METHOD FOR PREPARING ORPHAN RECEPTOR LIGANDS

摘要

Methods for obtaining cells that produce a ligand for an orphan receptor and methods for preparing polynucleotide molecules that encode ligands for orphan receptors are disclosed. The methods utilize growth factor-dependent parent cells that are transfected with a DNA construct encoding an orphan receptor. The transfected cells are exposed to mutagenizing conditions, and the mutagenized cells are cultured under conditions in which cell survival is dependent upon autocrine growth factor production. Progeny cells are recovered and screened to identify those that produce a ligand for the orphan receptor. Polynucleotide molecules encoding the ligand can be prepared from the identified cells.