LIGAND FOR THE NEU GENE PRODUCT LIGAND FOR THE NEU GENE PRODUCT

摘要

A purified proteinaceous substance bindable with p185, the translation product of the neu oncogene is dislcosed. The purified proteinaceous substance may be characterized in that it increases the activity of the tyrosine kinase contained in the neu oncogene product but does not increase the activity of tyrosine kinase of epidermal growth factor receptor; induces p185 dimerization and internalization; affects the growth of cells which express p185 in a dose dependent manner; is heat stable from about 56 .degree.C to about 100 .degree.C; is degradable by protease; and has a molecular weight of from about 7,000 to about 14,000 daltons in its smallest active form as determined by gel filtration and ultrafiltration membrane analysis. Methods of treating a mammal to alter the metabolic state of the mammal by administering the protein proteinaceous substance are also disclosed.