Polypeptide tumor inhibitors and antibodies thereto

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, wherein said polypeptide includes at least one of the following sequences: a. Taa 8 Paa d aa p EEMLFIYaa e HArKQATaa f G b. KWDAWaa g aa h Laa i aa j aa k aa l KEaa m aa r Maa n aa s Y(X') x VEEaa o KK wherein: aa f is an aliphatic amino acid, or from 4 to 6 carbon atoms; aa g is an aliphatic neutral polar amino acid of from 3 to 5 carbon atoms; aa h is an aliphatic amino acid of from 3 to 5 carbon atoms, which is neutral or acidic; aa i is an aliphatic amino acid of from about 2 to 6 carbon atoms; aa j is an aliphatic amino acid of from 2 to 5 carbon atoms; aa k is an aliphatic neutral polar amino acid of from 3 to 5 carbon atoms; aa l is an aliphatic neutral polar amino acid of from 3 to 4 carbon atoms; aa m is an aliphatic acidic amino acid of from 4 to 5 carbon atoms; aa n is an aliphatic neutral or basic amino acid of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; aa p is an aliphatic neutral polar or acidic amino acid of from 4 to 5 carbon atoms; aa q is an aliphatic amino acid of from 4 to 6 carbon atoms; aa r is an aliphatic neutral amino acid of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; aa s is an aliphatic neutral amino acid of from 3 to 4 carbon atoms; X' is of from 1 to 3 amino acids of from 4 to 6 carbon atoms; x is 0 or 1; and aa o is an aliphatic neutral amino acid of from 4 to 6 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, wherein said polypeptide is derived from mammalian brain and elutes in the fraction from about 30% to 50% acetonitrile in 0.1% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid on a reverse phase HPLC column and is of from about 8 to 18 kD, and wherein said polypeptide has substantially the following amino acid sequence: ##STR5## where z is 0 or 1, a plurality of amino acids at a site indicates each amino acid may be employed at that site and an asterisk (*) intends a bond may be employed at that site.

Claim 5

A polypeptide composition substantially homogeneous as to the active polypeptide component, wherein said polypeptide is characterized by eluting in the 30% to 50% acetonitrile fraction in aqueous 0.1M trifluoroacetic acid, by having from about 8,000 to 18,000 molecular weight, by inhibiting tumor cell growth and by being found in mammalian brains, or a physiologically active fragment of said polypeptide.

Claim 6

A polypeptide composition substantially homogeneous as to the active polypeptide component, wherein said polypeptide is characterized by eluting in the 30% to 50% acetonitrile fraction in aqueous 0.1M trifluoroacetic acid, by having from about 8,000 to 18,000 molecular weight, by inhibiting tumor cell growth and by being found in mammalian brains, or a physiologically active fragment of said polypeptide.

Claim 7

A composition of matter according to claim 4, said polypeptide having a sequence including substantially the following sequence or a physiologically active fragment of at least about 30 amino acids thereof: ##STR6## where a plurality of amino acids at a site indicates each amino acid may be employed at that site and an asterisk (*) intends a bond may be employed at that site.

Claim 8

A composition of matter according to claim 5, said polypeptide sequence including the sequence Q-A-T-V-G-D-I-N-T-E-R-P-G-M-L-D.

Claim 9

A composition of matter according to claim 5, said polypeptide sequence including the sequence Q-A-T-V-G-D-I-N-T-E-R-P-G-M-L-D-F-T-G-K.

Claim 10

Antibodies capable of binding to a composition of matter substantially homogenous in active composition comprising a polypeptide sequence of at least 15 amino acids and not more than 125 amino acids having at least one epitopic site cross reactive with a polypeptide found in mammalian brain capable of retarding neoplastic cell growth in vitro, said polypeptide including at least one of the following peptide sequences: a. Y aa e aa a Y K Q A T aa b b. K W D A W c. A M aa c A Y (X) x V E E d. T K P aa d aa p E E M L F I Y aa e H Y K wherein: aa a is an aromatic amino acid; aa b and aa c are any amino acids; aa d and aa e are aliphatic neutral amino acids; and aa p is an aliphatic amino acid and prepared in response to said composition or immunogenic fragment thereof.

Claim 11

Antibodies capable of binding to a composition of matter substantially homogenous in active composition comprising a polypeptide sequence of at least 15 amino acids and not more than 125 amino acids having at least one epitopic site cross reactive with a polypeptide found in mammalian brain capable of retarding neoplastic cell growth in vitro, said polypeptide including at least one of the following peptide sequences: a. Y aa e aa a Y K Q A T aa b b. K W D A W c. A M aa c A Y (X) x V E E d. T K P aa d aa p E E M L F I Y aa e H Y K wherein: aa a is an aromatic amino acid; aa b and aa c are any amino acids; aa d and aa e are aliphatic neutral amino acids; and aa p is an aliphatic amino acid and prepared in response to said composition or immunogenic fragment thereof.

Claim 12

A method for detecting the presence of a polypeptide found in mammalian brains of from about 8,000 to 18,000 molecular weight and capable of preferentially retarding neoplastic cell growth as compared to normal growth, which comprises: combining antibodies according to claim 8 with a sample suspected of containing said polypeptide and determining the presence of complex formation with said antibodies.