A GAMMACARBOXYGLUTAMATE-RICH PROTEIN, METHODS AND ASSAYS FOR ITS DETECTION, PURIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention refers to a gammacarboxyglutamate -rich protein that shows in vivo a high capacity to bind calcium through specific gamma carboxylated glutamic acid residues (Gla). It includes a description of the referred protein, purification procedures, protein detection and quantification tools and methods.. This invention also refers to a kit for the detection and quantification of said protein in samples. This kit includes the use of one or more antibodies produced against the homologous sequence of the target species to be analyzed, and thus, methods for the production of such antibodies are disclosed as well. In another aspect of the invention, the methods and tools described hereby are used as biomarkers for evaluation of presence or risk to develop certain diseases. In another aspect of this invention, available complete GRP cDNA and gene sequences obtained from several species also enable the in vitro production of antigens, the quantification of GRP expression, the screening of GRP polymorphisms to access the predisposition for certain diseases and the screening for GRP mutations.