MUTANTS OF HUMAN INTERLEUKIN-3

摘要

Mutants of hIL-3 are provided having deletions covering virtually the complete coding region of hIL-3, while retaining their biological activity. Preferred mutants are those having one or more deletions at the N-terminus (amino acids 1-14) and/or the C-terminus (amino acids 116-133, 120- 130 and/or 130-133). Another preferred group of mutants are substitution mutants. Some of these mutants have an antagonistic effect. Specific examples are Cys -> Ala mutants (Cys16 -> Ala16, Cys16Cys84 -> Ala16Ala84). Other mutants having an antagonistic effect are Glu50 -> Lys50 and Lys79 -> Glu79. Finally antibodies are provided aimed at specific epitopes localized between amino acids 29 and 54.