MEMBRANE PROTEIN POLYPEPTIDE HAVING FUNCTION OF SUPPORTING PRE-B CELL GROWTH AND GENE THEREFOR

摘要

The invention relates to a gene coding for a novel membrane protein polypeptide having the function of supporting pre-B cell growth, a novel membrane protein polypeptide having the function of supporting pre-B cell growth and bearing the whole or part of the sequence comprising 180 amino acid residues, a process for producting the novel polypeptide by transforming host cells with a vector containing the above gene and culturing the transformant thus obtained, and a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the novel polypeptide. The above gene codes for a membrane protein having the function of supporting pre-B cell growth. The invention process permits mass production of a novel uniform membrane protein polypeptide and production of also a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the polypeptide. Thus it is possible to prepare a reagent for the identification and clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).