OB-polypeptid, immunogent fragment, analog og derivat derav, OB-polypeptidanalog, DNA-molekyl for anvendelse ved sikring av ekspresjon av et OB-polypeptid med den biologiske aktivitet a modulere kroppsvekt hos et pattedyr, pavisbart merket nukleinsyremolekyl, oligonukleotidprimer, vektor, encellet vert, fremgangsmate for fremstilling av et OB-polypeptid, antistoff samt fremgangsmate for fremstilling av et antistoff som er spesifikt for et OB-polypeptid, farmasoytisk preparat, anvendelse av et antisensenukleinsyremolekyl til fremstilling av et medikament for modifisering av kroppsvekten til et pattedyr.

摘要

The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of body weight, and to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of such modulators. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences corresponding to the murine and human OB gene, and two isoforms thereof, and proteins expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight and that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In further aspects, the present invention provides cloning vectors and mammalian expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The invention further relates to host cells transfected or transformed with an appropriate expression vector and to their use in the preparation of the modulators of the invention. Also provided are antibodies to the OB polypeptide. Moreover, a method for modulating body weight of a mammal is provided.