGGAGGGCAGAGACACAGGGAAGCATTCCAGGCCAATTTTTCTGTGGGCCGTGCA
	ACGCCAGTCCCTGGCGGGACCTATAGATGCTATGGTTCCTTCAATGACTCTCCCTATA
	AGACAGACACACCTCGCCCTCAAGGACAGTCCAGCAACCTGCATATGCTCACTGGACT
	CTCAGTAGCCATCATCTCCATTGGCGTTTGCCTCTCTGCTTTTATTGGTTTCTGGTGT
	TACATAAAATATCACACCACCATGGCAAACACAGAGCCCACGGAAGGCCAACGGACGG
	ATGAAGAGGAGCCTGCAGCAGAAGAGACACAGGAGATCATATATGCCCAGTTAAACCA
	CCAGGCCCTCTCACAGACAGGATTCCCTCCTGCCTCCCAGTGTCCCCACTACCTCTCG
	AAGGATCCTAGTATCTACATCACTGTCCACCAAGCCCAGGCTGAGGCCAGAGCTGCCC
	CCAGTCTTTGGCACAAAGGGCATTAATACGCAAGGACCTGGATCTATTCCT
	ORF Start: ATG at 16	ORF Stop: TAA at 1300
	SEQ ID NO: 66	428 aa	MW at 47211.0 Da
NOV14e,	MAPKLITVLCLGFCLNQKICPHAGAQDKFSLSAWPSPVVPLGGRVTLSCHSHLRFVIW
CG112813-06	TIFQTTGTRSHELHTGLSNNITISPVTPEHAGTYRCVGIYKHASKWSAESNSLKIIVT
Protein Sequence	GRFTKPSISAHPSSLVHAGARVSLRCHSELAFDEFILYKEGHIQHSQQLDQGMEAGIH
	YVEAVFSMGPVTPAHAGAYRCCGCFSHSRYEWSAPSDPLDIVITGKYKKPSLSTQVDP
	MMRLGEKLTLFCSSEISFDQYHLFRHGVAHGQWLSGGQRHREAFQANFSVGRATPVPG
	GTYRCYGSFNDSPYKTDTPRPQGQSSNLHMLTGLSVAIISIGVCLSAFIGFWCYIKYH
	TTMANTEPTEGQRTDEEEPAAEETQEIIYAQLNHQALSQTGFPPASQCPHYLSKDPSI
	YITVHQAQAEARAAPSLWHKGH
	SEQ ID NO: 67	780 bp
NOV14f,	AAGCTTGGAGGACGTGTGACTCTCTCCTGTCATTCCCATCTTCGGTTTGTCATATGGA
209886463 DNA	CAATATTCCAAACAACTGGGACCCGAAGCCATGAGTTGCACACTGGCCTTTCCAACAA
Sequence	CATCACCATCAGCCCTGTGACCCCAGAACACGCAGGGACCTACAGATGTGTTGGAATT
	TACAAGCACGCCTCAAAGTGGTCAGCTGAGAGCAACTCCCTGAAGATCATCGTCACAG
	GCTTGTTCACAAAACCCTCCATCTCAGCGCACCCAAGCTCCCTGGTGCATGCAGGAGC
	CAGGGTGAGCCTGCGCTGTCACTCAGAACTGGCCTTTGATGAATTTATCTTATACAAA
	GAGGGGCACATACAGCATTCCCAGCAGCTTGACCAGGGGATGGAGGCTGGGATCCATT
	ACGTCGAGGCTGTCTTTTCCATGGGTCCTGTAACGCCTGCCCATGTAGGAGCCTACAG
	ATGCTGTGGTTGTTTCAGTCACTCCCGCTATGAGTGGTCGGCTCCCAGTGACCCCCTG
	GACATTGTGATCACAGGAAAATACAAAAAGCCTTCTCTCTCCACCCAGGTGGACCCCA
	TGATGAGGCTGGGAGAGAAGTTGACCCTCTTCTGCAGCTCTGAAATCTCATTTGACCA
	GTACCATCTGTTCAGACACGGGGTTGCTCATGGACAGTGGCTCAGTGGAGGGCAGAGA
	CACAGGGAAGCATTCCAGGCCAACTTTTCTGTGGGCCGTGCAACGCCAGTCCCTGGCG
	GGACCTATAGATGCTATGGTCTCGAG
	ORF Start: at 1	ORF Stop: end of sequence
	SEQ ID NO: 68	260 aa	MW at 28816.5 Da
NOV14f	KLGGRVTLSCHSHLRFVIWTIFQTTGTRSHELHTGLSNNITISPVTPEHAGTYRCVGI
209886463 Protein	YKHASKWSAESNSLKIIVTGLFTKPSISAHPSSLVHAGARVSLRCHSELAFDEFILYK
Sequence	EGHIQHSQQLDQGMEAGIHYVEAVFSMGPVTPAHVGAYRCCGCFSHSRYEWSAPSDPL
	DIVITGKYKKPSLSTQVDPMMRLGEKLTLFCSSEISFDQYHLFRHGVAHGQWLSGGQR
	HREAFQANFSVGRATPVPGGTYRCYGLE
	SEQ ID NO: 69	871 bp
NOV14g,	GCCAAGCTTCATGAGTTGCACACTGGCCTTTCCAACAACATCACCATCAGCCCTGTGA
277731421 DNA	CCCCAGAACACGCAGGGACCTACAGATGTGTTGGAATTTACAAGCACGCCTCAAAGTG
Sequence	GTCAGCTGAGAGCAACTCCCTGAAGATCATCGTCACAGGCTTGTTCACAAAACCCTCC
	ATCTCAGCGCACCCAAGCTCCCTGGTGCATGCAGGAGCCAGGGTGAGCCTGCGCTGTC
	ACTCAGAACTGGCCTTTGATGAATTTATCTTATACAAAGAGGGGCACATACAGCATTC
	CCAGCAGCTTGACCAGGGGATGGAGGCTGGGATCCACTACGTCGAGGCTGTCTTTTCC
	ATGGGTCCTGTAACGCCTGCCCATGCAGGAGCCTACAGATGCTGTGGTTGTTTCAGTC
	ACTCCCGCTATGAGTGGTCGGCTCCCAGTGACCCCCTGGACATTGTGATCACAGGAAA
	ATACAAAAAGCCTTCTCTCTCCACCCAGGTGGACCCCATGATGAGGCTGGGAGAGAAG
	TTGACCCTCTTCTGCAGCTCTGAAATCTCATTTGACCAGTACCATCTGTTCAGACACG
	GGGTTGCTCATGGACAGTGGCTCAGTGGAGGGCAGAGACACAGGGAAGCATTCCAGGC
	CAATTTTTCTGTGGGCCGTGCAACGCCAGTCCCTGGCGGGACCTATAGATGCTATGGT
	TCCTTCAATGACTCTCCCTATAAGCCCCCAGTGACCCACTGCAACTTTACACCACAGG
	AAACACTAAGAGTACTCCTCTGTCATTCACAGAATCCACCCCTGAATCTGACACACCT
	CGCCCTCAAGGACAGTCCAGCAACCTGCATATGCTCACTGGACTCTCAGCTCGAGGGT
	G
	ORF Start: at 1	ORF Stop: at 871
	SEQ ID NO: 70	290 aa	MW at 31948.9 Da
NOV14g,	AKLHELHTGLSNNITISPVTPEHAGTYRCVGIYKHASKWSAESNSLKIIVTGLFTKPS
277731421 Protein	ISAHPSSLVHAGARVSLRCHSELAFDEFILYKEGHIQHSQQLDQGMEAGIHYVEAVFS
Sequence	MGPVTPAHAGAYRCCGCFSHSRYEWSAPSDPLDIVITGKYKKPSLSTQVDPMMRLGEK
	LTLFCSSEISFDQYHLFRHGVAHGQWLSGGQRHREAFQANFSVGRATPVPGGTYRCYG
	SFNDSPYKPPVTHCNFTPQETLRVLLCHSQNPPLNLTHLALKDSPATCICSLDSQLEG

[0409] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 14B.

TABLE 14B
Comparison of NOV14a against NOV14b through NOV14g.
Protein	NOV14a Residues/	Identities/
Sequence	Match Residues	Similarities for the Matched Region
NOV14b	1 . . . 333	332/333 (99%)
	1 . . . 333	332/333 (99%)
NOV14c	1 . . . 333	332/333 (99%)
	1 . . . 333	332/333 (99%)
NOV14d	1 . . . 335	334/335 (99%)
	1 . . . 335	334/335 (99%)
NOV14e	1 . . . 396	366/428 (85%)
	1 . . . 428	370/428 (85%)
NOV14f	41 . . . 297	256/257 (99%)
	2 . . . 258	256/257 (99%)
NOV14g	69 . . . 333	264/265 (99%)
	4 . . . 268	264/265 (99%)

[0410] Further analysis of the NOV14a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 14C.

TABLE 14C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV14a
PSort     0.4489 probability located in lysosome (lumen);
analysis: 0.3700 probability located in outside; 0.2307 probability
          located in microbody (peroxisome); 0.1000 probability located
          in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 69 and 70
analysis:

[0411] A search of the NOV14a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 14D.

TABLE 14D
Geneseq Results for NOV14a
		NOV14a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
ABG10169	Novel human diagnostic protein #10160 -	1 . . . 305	145/307 (47%)	53−71
	Homo sapiens, 444 aa.	1 . . . 303	190/307 (61%)
	[WO200175067-A2, 11 OCT. 2001]
ABG10165	Novel human diagnostic protein #10156 -	1 . . . 386	165/426 (38%)	53−71
	Homo sapiens, 491 aa.	65 . . . 486	228/426 (52%)
	[WO200175067-A2, 11 OCT. 2001]
AAM25638	Human protein sequence SEQ ID	1 . . . 305	145/307 (47%)	53−71
	NO: 1153 - Homo sapiens, 444 aa.	1 . . . 303	190/307 (61%)
	[WO200153455-A2, 26 JUL. 2001]
ABG10169	Novel human diagnostic protein #10160 -	1 . . . 305	145/307 (47%)	53−71
	Homo sapiens, 444 aa.	1 . . . 303	190/307 (61%)
	[WO200175067-A2, 11 OCT. 2001]
ABG10167	Novel human diagnostic protein #10158 -	1 . . . 305	142/307 (46%)	73−70
	Homo sapiens, 388 aa.	1 . . . 303	191/307 (61%)
	[WO200175067-A2, 11 OCT. 2001]

[0412] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV14a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 14E.

TABLE 14E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV14a
		NOV14a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organsism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q9H7L2	FLJ00060 protein - Homo sapiens	114 . . . 333	217/220 (98%)	e−131
	(Human), 227 aa (fragment).	5 . . . 224	220/220 (99%)
Q99563	NK receptor - Homo sapiens	1 . . . 382	171/439 (38%)	1e−71
	(Human), 436 aa.	1 . . . 435	228/439 (50%)
AAK30061	Killer cell immunoglobulin-like	5 . . . 305	144/303 (47%)	3e−71
	receptor 3DL1 - Homo sapiens	5 . . . 303	191/303 (62%)
	(Human), 444 aa.
Q9UER1	KIR3DL1-like natural killer cell	5 . . . 305	144/303 (47%)	3e−71
	receptor - Homo sapiens (Human),	5 . . . 303	191/303 (62%)
	444 aa.
AAF61292	Killer cell immunoglobulin receptor	5 . . . 305	143/303 (47%)	3e−70
	variant - Homo sapiens (Human), 444	5 . . . 303	190/303 (62%)
	aa.

[0413] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV14a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 14F.

TABLE 14F
Domain Analysis of NOV14a
		Identities/
		Similarities
Pfam	NOV14	for the
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Expect Value
ig	42 . . . 96	17/59 (29%)	5e−07
		42/59 (71%)
ig	135 . . . 197	11/67 (16%)	0.00019
		44/67 (66%)
ig	237 . . . 297	14/65 (22%)	0.0018
		42/65 (65%)

Example 15

[0414] The NOV15 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 15A.

TABLE 15A
NOV15 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO 71	4380 bp
NOV15a,	ATATCTGTGGATGCTATGCATGTCTTCATTGATGAACATGGTGAGGGGGAAATTAGAT
CG112869-01	CCTGTTATTTAAAATCTGGAAATCAGAAAGAAGGCCCTTTACAGCCTCTACCATCAAA
DNA Sequence	TAATGACTGTCTCTCTCAGGCTAGAGAGATGCAGGTCAGCTCCTCCAGTACCACAACT
	TCTGAGAGTCAAGATCCGTCTTCTGGGGACCCTGCCGTCAGTGCCCTTCAGCAACAGC
	TGTTACTGATGGTGGCTCGCAGGACCCAGTCGGAAACCCCACGGCATGTGAGTCAGGA
	TCTGGAAGCCTCGTCATGTTCTTCAACACAAGGAAAATTTAACCGAGAGCAGTTTTAC
	AAATTTATCATTTTCCCTGGCAAGTGGATTAAAGTCTGGTATGATCGACTGACCTTGC
	TGGCATTACTTGATCGGACTGAAGACATCAAGGAGAATGTACTGGCGATTTTACTCAT
	TGTCCTGGTTTCCCTCCTTGGATTTCTGACCTTGAGCCAAGGCTTTTGCAAAGATATG
	TGGGTGCTCCTCTTCTGCCTCGTCATGGCCAGCTGCCAGTACTCCCTGCTAAAGAGTG
	TTCAGCCTGACCCCGCCTCACCAATACACGGACACAACCAAATCATAACATATAGCAG
	ACCAATCTATTTTTGTGTGCTGTGTGGCCTTATTTTGCTTCTTGATACAGGGGCCAAA
	GCCAGGCACCCTCCCAGTTACGTTGTGTATGGCCTGAAGCTCTTCTCTCCAGTGTTTC
	TACAATCAGCTAGGGACTACTTAATAGTATTTTTATATTGCTTCCCTGCTATTTCCCT
	CCTTGGGCTCTTCCCGCAAATCAACACTTTCTGCACTTATCTTTTGGAGCAAATTGAC
	ATGCTGTTTTTTGGTGGTTCTGCTGTGTCTGGGATAACCTCGGCTGTTTACAGTGTGG
	CCCGGAGCGTCTTGGCTGCCGCCCTGCTCCACGCAGTCTGCTTCAGTGCAGTGAAGGA
	ACCGTGGAGCATGCAACACATCCCGGCACTGTTTTCGGCCTTCTGTGGCCTCTTGGTC
	GCCCTTTCTTACCATCTGAGCCGTCAGAGCAGTGACCCATCTGTACTCTTTTCCACTT
	TCAGGTCCTTCATCCAATGCAGGCTGTTTCCTAAATTTTTACATCAAAATCTGGCAGA
	GTCAGCTGCTGACCCTCTCCCCAAGAAGATGAAAGATTCAGTGGTGAGACATTTGCGT
	TTAAAATGGGATCTCATCGTCTGCGCAGTGGTTGCTGTCCTCTCATTTGCAGTCAGCG
	CCAGCACTGTATTCCTGTCATTGCAGCCATTTCTCAGCATCGTGCTGTTTGCCTTGGC
	TGGAGCCGTGGGGTTTGTAACACATTACGTGCTCCCTCAGCTCCGCAAGCATCATCCC
	TGGATGTGGATTTCACACCCCATTCTCAAAAACAAAGAGTATCATCAACGGGAAGTGA
	GAGATGTTGCCCATTTAATGTGGTTCGAAAGACTCTATGTTTGGCTTCAGTGTTTTGA
	AAAATACATCTTGTACCCAGCGCTAATTTTGAATGCCCTCACTATTGATGCATTTTTA
	ATAAGCAATCACCGGAGACTTGGTACCCAGCTGATGATCATTGCTGGCATGAAGCTGT
	TGCGGACATCATTCTGCAACCCGGTTTACCAGTTTATTAACTTGAGCTTCACTGTCAT
	CTTTTTCCACTTTGACTACAAAGATATTTCAGAGAGCTTCTTACTGGATTTCTTCATG
	GTGTCCATTTTATTTAGCAAGGCAAGTGAATTACTTCACAAGTTACAGTTCGTCCTGA
	CATATGTGGCTCCTTGGCAGATGGCTTGGGGTTCTTCGTTTCACGTGTTTGCTCAGCT
	CTTTGCCATTCCTCGTATCCTTTCTGCCATGCTTTTCTTTCAGACGATTGCCACATCA
	ATCTTTTCTACCCCATTGAGCCCATTTCTTGGGAGTGTCATTTTCATCACATCATATG
	TCAGGCCAGTGAAATTCTGGGAGAAAAACTACAGTACAAGGCGAGTGGATAATTCCAA
	CACAAGACTGGCAGTCCAAATTGAAAGAGATCCAGGGAATGATGACAACAATCTCAAT
	TCCATTTTTTATGAACACTTGACAAGGACCCTCCAGGAGTCCCTCTGTGGAGACTTAG
	TTCTTGGACGTTGGGGCAACTACAGCTCTGGCGATTGCTTTATTTTGGCTTCAGATGA
	CCTCAATGCCTTTGTTCACCTGATTGAAATTGGAAATGGTCTTGTCACCTTTCAACTT
	CGAGGACTGGAATTCCGAGGAACCTACTGCCAGCAGAGGGAGGTAGAAGCCATCATGG
	AGGGCGACGAGGAGGACAGAGGCTGCTGCTGCTGCAAACCAGGCCACTTGCCTCACCT
	GCTGTCCTGCAACGCTGCCTTTCACCTCCGCTGGCTCACCTGGGAAATCACGCAGACC
	CAGTACATCCTGGAGGGCTACAGCATCCTGGACAACAACGCGGCCACCATGCTGCAGG
	TGTTTGACCTCCGAAGGATCCTCATCCGCTACTACATCAAGAGTATAATATACTATAT
	GGTAACGTCTCCCAAACTCCTCTCCTGGATCAAAAATGAATCACTTCTGAAGTCCCTG
	CAGCCCTTTGCCAAGTGGCATTACATTGAGCGTGACCTTGCAATGTTCAACATTAACA
	TTGATGATGACTACGTCCCGTGTCTCCAGGGGATCACACGAGCTAGCTTCTGCAATGT
	TTATCTAGAATGGATTCAACACTGTGCACGGAAAAGACAAGAGCCTTCAACGACCCTG
	GACAGTGACGAGGACTCTCCCTTGGTGACTCTGTCCTTCGCCCTGTGCACCCTGGGGA
	GGAGAGCTCTGGGAACAGCCGCTCACAATATGGCCATCAGCCTGGATTCTTTCCTGTA
	TGGCCTCCATGTCCTCTTCAAAGGTGACTTCAGAATAACAGCACGTGACGAGTGGGTA
	TTTGCTGACATGGACCTACTGCATAAAGTTGTAGCTCCAGCTATCAGGATGTCCCTGA
	AACTTCACCAGGACCAGTTCACTTGCCCTGACGAGTATGAAGACCCAGCAGTCCTCTA
	CGAGGCCATCCAGTCCTTCGAGAAGAAGGTGGTCATCTGCCACGAGGGCGACCCGGCC
	TGGCGGGGCGCAGTGCTGTCCAACAAGGAAGAGCTGCTCACCCTGCGGCACGTGGTGG
	ACGAGGGTGCCGACGAGTACAAGGTCATCATGCTCCACAGAAGCTTCCTGAGCTTCAA
	GGTGATCAAGGTTAACAAAGAATGCGTCCGAGGACTTTGGGCCGGGCAGCAGCAGGAG
	CTTATATTTCTTCGCAACCGCAATCCGGAGCGCGGCAGTATCCAGAACAATAAGCAGG
	TCCTGCGGAACTTGATTAACTCCTCCTGCGATCAGCCCCTGGGGTACCCCATGTATGT
	CTCCCCACTAACCACATCCTACCTAGGGACACACAGGCAGCTGAAGAACATCTGGGGT
	GGACCCATCACTTTGGACAGAATTAGGACCTGGTTCTGGACCAAGTGGGTAAGGATGC
	GGAAGGATTGCAATGCCCGCCAGCACAGTGGCGGCAACATTGAAGACGTGGACGGAGG
	AGGGGCCCCGACGACAGGTGGCAACAATGCCCCGAATGGTGGCAGCCAGGAGAGCAGC
	GCAGAACAGCCCAGAAAAGGCGGTGCTCAGCACGGGGTGTCATCCTGTGAAGGGACAC
	AGAGAACAGGCAGGAGGAAAGGCAGGAGCCAGTCCGTGCAGGCACACTCAGCGCTAAG
	CCAAAGGCCGCCCATGCTGAGCTCATCTGGCCCCATCTTAGAGAGCCGCCAAACATTC
	CTCCAGACGTCCACCTCAGTGCACGAGCTGGCCCAGAGGCTCTCGGGCAGCCGGCTCT
	CCTTGCACGCCTCGGCCACGTCCCTGCACTCTCAGCCCCCGCCCGTCACCACCACCGG
	CCACCTGAGTGTCCGTGAGCGGGCCGAGGCGCTCATCAGGTCCAGCCTGGGCTCCTCC
	ACCAGCTCCACCCTGAGCTTCCTCTTCGGCAAGAGGAGCTTTTCCAGCGCGCTCGTCA
	TTTCCGGACTCTCTGCTGCGGAGGGGGGCAATACCAGTGACACCCAGTCATCCAGCAG
	CGTCAACATCGTGATGGGCCCCTCAGCCAGGGCTGCCAGCCAGGCCACTCGGGTAAGG
	GGCTGGGCAGGGCTCACCAGGACAGGCTGGGATGGTGGCACGGGCTCCTGGCCTGAGC
	GTGGCACCTGCCTTGCGTTCCCACCCTTCTGCCTGCAGAACCCCATCCCCTTCTCTAT
	GGGGCTCCCAGAGTGACAAAGGACAGTGATTAGACACGAAGTGGCTTAGCTGCTCTTG
	AAAGCAGACAAGATACAGAGCAGATATCCT
	ORF Start: ATG at 16	ORF Stop: TGA at 4306
	SEQ ID NO: 72	1430 aa	MW at 160787.0 Da
NOV15a,	MHVFIDEHGEGEIRSCYLKSGNQKEGPLQPLPSNNDCLSQAREMQVSSSSTTTSESQD
CG112869-01	PSSGDPAVSALQQQLLLMVARRTQSETPRHVSQDLEASSCSSTQGKFNREQFYKFIIF
Protein Sequence	PGKWIKVWYDRLTLLALLDRTEDIKENVLAILLIVLVSLLGFLTLSQGFCKDMWVLLF
	CLVMASCQYSLLKSVQPDPASPIHGHNQIITYSRPIYFCVLCGLILLLDTGAKARHPP
	SYVVYGLKLFSPVFLQSARDYLIVFLYCFPAISLLGLFPQINTFCTYLLEQIDMLFFG
	GSAVSGITSAVYSVARSVLAAALLHAVCFSAVKEPWSMQHIPALFSAFCGLLVALSYH
	LSRQSSDPSVLFSTFRSFIQCRLFPKFLHQNLAESAADPLPKKMKDSVVRHLRLKWDL
	IVCAVVAVLSFAVSASTVFLSLQPFLSIVLFALAGAVGFVTHYVLPQLRKHHPWMWIS
	HPILKNKEYHQREVRDVAHLMWFERLYVWLQCFEKYILYPALILNALTIDAFLISNHR
	RLGTQLMIIAGMKLLRTSFCNPVYQFINLSFTVIFFHFDYKDISESFLLDFFMVISILF
	SKASELLHKLQFVLTYVAPWQMAWGSSFHVFAQLFAIPRILSAMLFFQTIATSIFSTP
	LSPFLGSVIFITSYVRPVKFWEKNYSTRRVDNSNTRLAVQIERDPGNDDNNLNSIFYE
	HLTRTLQESLCGDLVLGRWGNYSSGDCFILASDDLNAFVHLIEIGNGLVTFQLRGLEF
	RGTYCQQREVEAIMEGDEEDRGCCCCKPGHLPHLLSCNAAFHLRWLTWEITQTQYILE
	GYSILDNNAATMLQVFDLRRILIRYYIKSIIYYMVTSPKLLSWIKNESLLKSLQPFAK
	WHYIERDLAMFNINIDDDYVPCLQGITRASFCNVYLEWIQHCARKRQEPSTTLDSDED
	SPLVTLSFALCTLGRRALGTAAHNMAISLDSFLYGLHVLFKGDFRITARDEWVFADMD
	LLHKVVAPAIRMSLKLHQDQFTCPDEYEDPAVLYEAIQSFEKKVVICHEGDPAWRGAV
	LSNKEELLTLRHVVDEGADEYKVIMLHRSFLSFKVIKVNKECVRGLWAGQQQELIFLR
	NRNPERGSIQNNKQVLRNLINSSCDQPLGYPMYVSPLTTSYLGTHRQLKNIWGGPITL
	DRIRTWFWTKWVRMRKDCNARQHSGGNIEDVDGGGAPTTGGNNAPNGGSQESSAEQPR
	KGGAQHGVSSCEGTQRTGRRKGRSQSVQAHSALSQRPPMLSSSGPILESRQTFLQTST
	SVHELAQRLSGSRLSLHASATSLHSQPPPVTTTGHLSVRERAEALIRSSLGSSTSSTL
	SFLFGKRSFSSALVISGLSAAEGGNTSDTQSSSSVNIVMGPSARAASQATRVRGWAGL
	TRTGWDGGTGSWPERGTCLAFPPFCLQNPIPFSMGLPE

[0415] Further analysis of the NOV15a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 15B.

TABLE 15B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV15a
PSort     0.8000 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.4000 probability located in Golgi body; 0.3000 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane); 0.3000
          probability located in microbody (peroxisome)
SignalP   No Known Signal Sequence Predicted
analysis:

[0416] A search of the NOV15a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 15C.

TABLE 15C
Geneseq Results for NOV15a
		NOV15a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAY57927	Human transmembrane protein	664 . . . 1430	765/767 (99%)	0.0
	HTMPN-51 - Homo sapiens, 777 aa.	11 . . . 777	765/767 (99%)
	[WO9961471-A2, 02 DEC. 1999]
AAB01381	Neuron-associated protein - Homo	529 . . . 1263	467/758 (61%)	0.0
	sapiens, 796 aa. [W0200034477-A2,	1 . . . 752	574/758 (75%)
	15 JUN. 2000]
AAU91404	Human secreted protein sequence #57 -	261 . . . 840	374/588 (63%)	0.0
	Homo sapiens, 595 aa. [WO200216388-	2 . . . 581	463/588 (78%)
	A1, 28 FEB. 2002]
AAU91356	Human secreted protein sequence #9 -	279 . . . 840	364/570 (63%)	0.0
	Homo sapiens, 577 aa. [WO200216388-	2 . . . 563	451/570 (78%)
	A1, 28 FEB. 2002]
AAM79539	Human protein SEQ ID NO 3185 -	89 . . . 684	333/603 (55%)	0.0
	Homo sapiens, 1397 aa.	80 . . . 674	440/603 (72%)
	[WO200157190-A2, 09 AUG. 2001]

[0417] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV15a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 15D.

TABLE 15D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV15a
		NOV15a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organsism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
O43162	KIAA0435 protein - Homo sapiens	664 . . . 1430	767/767 (100%)	0.0
	(Human), 777 aa.	11 . . . 777	767/767 (100%)
Q8TEP4	FLJ00149 protein - Homo sapiens	664 . . . 1385	720/722 (99%)	0.0
	(Human), 792 aa (fragment).	14 . . . 735	722/722 (99%)
Q96RV3	Pecanex-like protein 1 - Homo	89 . . . 1387	738/1316 (56%)	0.0
	sapiens (Human), 2341 aa.	952 . . . 2248	941/1316 (71%)
Q9QYC1	Pecanex 1 - Mus musculus (Mouse),	89 . . . 1371	737/1303 (56%)	0.0
	1446 aa.	57 . . . 1340	932/1303 (70%)
Q98UF7	Pecanex - Fugu rubripes (Japanese	97 . . . 1299	722/1208 (59%)	0.0
	pufferfish) (Takifugu rubripes), 1703	371 . . . 1533	898/1208 (73%)
	aa.

[0418] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV15a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 15E.

TABLE 15E
Domain Analysis of NOV14a
		Identities/
		Similarities
Pfam	NOV14	for the
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Expect Value
No Significant Known Matches Found

Example 16

[0419] The NOV16 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 16A.

TABLE 16A
NOV16 Sequence Analysis
                 SEQ ID NO: 73          11344 bp
NOV 1 6a,        GATAAGATGGCAATGTCTCTCATCCAAGCGTGCTGCAGTCTGGCTCTCTCAACATGG
CGI13377-01
DNA Sequence     CTGCTTTCCTTTTGTTTCGTGCATCTGCTCTGCCTGGACTTTACCGTGGCCGAGAGG
                 AGGAATGGTACACCGCCTTCGTGAACATCACCTACGCCGAGCCCGCGCCGGACCCCGG
                 GGCCGGGGCGGCGGGCGGCGGCGGCGCGGAGCTGCACACGGAGAAGACGGAGTGCGGG
                 CGCTACGGAGAGCACTCGCCCAAGCAGGACGCCCGCGGGGAGGTGGTCATGGCCAGCT
                 CGGCCCACGACCGCCTGGCCTGCGACCCCAACACCAAGTTCGCCGCCCCGACCCGCGG
                 CAAGAACTGGATAGCCCTCATCCCCAAGGGCAACTGCACGTACAGGGATAAGATCCGG
                 kACGCGTTCCTGCAGAACGCCTCAGCCGTGGTCATCTTCAACGTGGGcTcczAcAccA
                 ACGAGACCATCACCATGCCCCACGCGGGTGTAGAAGACATCGTGGCCATAJATGATTC
                 TGAGCCAAAAGGGAAGGAGATAGTAAGCCTGCTGGAAAGAAACATCACCGTGACAJAT
                 TACATCACCATCGGAACCCGGAACTTGCAGAAATATGTGAGCCGCACTTcGGTTGTGT
                 TTGTCTCCATCTCCTTCATTGTCCTGATGATCATTTCCCTCGCATGGCTCGTCTTTTA
                 TTACATCCAGAGGTTTCGATATGCAAATGCCAGGGATAGGAACCAGCGCCGACTGGGG
                 GATGCAGCAAAGAAGCCATCAGCAAACTCCAGATCAGA3ACCATQAAGAJAGGGTGAC
                 ATGACGTTGTCCGGATCCTGCCCTGCCGGCATCTTTTCCACAAGTCCTGTGTTGACCC
                 TGGCTTCTAGACCATCGTACCTGTCCCATGTGCAl\GATGAIxCATTCTTAGcCcTAG
                 GGATCCCGCCCAATGCCGACTGCATCGACGACTTGCCCACTGACTTCGAGGGCTCTCT
                 GGGAGGTCCACCCACCAACCAGATCACAGGTGCCAGCGACACAcAGTGIATGAj\GT
                 TCAGTCACTTTGGACCCTGCTGTCCGGACTGTGGGAGCCTTGCAGGTGGTCCAGGATA
                 CAGACCCCATCCCCCAGGAGGGAGACGTCATCTTTACTACTPJ\CAGTGAGcAGGAGC
                 CAGCTGTAAGCAGTGATTCTGACATTTCCTTGATCATGGCAATGGAGGTTGGACTGTC
                 TGATGTAGAACTTTCCACTGACCACGACTGTGAGpJAGTGITCTTGAAACGACAAAT
                 CCAGAAGCAA
                 ORF Start: ATG at 8    ORF Stop: TGA at 1322
                 SEQ ID NO: 74          438 aa      MW at 48071.3 Da
NOV I 6a,        MANSLIQACCSLALSTWLLSFCFVHLLCLDFTVAEKEEWYTAFVNITYAEPAPDPGAGA
CG113377-01
Protein Sequence AGGGGAELHTEKTECGRYGEHSPKQDARGEVMASSAjDRLAcDpNTKFApTRGaaaA
                 WIALIPKGNCTYRDKIRNAFLQNASAVVIFNXTGSNTNETITMPHAGvEDIvAIMIREpA
                 KGKEIVSLLERNITVTMYITIGTRNLQKYvsRTsVVFvsIsFIvLMIIsLAwLvFyyI
                 QRFRYANARDRNQRRLCDAAKKAISKLQIRTIKKGDKETESDFDNCAVCIEGYKPNDVA
                 VRILPCRHLFHKSCVDPWLLDHRTCPMCKMNILKALGIPPNADCMDDLPTDFEGSLGG
                 PPTNQITGASDTTVNESSVTLDPAVRTVGALQvVQDTDPIPQEGDVIFTTNSEQEPAV:
                 SSDSDISLIMAMEVGLSDVELSTDQDCEEVKS

[0420] Further analysis of the NOV16a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 16B.

TABLE 16B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV16a
PSort     0.6400 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.4600 probability located in Golgi body; 0.3700 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane); 0.1080
          probability located in microbody (peroxisome)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 35 and 36
analysis:

[0421] A search of the NOV16a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 16C.

TABLE 16C
Geneseq Results for NOV16a
		NOV16a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAU74919	Human goliath protein sequence - Homo	1 . . . 438	396/438 (90%)	0.0
	sapiens, 462 aa. [WO200193681-A1,	67 . . . 462	396/438 (90%)
	13 DEC. 2001]
AAB41793	Human ORFX ORF1557 polupeptide	135 . . . 343	207/209 (99%)	e−118
	sequence SEQ ID NO: 3114 - Homo	2 . . . 210	207/209 (99%)
	sapiens, 210 aa. [WP200058473-A2,
	05 OCT. 2000]
ABB90389	Human polypeptide SEQ ID NO 2765 -	37 . . . 401	198/368 (53%)	e−105
	Homo sapiens, 419 aa. [WO200190304-A2,	32 . . . 385	249/368 (66%)
	29 NOV. 2001]
AAB88558	Human hydrophobic domain containing	37 . . . 401	198/368 (53%)	e−105
	protein clone HP03424 #2 - Homo	32 . . . 385	249/368 (66%)
	sapiens, 419 aa. [WO200112660-A2,
	22 FEB. 2001]
AAU74921	Mouse fl protein sequence - Mus sp, 419	37 . . . 401	196/368 (53%)	e−104
	aa. [WO200193681-A1, 13 DEC. 2001]	32 . . . 385	247/368 (66%)

[0422] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV16a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 16D.

TABLE 16D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV16a
		NOV16a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q9ULK6	KIAA1214 protein - Homo sapiens	1 . . . 438	396/438 (90%)	0.0
	(Human), 462 aa (fragment).	67 . . . 462	396/438 (90%)
CAC33273	Sequence 22 from Patent WO0112660 -	37 . . . 401	198/368 (53%)	e−04
	Homo sapiens (Human), 419 aa.	32 . . . 385	249/368 (66%)
Q8VEM1	G1-related zinc finger protein - Mus	37 . . . 401	197/368 (53%)	e−104
	musculus (Mouse), 419 aa.	32 . . . 385	247/368 (66%)
Q9QZQ6	G1-related zinc finger protein - Mus	37 . . . 401	196/368 (53%)	e−104
	musculus (Mouse), 419 aa.	32 . . . 385	247/368 (66%)
Q9P0J9	Goliath protein (Likely ortholog of	158 . . . 401	145/244 (59%)	3e−77
	mouse g1-related zinc finger protein) -	1 . . . 242	178/244 (72%)
	Homo sapiens (Human), 276 aa.

[0423] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV16a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 16E.

TABLE 16E
Domain Analysis of NOV16a
		Identities/
Pfam	NOV16a	Similarities	Expect
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
PA	81 . . . 183	26/115 (23%)	7.1e−18
		77/115 (67%)
zf-C3HC4	278 . . . 318	14/54 (26%)	1.8e−10
		31/54 (57%)
PHD	277 . . . 321	12/51 (24%)	0.35
		29/51 (57%)

Example 17

[0424] The NOV17 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 17A.

TABLE 17A
NOV17 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 75	1419 bp
NOV17a,	GCTGCTGAGGCCCAGGATATAAGGGCTGGAGGTGCTGCTTTCAGGCCTGGCCAGCCCA
CG113730-01	CCATGCACGCCCACTGCCTGCCCTTCCTTCTGCACGCCTGGTGGGCCCTACTCCAGGC
DNA Seuence	GGGTGCTGCGACGGTGGCCACTGCGCTCCTGCGTACGCGGGGGCAGCCCTCGTCGCCA
	TCCCCTCTGGCGTACATGCTGAGCCTCTACCGCGACCCGCTGCCGAGGGCAGACATCA
	TCCGCAGCCTACAGGCAGAAGATGTGGCAGTGGATGGGCAGAACTGGACGTTTGCTTT
	TGACTTCTCCTTCCTGAGCCAACAAGAGGATCTGGCATGGGCTGAGCTCCGGCTGCAG
	CTGTCCAGCCCTGTGGACCTCCCCACTGAGGGCTCACTTGCCATTGAGATTTTCCACC
	AGCCAAAGCCCGACACAGAGCAGGCTTCAGACAGCTGCTTAGAGCGGTTTCAGATGGA
	CCTATTCACTGTCACTTTGTCCCAGGTCACCTTTTCCTTGGGCAGCATGGTTTTGGAG
	GTGACCAGGCCTCTCTCCAAGTGGCTGAAGCACCCTGGGGCCCTGGAGAAGCAGATGT
	CCAGGGTAGCTGGAGAGTGCTGGCCGCGGCCCCCCACACCGCCTGCCACCAATGTGCT
	CCTTATGCTCTACTCCAACCTCTCGCAGGAGCAGAGGCAGCTGGGTGGGTCCACCTTG
	CTGTGGGAAGCCGAGAGCTCCTGGCGGGCCCAGGAGGGACAGCTGTCCTGGGAGTGGG
	GCAAGAGGCACCGTCGACATCACTTGCCAGACAGAAGTCAACTGTGTCGGAAGGTCAA
	GTTCCAGGTGGACTTCAACCTGATCGGATGGGGCTCCTGGATCATCTACCCCAAGCAG
	TACAACGCCTATCGCTGTGAGGGCGAGTGTCCTAATCCTGTTGGGGAGGAGTTTCATC
	CGACCAACCATGCATACATCCAGAGTCTGCTGAAACGTTACCAGCCCCACCGAGTCCC
	TTCCACTTGTTGTGCCCCAGTGAAGACCAAGCCGCTGAGCATGCTGTATGTGGATAAT
	GGCAGAGTGCTCCTAGATCACCATAAAGACATGATCGTGGAAGAATGTGGGTGCCTCT
	GATGACATCCTGGAGGGAGACTGGATTTGCCTGCACTCTGGAAGGCTGGGAAACTCCT
	GGAAGACATGATAACCATCTAATCCAGTAAGGAGAAACAGAGAGGGGCAAAGTTGCTC
	TGCCCACCAGAACTGAAGAGGAGGGGCTGCCCACTCTGTAAATGAAGGGCTCAGTGGA
	GTCTGGCCAAGCACAGAGGCTGCTGTCAGGAAGAGGGAGGAAGAAGCCTGTGCAGGGG
	GCTGGCTGGATGTTCTCTTTACTGAAAAGACAGTGGCAAGGAAAAGCACAAGTGCATG
	AGTTCTTTACTGGATTTTTTAAAAACC
	ORF Start: ATG at 61	ORF Stop: TGA at 1102
	SEQ ID NO: 76	347 aa	MW at 39560.8 Da
NOV17a,	MHAHCLPFLLHAWWALLQAGAATVATALLRTRGQPSSPSPLAYMLSLYRDPLPRADII
CG113730-01	RSLQAEDVAVDGQNWTFAFDFSFLSQQEDLAWAELRLQLSSPVDLPTEGSLAIEIFHQ
Protein sequence	PKPDTEQASDSCLERFQMDLFTVTLSQVTFSLGSMVLEVTRPLSKWLKHPGALEKQMS
	RVAGECWPRPPTPPATNVLLMLYSNLSQEQRQLGGSTLLWEAESSWRAQEGQLSWEWG
	KRHRRHHLPDRSQLCRKVKFQVDFNLIGWGSWIIYPKQYNAYRCEGECPNPVGEEFHP
	TNHAYIQSLLKRYQPHRVPSTCCAPVKTKPLSMLYVDNGRVLLDHHKDMIVEECGCL
	SEQ ID NO: 77	954 bp
NOV17b,	GGATCCCAGCCCTCGTCGCCATCCCCTCTGGCGTACATGCTGAGCCTCTACCGCGACC
210982580 DNA	CGCTGCCGAGGGCAGACATCATCCGCAGCCTACAGGCAGAACATGTGGCAGTGGATGG
Sequence	GCAGAACTGGACGTTTGCTTTTGACTTCTCCTTCCTGAGCCAACAAGAGGATCTGGCA
	TGGGCTGAGCTCCGGCTGCAGCTGTCCAGCCCTGTGGACCTCCCCACTGAGGGCTCAC
	TTGCCATTGAGATTTTCCACCAGCCAAAGCCCGACACAGAGCAGGCTTCAGACAGCTG
	CTTAGAGCGGTTTCAGATGGACCTATTCACTGTCACTTTGTCCCAGGTCACCTTTTCC
	TTGGGCAGCATGGTTTTGGAGGTGACCAGGCCTCTCTCCAAGTGGCTGAAGCACCCTG
	GGGCCCTGGAGAAGCAGATGTCCAGGGTAGCTGGAGAGTGCTGGCCACGGCCCCCCAC
	ACCGCCTGCCACCAATGTGCTCCTTATGCTCTACTCCAACCTCTCGCAGGAGCAGAGG
	CAGCTGGGTGGGTCCACCTTGCTGTGGGAAGCCGAGAGCTCCTGGCGGGCCCAGGAGG
	GACAGCTGTCCTGGGAGTGGGGCAAGAGGCACCGTCGACATCACTTGCCAGACAGAAG
	TCAACTGTGTCGGAAGGTCAAGTTCCAGGTGGACTTCAACCTGATCGGATGGGGCTCC
	TGGATCATCTACCCCAAGCAGTACAACGCCTATCGCTGTGAGGGCGAGTGTCCTAATC
	CTGTTGGGGAGGAGTTTCATCCGACCAACCATGCATACATCCAGAGTCTGCTGAAACG
	TTACCAGCCCCACCGAGTTCCTTCCACTTGTTGTGCCCCAGTGAAGACCAAGCCGCTG
	AGCATGCTGTATGTGGATAATGGCAGAGTGCTCCTAGATCACCATAAAGACATGATCG
	TGGAAGAATGTGGGTGCCTCCTCGAG
	ORF Start: at 1	ORF Stop: end of sequence
	SEQ ID NO: 78	318 aa	MW at 36367.0 Da
NOV17b,	GSQPSSPSPLAYMLSLYRDRLPRADIIRSLQAEDVAVDGQNWTFAFDFSFLSQQEDLA
210982580 Protein	WAELRLQLSSPVDLPTEGSLAIEIFHQPKPDTEQASDSCLERFQMDLFTVTLSQVTFS
Sequence	LGSMVLEVTRPLSKWLKHPGALEKQMSRVAGECWPRPPTPPATNVLLMLYSNLSQEQR
	QLGGSTLLWEAESSWRAQEGQLSWEWGKRHRRHHLPDRSQLCRKVKFQVDFNLIGWGS
	WIIYPKQYNAYRCEGECPNPVGEEFHPTNHAYIQSLLKRYQPHRVPSTCCAPVKTKPL
	SMLYVDNGRVLLDHHKDMIVEECGCLLE
	SEQ ID NO: 79	579 bp
NOV17c,	ATGGTCCCCGGCGCCGCGGGCTGGTGTTGTCTCGTGCTCTGGCTCCCCGCGTGCGTCG
CG113794-02	CGGCCCACGGCTTCCGTATCCATGATTATTTGTACTTTCAAGTGCTGAGTCCTGGGGA
DNA Sequence	CATTCGATACATCTTCACAGCCACACCTGCCAAGGACTTTGGTGGTATCTTTCACACA
	AGGTATGAGCAGATTCACCTTGTCCCCGCTGAACCTCCAGAGGCCTGCGGGGAACTCA
	GCAACGGTTTCTTCATCCAGGACCAGATCGCTCTGGTGGAGAGTGGGGGCTGCTCCCT
	CCTCTCCAAGACTCGGGTGGTCCAGGAGCACGGCGGGCGGGCGGTGATCATCTCTGAC
	AATGCGGTTGACAATGACAGCTTCTATGTGGCGATGATCCAGGACAGTACCCAGCGCA
	CAGCTGACATCCCCGCCCTCTTCCTGCTCGGCCGAGACGGCTACATGATCCGCCGCTC
	TCTGGAACAGCCTGGGCTGCCATGGGCCATCATTTCCATCCCAGTCAATGTCACCAGC
	ATCCCCACCTTTGAGCTGCAGCAACCGTCCTGGTCCTTCTGGTAGAAGGGCGATTCC
	ORF Start: ATG at 1	ORF Stop: TAG at 565
	SEQ ID NO: 80	188 aa	Mw at 20831.6 Da
NOV17c,	MVPGAAGWCCLVLWLPACVAAHGFRIHDYLYFQVLSPGDIRYIFTATPAKDFGGIFHT
CG113794-02	RYEQIHLVPAEPPEACGELSNGFFIQDQIALVESGGCSLLSKTRVVQEHGGRAVIISD
Protein Sequence	NAVDNDSFYVAMIQDSTQRTADIPALFLLGRDGYMIRRSLEQPGLPWAIISIPVNVTS
	IPTFELQQPSWSFW

[0425] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 17B.

TABLE 17B
Comparison of NOV17a against NOV17b and NOV17c.
	NOV17a Residues/	Identities/Similarites for
Protein Sequence	Match Residues	the Matched Region
NOV17b	34 . . . 347	314/314 (100%)
	3 . . . 316	314/314 (100%)
NOV17c	340 . . . 346	4/7 (57%)
	89 . . . 95	5/7 (71%)

[0426] Further analysis of the NOV17a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 17C.

TABLE 17C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV17a
PSort     0.3700 probability located in outside; 0.1900 probability
analysis: located in lysosome (lumen); 0.1800 probability located in
          nucleus; 0.1000 probability located in endoplasmic
          reticulum (membrane)
SignalP   Cleavage Site between residues 34 and 35
analysis:

[0427] A search of the NOV17a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Fable 17D.

TABLE 17D
Geneseq Results for NOV17a
		NOV17a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAY03849	Human nodal protein - Homo sapiens,	65 . . . 347	282/283 (99%)	e−172
	283 aa. [WO9909198-A1, 25 FEB. 1999]	1 . . . 283	282/283 (99%)
AAW56477	Amino acid sequence of human bone	68 . . . 347	279/280 (99%)	e−170
	morphogenetic protein - 16 (BMP-16)-	1 . . . 280	279/280 (99%)
	Homo sapiens, 280 aa. [WO9812322-A1,
	26 MAR. 1998]
AAY03851	Murine nodal protein - Mus sp, 354 aa.	1 . . . 347	279/355 (78%)	e−160
	[WO9909198-A1, 25 FEB 1999]	1 . . . 354	298/355 (83%)
AAW84595	Amino acid sequence of the human	134 . . . 297	163/164 (99%)	2e−97
	Tango-78 protein - Homo sapiens, 169 aa.	1 . . . 164	163/164 (99%)
	[WO9906427-A1, 11 FEB. 1999]
AAY16702	WO9914235 Seq ID No: 155-	247 . . . 347	99/101 (98%)	1e−58
	Unidentified, 101 aa. [WO9914235-A1,	1 . . . 101	101/101 (99%)
	25 MAR. 1999]

[0428] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV17a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 17E.

TABLE 17E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV17a
		NOV17a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q96S42	Nodal-related protein - Homo sapiens	1 . . . 347	346/347 (99%)	0.0
	(Human), 347 aa.	1 . . . 347	346/347 (99%)
P43021	Nodal precursor - Mus musculus	1 . . . 347	279/355 (78%)	e−160
	(Mouse), 354 aa.	1 . . . .354	298/355 (83%)
O13048	Xnr-4 - Xenopus laevis (African	31 . . . 346	123/344 (35%)	2e−47
	clawed frog), 402 aa.	72 . . . 401	170/344 (48%)
O13144	Nodal-related-2 (ZNR-2) -	43 . . . 346	123/347 (35%)	1e−46
	Brachydanio rerio (Zebrafish) (Zebra	58 . . . 391	171/347 (48%)
	danio), 392 aa.
P87358	ZNR-1 (CYCLOPS precursor) -	243 . . . 347	71/105 (67%)	1e−41
	Brachydanio rerio (Zebrafish) (Zebra	397 . . . 501	86/105 (81%)
	danio). 501 aa.

[0429] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV17a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 17F.

TABLE 17F
Domain Analysis of NOV17a
	NOV17a	Identities/
Pfam	Match	Similarities	Expect
Domain	Region	for the Matched Region	Value
TGFb_propeptide	4 . . . 213	43/256 (17%)	0.028
		122/256 (48%)
TGF-beta	244 . . . 347	46/112 (41%)	1.5e−34
		73/112 (65%)

Example 18

[0430] The NOV18 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 18A. Note that the NOV18c nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO: 121) is the reverse complement of the NOV18a residues 247-349 (SEQ ID NO: 81). The NOV18e polypeptide contains additional amino acids at the ends of the ORF asssembly that are encoded by restriction endonuclease sites incorporated into amplicification primers, as described in Example B.

TABLE 18A
NOV18 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 81	1056 bp
NOV18a,	CACCATGCATCAGTCCCTGACTCAGCAGCGGTCCAGCGACATGTCCCTGCCCGATTCC
CG115187-	ATGGGTGCATTCAATCGGAGGAAACGAAACTCCATCTATGTCACCGTGACTTTGCTTA
01 DNA	TTGTGTCCGTGTTAATTCTCACAGTGGGCCTTGCTGCAACCACCAGGACCCAGAATGT
Sequence	GACTGTAGGAGGTTATTACCCCGGAGTTATTCTCGGCTTTGGATCGTTCCTTGGAATC
	ATTGGATCAAACCTTATTGAGAACAAAAGGCAGATGCTGGTGGCTTCTATCGTGTTTA
	TCAGCTTTGGTGTGATTGCGGCTTTTTGTTGTGCCATAGTTGACGGGGTCTTTGCTGC
	CAGACACATTGATCTGAAACCACTCTACGCTAACCGGTGCCATTATGTTCCCAAGACA
	TCACAGAAGGAAGCTGAGGAGGTGATAAGTTCCTCAACCAAAAATTCTCCTTCCACGA
	GGGTTATGAGGAACCTTACCCAGGCAGCTAGAGAGGTAAACTGCCCTCACCTCAGCCG
	TGAATTCTGCACACCTCGCATCCGGGGCAACACCTGCTTCTGCTGTGACCTCTACAAC
	TGTGGCAACCGGGTGGAGATCACTGGTGGGTACTACGAATACATCGATGTCAGCAGTT
	GCCAAGATATCATCCACCTCTACCACCTGCTCTGGTCTGCCACCATCCTCAACATTGT
	TGGCCTGTTCCTGGGCATCATCACTGCCGCTGTCCTTGGAGGCTTTAAGGACATGAAC
	CCAACTCTCCCAGCACTGAACTGTTCTGTTGAAAATACCCATCCAACAGTTTCTTACT
	ATGCTCATCCCCAAGTGGCATCCTACAATACCTACTACCATAGCCCTCCTCACCTGCC
	ACCATATTCTGCTTATGACTTTCAGCATTCCGGTGTCTTTCCATCCTCCCCTCCCTCT
	GGACTTTCTGATGAGCCCCAGTCTGCCTCTCCCTCACCCAGCTACATGTGGTCCTCAA
	GTGCACCGCCCCGTTACTCTCCACCCTACTATCCACCTTTTGAAAAGCCACCACCTTA
CAGTCCCTAAAG
	ORF Start: ATG at 5	ORF Stop: TAA at 1052
	SEQ ID NO: 82	349 aa	MW at 38448.4 Da
NOV18a,	MHQSLTQQRSSDMSLPDSMGAFNRRKRNSIYVTVTLLIVSVLILTVGLAATTRTQNVT
CG115187-	VGGYYPGVILGFGSFLGIIGSNLIENKRQMLVASIVFISFGVIAAFCCAIVDGVFAAR
01 Protein	HIDLKPLYANRCHYVPKTSQKEAEEVISSSTKNSPSTRVMRNLTQAAREVNCPHLSRE
Sequence	FCTPRIRGNTCFCCDLYNCGNRVEITGGYYEYIDVSSCQDIIHLYHLLWSATILNIVG
	LFLGIITAAVLGGFKDMNPTLPALNCSVENTHPTVSYYAHPQVASYNTYYHSPPHLPP
	YSAYDFQHSGVFPSSPPSGLSDEPQSASPSPSYMWSSSAPPRYSPPYYPPFEKPPPYS
	SEQ ID NO: 83	1049 bp
NOV18b,	CATCAGTCCCTGACTCAGCAGCGGTCCAGCGACATGTCCCTGCCCGATTCCATGGGTG
CG115187-	CATTCAATCGGAGGAAACGAAACTCCATCTATGTCACCGTGACTTTGCTTATTGTGTC
02 DNA	CGTGTTAATTCTCACAGTGGGCCTTGCTGCAACCACCAGGACCCAGAATGTGACTGTA
Sequence	GGAGGTTATTACCCCGGAGTTATTCTCGGCTTTGGATCGTTCCTTGGAATCATTGGAT
	CAAACCTTATTGAGAACAAAAGGCAGATGCTGGTGGCTTCTATCGTGTTTATCAGCTT
	TGGTGTGATTGCGGCTTTTTGTTGTGCCATAGTTGACGGGGTCTTTGCTGCCAGACAC
	ATTGATCTGAAACCACTCTACGCTAACCGGTGCCATTATGTTCCCAAGACATCACAGA
	AGGAAGCTGAGGAGGTGATAAGTTCCTCAACCAAAAATTCTCCTTCCACGAGGGTTAT
	GAGGAACCTTACCCAGGCAGCTAGAGAGGTAAACTGCCCTCACCTCAGCCGTGAATTC
	TGCACACCTCGCATCCGGGGCAACACCTGCTTCTGCTGTGACCTCTACAACTGTGGCA
	ACCGGGTGGAGATCACTGGTGGGTACTACGAATACATCGATGTCAGCAGTTGCCAAGA
	TATCATCCACCTCTACCACCTGCTCTGGTCTGCCACCATCCTCAACATTGTTGGCCTG
	TTCCTGGGCATCATCACTGCCGCTGTCCTTGGAGGCTTTAAGGACATGAACCCAACTC
	TCCCAGCACTGAACTGTTCTGTTGAAAATACCCATCCAACAGTTTCTTACTATGCTCA
	TCCCCAAGTGGCATCCTACAATACCTACTACCATAGCCCTCCTCACCTGCCACCATAT
	TCTGCTTATGACTTTCAGCATTCCGGTGTCTTTCCATCCTCCCCTCCCTCTGGACTTT
	CTGATGAGCCCCAGTCTGCCTCTCCCTCACCCAGCTACATGTGGTCCTCAAGTGCACC
	GCCCCGTTACTCTCCACCCTACTATCCACCTTTTGAAAAGCCACCACCTTACAGTCCC
	TAAAG
	ORF Start: ATG at 34	ORF Stop: TAA at 1045
	SEQ ID NO: 84	337 aa	MW at 37048.9 Da
NOV18b,	MSLPDSMGAFNRRKRNSIYVTVTLLIVSVLILTVGLAATTRTQNVTVGGYYPGVILGF
CG115187-	GSFLGIIGSNLIENKRQMLVASIVFISFGVIAAFCCAIVDGVFAARHIDLKPLYANRC
02 Protein	HYVPKTSQKEAEEVISSSTKNSPSTRVMRNLTQAAREVNCPHLSREFCTPRIRGNTCF
Sequence	CCDLYNCGNRVEITGGYYEYIDVSSCQDIIHLYHLLWSATILNIVGLFLGIITAAVLG
	GFKDMNPTLPALNCSVENTHPTVSYYAHPQVASYNTYYHSPPHLPPYSAYDFQHSGVF
	PSSPPSGLSDEPQSASPSPSYMWSSSAPPRYSPPYYPPFEKPPPYSP
	SEQ ID NO: 85	980 bp
NOV18c,	ATGCATCAGTCCCTGACTCAGCAGCGGTCCAGCGACATGTCCCTGCCCGATTCCATGG
CG115187-	GAGCATTCAATCGGAGGAAACGAAACTCCATCTATGTCACCGTGACTTTGCTTATTGT
03 DNA	GTCCGTGTTAATTCTCACAGTGGGCCTTGCTGCAACCACCAGGACCCAGAATGTGACT
Sequence	GTAGGAGGTTATTACCCCGGAGTTATTCTCGGCTTTGGATCGTTCCTTGGAATCATTG
	GATCAAACCTTATTGAGAACAAAAGGCAGATGCTGGTGGCTTCTATCGTGTTTATCAG
	CTTTGGTGTGATTGCGGCTTTTTGTTGTGCCATAGTTGACGGGGTCTTTGCTGCCAGA
	CACATTGATCTGAAACCACTCTACGCTAACCGGTGCCATTATGTTCCCAAGACATCAC
	AGAAGGAAGCTGAGGAGGTTAACTGCCCTCACCTCAGCCGTGAATTCTGCACACCTCG
	CATCCGGGGCAACACCTGCTTCTGCTGTGACCTCTACAACTGTGGCAACCGGGTGGAG
	ATCACTGGTGGGTACTACGAATACATCGATGTCAGCAGTTGCCAAGATATCATCCACC
	TCTACCACCTGCTCTGGTCTGCCACCATCCTCAACATTGTTGGCCCGTTCCTGGGCAT
	CATCACTGCCGCTGTCCTTGGAGGCTTTAAGGACATGAACCCAACTCTCCCAGCACTG
	AACTGTTCTGTTGAAAATACCCATCCAACAGTTTCTTACTATGCTCATCCCCAAGTGG
	CATCCTACAATACCTACTACCATAGCCCTCCTCACCTGCCACCATATTCTGCTTATGA
	CTTTCAGCATTCCGGTGTCTTTCCATCCTCCCCTCCCTCTGGACTTTCTGATGAGCCC
	CAGTCTGCCTCTCCCTCACCCAGCTACATGTGGTCCTCAAGTCCACCGCCCCGTTACT
	CTCCACCCTACTATCCACCTTTTGAAAAGCCACCACCTTACAGTCCCTAAAG
	ORF Start: ATG at 1	ORF Stop: TAA at 976
	SEQ ID NO: 86	325 aa	MW at 35816.4 Da
NOV18c,	MHQSLTQQRSSDMSLPDSMGAFNRRKRNSIYVTVTLLIVSVLILTVGLAATTRTQNVT
CG115187-	VGGYYPGVILGFGSFLGIIGSNLIENKRQMLVASIVFISFGVIAAFCCAIVDGVFAAR
03 Protein	HIDLKPLYANRCHYVPKTSQKEAEEVNCPHLSREFCTPRIRGNTCFCCDLYNCGNRVE
Sequence	ITGGYYEYIDVSSCQDIIHLYHLLWSATILNIVGPFLGIITAAVLGGFKDMNPTLPAL
	NCSVENTHPTVSYYAHPQVASYNTYYHSPPHLPPYSAYDFQHSGVFPSSPPSGLSDEP
	QSASPSPSYMWSSSAPPRYSPPYYPPFEKPPPYSP
	SEQ ID NO: 87	847 bp
NOV18d,	CACCGGATCCGCAACCACCAGGACCCAGAATGTGACTGTAGGAGGTTATTACCCCGGA
262770580	GTTATTCTCGGCTTTGGATCGTTCCTTGGAATCATTGGATCAAACCTTATTGAGAACA
DNA	AAAGGCAGATGCTGGTGGCTTCTATCGTGTTTATCAGCTTTGGTGTGATTGCGGCTTT
Sequence	TTGTTGTGCCATAGTTGACGGGGTCTTTGCTGCCAGACACATTGATCTGAAACCACTC
	TACGCTAACCGGTGCCATTATGTTCCCAAGACATCACAGAAGGAAGCTGAGGAGGTTA
	ACTGCCCTCACCTCAGCCGTGAATTCTGCACACCTCGCATCCGGGGCAACACCTGCTT
	CTGCTGTGACCTCTACAACTGTGGCAACCGGGTGGAGATCACTGGTGGGTACTACGAA
	TACATCGATGTCAGCAGTTGCCAAGATATCATCCACCTCTACCACCTGCTCTGGTCTG
	CCACCATCCTCAACATTGTTGGCCTGTTCCTGGGCATCATCACTGCCGCTGTCCTTGG
	AGGCTTTAAGGACATGAACCCAACTCTCCCAGCACTGAACTGTTCTGTTGAAAATACC
	CATCCAACAGTTTCTTACTATGCTCATCCCCAAGTGGCATCCTACAATACCTACTACC
	ATAGCCCTCCTCACCTGCCACCATATTCTGCTTATGACTTTCAGCATTCCGGTGTCTT
	TCCATCCTCCCCTCCCTCTGGACTTTCTGATGAGCCCCAGTCTGCCTCTCCCTCACCC
	AGCTACATGTGGTCCTCAAGTGCACCGCCCCGTTACTCTCCACCCTACTATCCACCTT
	TTGAAAAGCCACCACCTTACAGTCCCCTCGAGGGC
	ORF Start: at 2	ORF Stop: end of sequence
	SEQ ID NO: 88	282 aa	MW at 30945.7 D
NOV18d,	TGSATTRTQNVTVGGYYPGVILGFGSFLGIIGSNLIENKRQMLVASIVFISFGVIAAF
262770580	CCAIVDGVFAARHIDLKPLYANRCHYVPKTSQKEAEEVNCPHLSREFCTPRIRGNTCF
Protein	CCDLYNCGNRVEITGGYYEYIDVSSCQDIIHLYHLLWSATILNIVGLFLGIITAAVLG
Sequence	GFKDMNPTLPALNCSVENTHPTVSYYAHPQVASYNTYYHSPPHLPPYSAYDFQHSGVF
	PSSPPSGLSDEPQSASPSPSYMWSSSAPPRYSPPYYPPFEKPPPYSPLEG
	SEQ ID NO: 121	328 bp
NOV18e,	GCCCTCGAGGGGACTGTAAGGTGGTGGCTTTTCAAAAGGTGGATAGTAGGGTGGAGAGTAA
257788219	CGGGGCGGTGCACTTGAGGACCACATGTAGCTGGGTGAGGGAGAGGCAGACTGGGGCTCAT
-rev DNA	CAGAAAGTCCAGAGGGAGGGGAGGATGGAAAGACACCGGAATGCTGAAAGTCATAAGCAGA
Sequence;	GCATAGTAAGAAACTGTTGGATGGGTATTTTCAACAGAACAGTTCAGTGCTGGGAGAGTTG
(Frame -2)	GGTTCATGTCCTTGGATCCGGTG
	ORF Start: at 328	ORF Stop: 2
	SEQ ID NO: 122	109 aa	MW at 11964.41 Da
NOV18e,	TGSKDMNPTLPALNCSVENTHPTVSYYAHPQVASYNTYYHSPPHLPPYSAYDFQHSGVFP
257788219	SSPPSGLSDEPQSASPSPSYMWSSSAPPRYSPPYYPPFEKPPPYSPLEG
Protein
Sequence

[0431] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 18B.

TABLE 18B
Comparison of NOV18a against NOV18b and NOV18d.
	NOV18a Residues/	Identities/Similarites for
Protein Sequence	Match Residues	the Matched Region
NOV18b	13 . . . 315	257/303 (84%)
	1 . . . 303	257/303 (84%)
NOV18c	1 . . . 315	244/315 (77%)
	1 . . . 291	244/315 (77%)
NOV18d	49 . . . 315	215/267 (80%)
	3 . . . 245	216/267 (80%)

[0432] Further analysis of the NOV18a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 18C.

TABLE 18B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV18a
PSort     0.6000 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.4000 probability located in Golgi body; 0.3000 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane);
          0.0300 probability located in mitochondrial inner membrane
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 50 and 51
analysis:

[0433] A search of the NOV18a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 18D.

TABLE 18D
Geneseq Results for NOV18a
		NOV18a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAB31671	Amino acid sequence of a human protein	13 . . . 130	83/118 (70%)	1e−42
	having a hydrophobic domain - Homo	9 . . . 126	101/118 (85%)
	sapiens, 166 aa. [WO200104297-A2,
	18 JAN 2001]
AAE03793	Human gene 13 encoded secreted protein	13 . . . 148	88/143 (61%)	9e−41
	fragment, SEQ ID NO:63 - Homo	5 . . . 143	110/143 (76%)
	sapiens, 150 aa. [WO200132837-A1,
	10 MAY 2001]
AAE03776	Human gene 13 encoded secreted protein	88 . . . 148	37/68 (54%)	6e−10
	HELEN05, SEQ ID NO: 46 - Homo	1 . . . .64	47/68 (68%)
	sapiens, 71 aa. [WO200132837-A1,
	10 MAY 2001]
ABG06803	Novel human diagnostic protein #6794 -	271. . . 349	28/79 (35%)	4e−05
	Homo sapiens, 106 aa. [WO200175067-	8 . . . 78	39/79 (48%)
	A2, 11 OCT. 2001]
ABG06803	Novel human diagnostic protein #6794 -	271 . . .349	28/79 (35%)	4e−05
	Homo sapiens, 106 aa. [WO200175067-	8 . . . 78	39/79 (48%)
	A2, 11 OCT. 2001]

[0434] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV18a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 18E.

TABLE 18E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV18a
		NOV18a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q9BE63	Hypothetical 38.5 kDa protein -	1 . . . 349	346/349 (99%)	0.0
	Macaca fascicularis (Crab eating	1 . . . 349	347/349 (99%)
	macaque) (Cynomolgus monkey),
	349 aa.
Q9NWN8	CDNA FLJ20716 fis, clone	166 . . . 349	184/184 (100%)	e−113
	HEP19742 - Homo sapiens (Human),	2 . . . 185	184/184 (100%)
	185 aa.
Q8WV15	Hypothetical 34.6 kDa protein - Homo	13 . . . 349	173/343 (50%)	3e−85
	sapiens (Human), 326 aa.	9 . . . 326	221/343 (63%)
CAC28404	Sequence 24 from Patent WO0104297 -	13 . . . 130	83/118 (70%)	2e−42
	Homo sapiens (Human), 166 aa.	9 . . . 126	101/118 (85%)
Q9ZWT0	Extensin - Adiantum capillus-veneris	264 . . . 349	31/87 (35%)	4e−05
	(Fern), 207 aa.	46 . . . 126	40/87 (45%)

[0435]

Domain Analysis of NOV18a.
		Identities/
Pfam		Similarities	Expect
Domain	NOV18a Match Region	for the Matched Region	Value
No Significant Known Matches Found

Example 19

[0436] The NOV19 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 19A.

TABLE 19A
NOV19 Sequence Analysis
	SEQ ID NO: 89	11941 bp
NOV19a,	ATGGAGGGTGGCGACCCCACCCCAACTCCACAGGGACAGAAGAAGCTCCTGCCTCAGG
CG115540-01	ACCGCCCTAGACACTGCCCTGTGGACCCCCTCATCTGGCTGTTCATTTGTATTCTTTC
DNA Sequence	TAAGCTGGTAAATGGCCCCTTGGACGGCGCGGCAAGCTTGGTAGAAGAGGCGACCCTG
	GTCCTCCAGGGCAATCAGGACGAGATGGCTACCCGGGACCCCTGGGTTTGGATGGCAA
	GCCTGGACTTTCAGGCCCGAAAGGGGAAAAGGGAGACCAAGGACAAGATGGAGCTGCT
	GGGCCTCCGGGGCCCCCTGGACCTCCTGGGGCCCGGGGCCCTCCTGGCGACACTGGGA
	AAGATGGCCCCAGGGGAGCACAAGGCCCAGCGGGCCCCAAAGGAGAGCCCGGACAAGA
	CGGCGAGATGGGCCCAAAGGGACCCCCAGGGCCCAAGGGTGAGCCTGGAGTACCTGGA
	AAGAAGATGCCAGGAGCAGACTGGTGTGCTGGGAAGTCCAGAGGAGGGAGGGGCCCAC
	TGGCCACCCGAGGGTCTGACCGGCAAGCCCCAGGTGTCCTCTCCTCAGGGCGACGATG
	GGACACCAAGCCAGCCTGGACCACCAGGGCCCAAGGGGGCCTCACTCTCTGCCCTGTC
	CCCAAGCCAGGAACTGGGTGTCATCCTCATGCCTTGCTCCCCCAACCCCTCGCAACAG
	CCACCAAATCCTGGCCAGCCAGTCTCCAAAATGTCCCTTGAGCCCCTGCGCTGCCCCA
	AGGCGAGCCAGGGAGCATGGGGCCTCGGGGAGAGAACGGTGTGGACGGTGCCCCAGGA
	CCGAAGCTGCACCTCTGGCTGCAAATGCATGTCTCCACAGGGGGAGCCTGGCCACCGA
	GGCGCGGATGGAGCTGCAGGGCCCCGGGGTGCCCCAGGCCTCAAGGGCGAGCAGGGAG
	ACACAGTGGTGATCGACTATGATGGCAGGATCTTGGATGCCCTCAAGGTAGTGTTCCT
	GGGGCCTCCCGGACCACAGGGGCCCCCAGGGCCACCAGGGATCCCTGGAGCCAAGGGC
	GAGCTTGGATTGCCCGGTGCCCCAGGAATCGATGGAGAGAAGGTCTCTGGGCCTTTCA
	TTTCCTTGGTGATGCCAGTGCCTGGTATTGGGCTCTGTGGCCCCAAAGGACAGAAAGG
	AGACCCAGGAGAGCCTGGGCCAGCAGGACTCAAAGGGGAAGCAGGCGAGATGGGCTTG
	TCCGGCCTCCCGGTGCTGGACACAAAGGACTCACAGGCCATTGCCGTCCTGCAGGGCG
	CTGACGGCCTCAAGGGGGAGAAGGGGGAGTCGGCATCTGACAGCCTACAGGAGAGCCT
	GGCTCAGCTCATAGTGGAGCCAGGGCCCCCTGGCCCCCCTGGCCCCCCAGGCCCGATG
	GGCCTCCAGGGAATCCAGGGTCCCAAGGGCTTGGATGGAGCAAAGGGAGAGAAGGGTG
	CGTCGGGTGAGAGAGGCCCCAGCGGCCTGCCTGGGCCAGTTGGCCCACCGGGCCTTAT
	TGGGCTGCCAGGAACCAAAGGAGAGAAGGGCAGACCCGGGGAGCCAGGACTAGATGGT
	TTCCCTGGACCCCGAGGAGAGAAAGGTGATCGGAGCGAGCGTGGAGAGAAGGGAGAAC
	GAGGGGTCCCCGGCCGGAAAGGAGTGAAGGGCCAGAAGGGCGAGCCGGGACCACCAGG
	CCTGGACCAGCCGTGTCCCGTGGGCCCCGACGGGCTGCCTGTGCCTGGCTGCTGGCAT
	AAGAACCTGCTCCCGCAAAACTCTGGAGTCCCTGGGACACACCCTATCCAAGAAGACC
	CAGGGGTGGAACAGCGGCTGCTGTTGCTCCTGGCCTCATCAGCCTCCAAACTCAACCA
	CAACCAGCTGCCTCTGCAGTTGGACAAGACTTGGCCCCCGGACAAGACTCGCCCAGCA
	CTTGCGGCTGGGCCCGGGGAGCAGTGA
	ORF Start: ATG at 1	ORF Stop: TGA at 1939
	SEQ ID NO: 90	646 aa	MW at 66246.7 Da
NOV19a,	MEGGDPTPTPQGQKKLLPQDRPRHCPVDPLIWLFICILSKLVNGPLDGAASLVEEATL
CG115540-01	VLQGNQDEMATRDPWVWMASLDFQARKGKRETKDKMELLGLRGPLDLLGPGALLATLG
Protein Sequence	KMAPGEHKAQRAPKESPDKTARWAQRDPQGPRVSLEYLERRCQEQTGVLGSPEEGGAH
	WPPEGLTGKPQVSSPQGDDGTPSQPGPPGPKGASLSALSPSQELGVILMPCSPNPSQQ
	PPNPGQPVSKMSLEPLRCPKASQGAWGLGERTVWTVPQDRSCTSGCKCMSPQGEPGHR
	GADGAAGPRGAPGLKGEQGDTVVIDYDGRILDALKVVFLGPPGPQGPPGPPGIPGAKG
	ELGLPGAPGIDGEKVSGPFISLVMPVPGIGLCGPKGQKGDPGEPGPAGLKGEAGEMGL
	SGLPVLDTKDSQAIAVLQGADGLKGEKGESASDSLQESLAQLIVEPGPPGPPGPPGPM
	GLQGIQGPKGLDGAKGEKGASGERGPSGLPGPVGPPGLIGLPGTKGEKGRPGEPGLDG
	FPGPRGEKGDRSERGEKGERGVPGRKGVKGQKGEPGPPGLDQPCPVGPDGLPVPGCWH
	KNLLPQNSGVPGTHPIQEDPGVEQRLLLLLASSASKLNHNQLPLQLDKTWPPDKTRPA
	LAAGPGEQ

[0437] Further analysis of the NOV19a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 19B.

TABLE 198
Protein Sequence Properties NOV19a
PSort     0.7900 probability located in plasma membrane;
analysis: 0.3000 probability located in microbody (peroxisome);
          0.3000 probability located in Golgi body; 0.2000 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 45 and 46
analysis:

[0438] A search of the NOV19a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 19C.

TABLE 19C
Geneseq Results for NOV19a
		NOV19a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Portion	Value
AAB43239	Human ORFX ORF3003 polypeptide	349 . . . 581	189/233 (81%)	e−106
	sequence SEQ ID NO: 6006 - Homo	1 . . . 200	189/233 (81%)
	sapiens, 200 aa. [WO200058473-A2,
	05 OCT. 2000]
AAG63332	Amino acid sequence of human collagen-	98 . . . 581	208/495 (42%)	7e−83
	like protein CLAC - Homo sapiens, 654	234 . . . 654	247/495 (49%)
	aa. [WO200158943-A1, 16 AUG. 2001]
AAG63343	Amino acid sequence of murine	98 . . . 581	205/509 (40%)	1e−82
	collagen-like protein CLAC - Mus sp,	234 . . . 666	240/509 (46%)
	666 aa. [WO200158943-A1, 16 AUG. 2001]
AAR53257	Human collagen (Type V) - Homo	98 . . . 576	176/486 (36%)	2e−61
	sapiens, 1838 aa. [JP06105687-A,	1135 . . . 1538	209/486 (42%)
	19 APR. 1994]
AAY08305	Human collagen IX alpha-2 chain protein	98 . . . 605	188/545 (34%)	4e−60
	Homo sapiens, 705 aa. [WO9921011-	30 . . . 518	233/545 (42%)
	A1, 29 APR. 1999]

[0439] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV19a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 19D.

TABLE 19D
Public BLASTP Results for NOV19a
		NOV19a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
Q9NT93	Hypothetical 19.5 kDa protein - Homo	349 . . . 581	201/233 (86%)	e−115
	sapiens (Human), 201 aa (fragment).	1 . . . 201	201/233 (86%)
Q99MQ5	Collagen-like alzheimer amyloid plaque	98 . . . 581	205/509 (40%)	3e−82
	component precursor type I - Mus	234 . . . 666	240/509 (46%)
	musculus (mouse), 666 aa.
Q9NQ52	Type XIII collagen - Homo sapiens	159 . . . 581	198/488 (40%)	3e−75
	(Human), 717 aa.	263 . . . 717	235/488 (47%)
O70575	Collagen type XIII alpha-1 chain - Mus	159 . . . 581	197/495 (39%)	1e−74
	musculus (Mouse), 739 aa.	270 . . . 739	233/495 (46%)
Q14035	Alpha-1 type XIII collagen - Homo	159 . . . 581	192/488 (39%)	3e−70
	sapiens (Human), 623 aa.	170 . . . 623	231/488 (46%)

[0440] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV19a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 19E.

TABLE 19E
Domain Analysis of NOV19a
		Identities/
Pfam	NOV19a	Similarities
Domain	Match Region	for the Matched Region	Expect Value
Collagen	283 . . . 341	23/60 (38%)	0.0033
		41/60 (68%)
Collagen	342 . . . 401	22/60 (37%)	0.0014
		36/60 (60%)
Collagen	448 . . . 506	32/60 (53%)	1.4e−07
		43/60 (72%)
Collagen	307 . . . 566	27/60 (45%)	1.1e−10
		46/60 (77%)

Example 20

[0441] Thc NOV20 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 20A.

TABLE 20A
NOV20 Sequence Analysis
                 SEQ ID NO: 9                  11247 bp
NOV20a,          GCCCTACCGTGTGCGCAGAAAGAGGAGGCGCTTGCCTTCAGCTTGTGGGAAATCCCGA
CG118689-01
DNA Sequence     AGATGGCCAAAGACAACTCAACTGTTCGTTGCTTCCAGGGCCTGCTGATTTTTGGAAA
                 TGTGATTATTGGTTGTTGCGGCATTGCCCTGACTGCGGAGTGCATCTTCTTTGTATCT
                 GACCAACACAGCCTCTACCCACTGCTTGAAGCCACCGACAACGATGACATCTATGGGG
                 CTGCCTGGATCGGCATATTTGTGGGCATCTGCCTCTTCTGCCTGTCTGTTCTAGGCAT
                 TGTAGGCATCATGAAGTCCAGCAGGAAAATTCTTCTGGCGTATTTCATTCTGATGTTT
                 ATAGTATATGCCTTTGAAGTGGCATCTTGTATCACAGCAGCAACACAACGAGACTTTT
                 TCACACCCAACCTCTTCCTGAAGCAGATGCTAGAGAGGTACCAAAACAACAGCCCTCC
                 AAACAATGATGACCAGTGGAAAAACAATGGAGTCACCAAAACCTGGGACAGGCTCATG
                 CTCCAGGACAATTGCTGTGGCGTAAATGGTCCATCAGACTGGCAAAAATACACATCTG
                 CCTTCCGGACTGAGAATAATGATGCTGACTATCCCTGGCCTCGTCAATGCTGTGTTAT
                 GAACAATCTTAAAGAACCTCTCAACCTGGAGGCTTGTAAACTAGGCGTGCCTGGTTTT
                 TATCACAATCAGTTTTGGGTTCTCCTGGGTACCATGTTCTACTGGAGCAGAATTGAAT
                 ATTAAGCATAAAGTGTTGCCACCATACCTCCTTCCCCGAGTGACTCTGGATTTGGTGC
                 TGGAACCAGCTCTCTCCTAATATTCCACGTTTGTGCCCCACACTAACGTGTGTGTCTT
                 ACATTGCCAAGTCAGATGGTACGGACTTCCTTTAGGATCTCAGGCTTCTGCAGTTCTC
                 ATGACTCCTACTTTTCATCCTAGTCTAGCATTCTGCAACATTTATATAGACTGTTGAA
                 AGGAGAATTTGAAAAATGCATAATAACTACTTCCATCCCTGCTTATTTTTAATTTGGG
                 AAAATAAATACATTCGAAGGAAAAACAAAAAAAAGGGCGGCCCCCGATTATTGAGGGG
                 TCCCGAGCCCGAACTCGTAACCATGTAAAACCCGTTCCCCGGGGTAAAATTGTAATCC
                 CCCCACAATTCCCCAAAACATAGGGCCCGGAAGCCTAAAGTTTAAAACCCTGGGGGGG
                 CCTAAGGAGTTTACCCAAACTCCCTTTCT
                 ORF Start: ATG at 61          ORF Stop: TAA at 757
                 SEQ ID NO: 92                 232 aa     MW at 26502.3 Da
NOV20a,          MAKDNSTVRCFQGLLIFGNVIIGCCGIALTAECIFFVSDQHSLYPLLEATDNDDIYGA
CG118689-01
Protein Sequence AWIGIFVGICLFCLSVLGIVGIMKSSRKILLAYFILMFIVYAFEVASCITAATQRDFF
                 TPNLFLKQMLERYQNNSPPNNDDQWKNNGVTKTWDRLMLQDNCCGVNGPSDWQKYTSA
                 FRTENNDADYPWPRQCCVMNNLKEPLNLEACKLGVPGFYHNQFWVLLGTMFYWSRIEY
                 SEQ ID NO: 93                 851 bp
NOV20b,          GAAGATGGCCAAAGACAACTCAACTGTTCGTTGCTTCCAGGGCCTGCTGATTTTTGGA
CG118689-02
DNA Sequence     AATGTGATTATTGGTTGTTGCGGCATTGCCCTGACTGCGGAGTGCATCTTCTTTGTAT
                 CTGACCAACACAGCCTCTACCCACTGCTTGAAGCCACCGACAACGATGACATCTATGG
                 GGCTGCCTGGATCGGCATATTTGTGGGCATCTGCCTCTTCTGCCTGTCTGTTCTAGGC
                 ATTGTAGGCATCATGAAGTCCAGCAGGAAAATTCTTCTGGCGTATTTCATTCTGATGT
                 TTATAGTATATGCCTTTGAAGTGGCATCTTGTATCACAGCAGCAACACAACGAGACTT
                 TATGCTAGAGAGGTACCAAAACAACAGCCCTCCAAATAATGATGACCAGTGGAAAAAC
                 AATGGAGTCACCAAAACCTGGGACAGGCTCATGCTCCAGGACAATTGCTGTGGCGTAA
                 ATGGTCCATCAGACTGGCAAAAATACACATCTGCCTTCCGGACTGAGAATAATGATGC
                 TGACTATCCCTGGCCTCGTCAATGCTGTGTTATGAACAATCTTAAAGAACCTCTCAAC
                 CTGGAGGCTTGTAAACTAGGCGTGCCTGGTTTTTATCACAATCAGGGCTGCTATGAAC
                 TGATCTCTGGTCCAATGAACCGACACGCCTGGGGGGTTGCCTGGTTTGGATTTGCCAT
                 TCTCTGCTGGACTTTTTGGGTTCTCCTGGGTACCATGTTCTACTGGAGCAGAATTGAA
                 TATTAGGCATAAAGTGTTGCCACCATACCTCCTTCCCCCGAGTGACTCTGGATTTGGT
                 GCTGGAACCAGCTCTCTCCTAATATTCCACGTTTGTGCC
                 ORF Start: ATG at 5           ORF Stop: TAG at 758
                 SEQ ID NO: 94                 251 aa     MW at 28581.7 Da
NOV20b,          MAKDNSTVRCFQGLLIFGNVIIGCCGIALTAECIFFVSDQHSLYPLLEATDNDDIYGA
CG118689-02
Protein Sequence AWIGIFVGICLFCLSVLGIVGIMKSSRKILLAYFILMFIVYAFEVASCITAATQRDFM
                 LERYQNNSPPNNDDQWKNNGVTKTWDRLMLQDNCCGVNGPSDWQKYTSAFRTENNDAD
                 YPWPRQCCVMNNLKEPLNLEACKLGVPGFYHNQGCYELISGPMNRHAWGVAWFGFAIL
                 CWTFWVLLGTMFYWSRIEY

[0442] Sequence comparison of the above protein sequences yields the following sequence relationships shown in Table 20B.

TABLE 20B
Comparison of NOV20a against NOV20b.
Protein	NOV20a Residues/	Identities/
Sequence	Match Residues	Similarities for the Matched Region
NOV20b	1 . . . 232	223/260 (85%)
	1 . . . 251	223/260 (85%)

[0443] Further analysis of the NOV20a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 20C.

TABLE 20C
Protein Sequence Properties NOV20a
PSort     0.6850 probability located in endoplasmic reticulum
analysis: (membrane); 0.6400 probability located in plasma membrane;
          0.4600 probability located in Golgi body; 0.1000 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (lumen)
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 31 and 32
analysis:

[0444] A search of the NOV20a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication, yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 20D.

TABLE 20D
Geneseq Results for NOV20a
		NOV20a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Portion	Value
AAY94419	Human TM4P-1 protein - Homo	1 . . . 232	232/260 (89%)	e−137
	sapiens, 260 aa. [WO200026243-A2,	1 . . . 260	232/260 (89%)
	11 MAY 2000]
AAE10871	Bovine uroplakin 1b protein - Bos sp,	1 . . . 232	214/260 (82%)	e−126
	260 aa. [US6290959-B1, 18 SEP. 2001]	1 . . . 260	225/260 (86%)
AAE10870	Bovine uroplakin 1a protein - Bos sp,	13 . . . 208	81/198 (40%)	1e−42
	258 aa. [US6290959-B1, 18 SEP. 2001]	18 . . . 208	116/198 (57%)
AAM48320	Human tetraspan - Homo sapiens, 248	4 . . . 223	67/229 (29%)	2e−16
	aa. [FR2809734-A1, 07 DEC. 2001]	2 . . . 214	111/229 (48%)
AAB49503	Clone HCE1K90 #1 - Homo sapiens,	4 . . . 223	67/229 (29%)	2e−16
	248 aa. [WO200070076-A1, 23 NOV. 2000]	2 . . . 214	111/229 (48%)

[0445] In a BLAST search of public sequence databases, the NOV20a protein was found to have homology to the proteins shown in the BLASTP data in Table 20E.

TABLE 20E
Public BLASTP Results for NOV20a
		NOV20a	Identities/
Protein		Residues/	Similarities for
Accession		Match	the Matched	Expect
Number	Protein/Organism/Length	Residues	Portion	Value
O75841	Uroplakin 1b (UP1b) - Homo sapiens	2 . . . 232	231/259 (89%)	e−136
	(Human), 259 aa.	1 . . . 259	231/259 (89%)
A41531	TGFbeta-regulated protein TI-1-	1 . . . 232	217/260 (83%)	e−129
	American mink, 260 aa.	1 . . . 260	228/260 (87%)
P30413	Uroplakin 1b (UP1b) (TI 1 protein) -	2 . . . 232	216/259 (83%)	e−128
	Mustela vison (American mink), 259 aa.	1 . . . 259	227/259 (87%)
I46081	uroplakin 1b - bovine, 260 aa.	1 . . . 232	214/260 (82%)	e−126
		1 . . . 260	225/260 (86%)
P38573	Uroplakin 1b (UPIb) - Bos taurus	2 . . . 232	213/259 (82%)	e−125
	(Bovine), 259 aa.	1 . . . 259	224/259 (86%)

[0446] PFam analysis predicts that the NOV20a protein contains the domains shown in the Table 20F.

TABLE 20F
Domain Analysis of NOV20a
		Identities/
		Similarities
	NOV20a	for the	Expect
Pfam Domain	Match Region	Matched Region	Value
transmembrane4	12 . . . 225	53/256 (21%)	2.3e−43
		163/256 (64%)

Example 21

[0447] The NOV21 clone was analyzed, and the nucleotide and encoded polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 21A.

TABLE 21A
NOV21 Sequence Analysis
                 SEQ ID NO: 95                 1518 bp
NOV21a,          CGGGCATGAAGGAGGATGGAAGGGCAGGACGAGGTGTCGGCGCGGGAGCAGCACTTCC
CG120748-01
DNA Sequence     ACAGCCAAGTGCGGGAGTCCACGATATGTTTCCTTCTTTTTGCCATTCTCTACGTTGT
                 TTCCTACTTCATCATCACAAGATACAAGAGAAAATCAGATGAACAAGAAGATGAAGAT
                 GCCATCGTCAACAGGATTTCGTTGTTTTTGAGCACGTTCACTCTCGCAGTGTCAGCTG
                 GGGCTGTTTTGCTTTTACCCTTCTCAATCATCAGCAATGAAATCCTGCTTTCTTTTCC
                 TCAGAACTACTATATTCAGTGGCTAAATGGCTCCCTGATTCATGGTTTGTGGAATCTT
                 GCTTCCCTTTTTTCCAACCTTTGTTTATTTGTATTGATGCCCTTTGCCTTTTTCTTTC
                 TGGAATCAGAAGGCTTTGCTGGCCTGAAAAAGGGAATCCGAGCCCGCATTTTAGAGAC
                 TTTGGTCATGCTTCTTCTTCTTGCGTTACTCATTCTTGGGATAGTGTGGGTAGCTTCA
                 GCACTCATTGACAACGATGCCGCAAGCATGGAATCTTTATATGATCTCTGGGAGTTCT
                 ATCTACCCTATTTATATTCCTGTATATCATTGATGGGATGTTTGTTACTTCTCTTGTG
                 TACACCAGTTGGCCTTTCTCGTATGTTCACAGTGATGGGTCAGTTGCTAGTGAAGCCA
                 ACAATTCTTGAAGACCTGGATGAACAAATTTATATCATTACCTTAGAGGAAGAAGCAC
                 TCCAGAGACGACTAAATGGTCTGTCTTCATCGGTGGAATACAACATAATGGAGTTGGA
                 ACAAGAACTTGAAAATGTAAAGACTCTTAAGACAAAATTAGATAGGCGAAAAAAGGCT
                 TCAGCATGGGAAAGAAATTTGGTGTATCCCGCTGTTATGGTTCTCCTTCTTATTGAGA
                 CATCCATCTCGGTCCTCTTGGTGGCTTGTAATATTCTTTGCCTATTGGTTGATGAAAC
                 AGCAATGCCAAAAGGAACAAGGGGGCCTGGAATAGGAAATGCCTCTCTTTCTACGTTT
                 GGTTTTGTGGGAGCTGCGCTTGAAATCATTTTGATTTTCTATCTTATGGTGTCCTCTG
                 TTGTCGGCTTCTATAGCCTTCGATTTTTTGGAAACTTTACTCCCAAGAAAGATGACAC
                 AACTATGACAAAGATCATTGGAAATTGTGTGTCCATCTTGGTTTTGAGCTCTGCTCTG
                 CCTGTGATGTCGAGAACACTGGGAATCACTAGATTTGATCTACTTGGCGACTTTGGAA
                 GGTTTAATTGGCTGGGAAATTTCTATATTGTATTATCCTACAATTTGCTTTTTGCTAT
                 TGTGACAACATTGTGTCTGGTCCGAAAATTCACCTCTGCAGTTCGAGAAGAACTTTTC
                 AAGGCCCTAGGTCTTCATAAACTTCACTTACCAAATACTTCAAGGGATTCAGAAACAG
                 CCAAGCCTTCTGTAAATGGGCATCAGAAAGCACTGTGAGACGCACAGACGGCGTCTTC
                 TGCCACCAAG
                 ORF Start: ATG at 16          ORF Stop: TGA at 1486
                 SEQ ID NO: 96                 490 aa     MW at 55083.0 Da
NOV21a,          MEGQDEVSAREQHFHSQVRESTICFLLFAILYVVSYFIITRYKRKSDEQEDEDAIVNR
CG120748-01
Protein Sequence ISLFLSTFTLAVSAGAVLLLPFSIISNEILLSFPQNYYIQWLNGSLIHGLWNLASLFS
                 NLCLFVLMPFAFFFLESEGFAGLKKGIRARILETLVMLLLLALLILGIVWVASALIDN
                 DAASMESLYDLWEFYLPYLYSCISLMGCLLLLLCTPVGLSRMFTVMGQLLVKPTILED
                 LDEQIYIITLEEEALQRRLNGLSSSVEYNIMELEQELENVKTLKTKLDRRKKASAWER
                 NLVYPAVMVLLLIETSISVLLVACNILCLLVDETAMPKGTRGPGIGNASLSTFGFVGA
                 ALEIILIFYLMVSSVVGFYSLRFFGNFTPKKDDTTMTKIIGNCVSILVLSSALPVMSR
                 TLGITRFDLLGDFGRFNWLGNFYIVLSYNLLFAIVTTLCLVRKFTSAVREELFKALGL
                 HKLHLPNTSRDSETAKPSVNGHQKAL

[0448] Further analysis of the NOV21a protein yielded the following properties shown in Table 21B.

TABLE 21B
Protein Sequence Properties NOV21a
PSort     0.6000 probability located in plasma membrane; 0.4000
analysis: probability located in Golgi body; 0.3000 probability
          located in endoplasmic reticulum (membrane); 0.0300
          probability located in mitochondrial inner membrane
SignalP   Cleavage site between residues 36 and 37
analysis:

[0449] A search of the NOV21a protein against the Geneseq database, a proprietary database that contains sequences published in patents and patent publication yielded several homologous proteins shown in Table 21C.

TABLE 21C
Geneseq Results for NOV21a
		NOV21a	Identities/
		Residues/	Similarities for
Geneseq	Protein/Organism/Length	Match	the Matched	Expect
Identifier	[Patent #, Date]	Residues	Region	Value
AAY91600	Human secreted protein sequence	84..490	405/407 (99%)	0.0
	encoded by gene 9 SEQ ID NO:273 -	1..407	406/407 (99%)
	Homo sapiens, 407 aa. [WO200006698-
	A1, Feb. 10, 2000]
ABB11389	Human secreted protein homologue, SEQ	85..490	393/407 (96%)	0.0
	ID NO: 1759 - Homo sapiens, 415 aa	9..415	397/407 (96%)
	[WO200157188-A2, Aug. 09, 2001]
ABB90410	Human polypeptide SEQ ID NO 2786 -	124..490	366/367 (99%)	0.0
	Homo sapiens, 367 aa. [WO200190304-	1..367	367/367 (99%)
	A2, Nov. 29, 2001]
AAG75542	Human colon cancer antigen protein SEQ	174..490	315/317 (99%)	e-178

Claims

1. An isolated polypeptide comprising the mature form of an amino acid sequenced selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

2. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

3. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 95% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

4. An isolated polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence comprising one or more conservative substitutions in the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

5. The polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide is naturally occurring.

6. A composition comprising the polypeptide of claim 1 and a carrier.

7. A kit comprising, in one or more containers, the composition of claim 6.

8. The use of a therapeutic in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a syndrome associated with a human disease, the disease selected from a pathology associated with the polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic comprises the polypeptide of claim 1.

9. A method for determining the presence or amount of the polypeptide of claim 1 in a sample, the method comprising: (a) providing said sample; (b) introducing said sample to an antibody that binds immunospecifically to the polypeptide; and (c) determining the presence or amount of antibody bound to said polypeptide, thereby determining the presence or amount of polypeptide in said sample.

10. A method for determining the presence of or predisposition to a disease associated with altered levels of expression of the polypeptide of claim 1 in a first mammalian subject, the method comprising: a) measuring the level of expression of the polypeptide in a sample from the first mammalian subject; and b) comparing the expression of said polypeptide in the sample of step (a) to the expression of the polypeptide present in a control sample from a second mammalian subject known not to have, or not to be predisposed to, said disease, wherein an alteration in the level of expression of the polypeptide in the first subject as compared to the control sample indicates the presence of or predisposition to said disease.

11. A method of identifying an agent that binds to the polypeptide of claim 1, the method comprising: (a) introducing said polypeptide to said agent; and (b) determining whether said agent binds to said polypeptide.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the agent is a cellular receptor or a downstream effector.

13. A method for identifying a potential therapeutic agent for use in treatment of a pathology, wherein the pathology is related to aberrant expression or aberrant physiological interactions of the polypeptide of claim 1, the method comprising: (a) providing a cell expressing the polypeptide of claim 1 and having a property or function ascribable to the polypeptide; (b) contacting the cell with a composition comprising a candidate substance; and (c) determining whether the substance alters the property or function ascribable to the polypeptide; whereby, if an alteration observed in the presence of the substance is not observed when the cell is contacted with a composition in the absence of the substance, the substance is identified as a potential therapeutic agent.

14. A method for screening for a modulator of activity of or of latency or predisposition to a pathology associated with the polypeptide of claim 1, said method comprising: (a) administering a test compound to a test animal at increased risk for a pathology associated with the polypeptide of claim 1, wherein said test animal recombinantly expresses the polypeptide of claim 1;(b) measuring the activity of said polypeptide in said test animal after administering the compound of step (a); and (c) comparing the activity of said polypeptide in said test animal with the activity of said polypeptide in a control animal not administered said polypeptide, wherein a change in the activity of said polypeptide in said test animal relative to said control animal indicates the test compound is a modulator activity of or latency or predisposition to, a pathology associated with the polypeptide of claim 1.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said test animal is a recombinant test animal that expresses a test protein transgene or expresses said transgene under the control of a promoter at an increased level relative to a wild-type test animal, and wherein said promoter is not the native gene promoter of said transgene.

16. A method for modulating the activity of the polypeptide of claim 1, the method comprising contacting a cell sample expressing the polypeptide of claim 1 with a compound that binds to said polypeptide in an amount sufficient to modulate the activity of the polypeptide.

17. A method of treating or preventing a pathology associated with the polypeptide of claim 1, the method comprising administering the polypeptide of claim 1 to a subject in which such treatment or prevention is desired in an amount sufficient to treat or prevent the pathology in the subject.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the subject is a human.

19. A method of treating a pathological state in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a polypeptide in an amount that is sufficient to alleviate the pathological state, wherein the polypeptide is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61 or a biologically active fragment thereof.

20. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

21. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 20, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is naturally occurring.

22. A nucleic acid molecule, wherein the nucleic acid molecule differs by a single nucleotide from a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

23. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the mature form of a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

24. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

25. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 20, wherein said nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61, or a complement of said nucleotide sequence.

26. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 20.

27. The vector of claim 26, further comprising a promoter operably linked to said nucleic acid molecule.

28. A cell comprising the vector of claim 26.

29. An antibody that immunospecifically binds to the polypeptide of claim 1.

30. The antibody of claim 29, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

31. The antibody of claim 29, wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody.

32. A method for determining the presence or amount of the nucleic acid molecule of claim 20 in a sample, the method comprising: (a) providing said sample; (b) introducing said sample to a probe that binds to said nucleic acid molecule; and (c) determining the presence or amount of said probe bound to said nucleic acid molecule, thereby determining the presence or amount of the nucleic acid molecule in said sample.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein presence or amount of the nucleic acid molecule is used as a marker for cell or tissue type.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the cell or tissue type is cancerous.

35. A method for determining the presence of or predisposition to a disease associated with altered levels of expression of the nucleic acid molecule of claim 20 in a first mammalian subject, the method comprising: a) measuring the level of expression of the nucleic acid in a sample from the first mammalian subject; and b) comparing the level of expression of said nucleic acid in the sample of step (a) to the level of expression of the nucleic acid present in a control sample from a second mammalian subject known not to have or not be predisposed to, the disease; wherein an alteration in the level of expression of the nucleic acid in the first subject as compared to the control sample indicates the presence of or predisposition to the disease.

36. A method of producing the polypeptide of claim 1, the method comprising culturing a cell under conditions that lead to expression of the polypeptide, wherein said cell comprises a vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the cell is a bacterial cell.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the cell is an insect cell.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the cell is a yeast cell.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.

41. A method of producing the polypeptide of claim 2, the method comprising culturing a cell under conditions that lead to expression of the polypeptide, wherein said cell comprises a vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2n−1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 61.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the cell is a bacterial cell.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the cell is an insect cell.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the cell is a yeast cell.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.