WO2003072756A2 - Cloning and characterization of slc26a8 and slc26a11 anion exchangers - Google Patents

Cloning and characterization of slc26a8 and slc26a11 anion exchangers Download PDF

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WO2003072756A2
WO2003072756A2 PCT/US2003/006367 US0306367W WO03072756A2 WO 2003072756 A2 WO2003072756 A2 WO 2003072756A2 US 0306367 W US0306367 W US 0306367W WO 03072756 A2 WO03072756 A2 WO 03072756A2
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nucleic acid
polypeptide
seq
acid molecule
slc26a8
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PCT/US2003/006367
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French (fr)
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WO2003072756A3 (en
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David B. Mount, Jr.
Michael F. Romero
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Vanderbilt University
The Brigham And Women's Hospital, Inc.
Case Western Reserve University
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Priority to AU2003219978A priority Critical patent/AU2003219978A1/en
Publication of WO2003072756A2 publication Critical patent/WO2003072756A2/en
Publication of WO2003072756A3 publication Critical patent/WO2003072756A3/en

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K48/00—Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to anion transporter polypeptides and anion transport activity mediated by the same. More particularly, the present invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding SLC26 anion transporter polypeptides, isolated and functional SLC26 anion transporter polypeptides, a heterologous expression system for recombinant expression of SLC26 anion transporter polypeptides, methods for identifying modulators of an anion transporter, and uses thereof.
  • SELDI-TOF Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/lonization Time-Of-flight
  • Anion exchange at the plasma membrane is primarily mediated by the products of two structurally distinct gene families: (1 ) the AE (anion exchanger) genes, which form a subset of the bicarbonate transporter SLC4 superfamily (Romero et al., 2000; Tsuganezawa et al., 2001 ); and (2) the SLC26 or sulphate permease gene family (Everett & Green, 1999).
  • Members of the SLC26 gene family have been identified by expression cloning (Bissig et al., 1994), subtractive cDNA cloning (Zheng et al., 2000), and positional cloning of human disease genes (Everett & Green, 1999).
  • the SLC26 gene family has been highly conserved during evolution, and homologues have been identified in bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals. See Everett & Green (1999) Hum Mol Genet 8:1883-1891 and Kere et al. (1999) Am J Physiol 276:G7-G13. Four mammalian SLC26 genes have been described (SLC26A1 , SLC26A2, SLC26A3, and SLC26A4). The Drosophila genome contains at least nine family members, suggesting that additional mammalian paralogues also exist.
  • Physiological roles for individual family members include transepithelial salt transport (Everett & Green, 1999; Scott & Karniski, 2000), thryoidal iodide transport (Scott et al., 1999), development and function of the inner ear (Everett & Green, 1999; Zheng et al., 2000), sulphation of extracellular matrix (Satoh et al., 1998), and renal excretion of bicarbonate (Royaux et al., 2001 ) and oxalate (Karniski et al., 1998).
  • the various substrates transported by the SLC26 anion exchangers include sulphate (SO 2' ), chloride (Cl “ ), iodide (I “ ), formate, oxalate, hydroxyl ion (OH “ ), and bicarbonate (HCO 3 " ) (Bissig et al., 1994; Karniski et al., 1998; Satoh et al., 1998; Moseley et al., 1999; Scott & Karniski, 2000; Soleimani et al., 2001 ).
  • SLC26A4 also known as pendrin, can transport chloride, hydroxyl ion, bicarbonate, iodide, and formate, but neither oxalate nor sulphate (Scott et al., 1999; Scott & Karniski, 2000; Royaux et al., 2001 ; Soleimani et al., 2001 ).
  • the present invention provides novel SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 anion transporter polypeptides.
  • the present invention also provides methods for identifying and using modulators of anion transport via SLC26A8 and SLC26A11.
  • the present invention provides isolated SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 polypeptides, SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 nucleic acids, and a SLC26A1 1 promoter.
  • the polypeptides and nucleic acids are useful in the detection methods and assays disclosed herein.
  • the present invention further provides antibodies that specifically recognize a SLC26A8 polypeptide or a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
  • a SLC26A8 polypeptide can comprise: (a) a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (b) a polypeptide substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; or (d) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.
  • a SLC26A8 polypeptide can also comprise a polypeptide encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), or (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of
  • a SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule of the invention preferably comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding a SLC26A8 polypeptide.
  • a SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule can comprise: (a) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; or (b) a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.
  • a SLC26A8 nucleic acid can also comprise a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b),
  • a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide can comprise: (a) a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6 or 8; (b) a polypeptide substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:6 or 8; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7; or (d) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to SEQ ID O:5 or 7.
  • a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide can also comprise a polypeptide encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6 or 8; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A11 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic
  • a SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule of the invention preferably comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
  • a SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule can comprise: (a) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7; or (b) a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:5 or 7.
  • a SLC26A11 nucleic acid can also comprise a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6 or 8; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (
  • a SLC26A 11 promoter of the present invention can comprise: (a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:28; or (b) a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:28.
  • the isolated SLC26A 11 promoter can also comprise a 20 base pair nucleotide sequence identical to a contiguous 20 base pair nucleotide portion of SEQ ID NO:28.
  • the present invention further provides methods for detecting a SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 nucleic acid, the method comprising: (a) procuring a biological sample having nucleic acid material; (b) hybridizing the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 , 3, 5, or 7 under stringent hybridization conditions to the biological sample of (a), thereby forming a duplex structure between the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 , 3, 5, or 7 and a nucleic acid within the biological sample; and (c) detecting the duplex structure of (b), whereby a SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule is detected.
  • the present invention further provides antibodies that specifically recognize a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide, and methods for producing the same.
  • a representative embodiment of the method comprises: (a) recombinantly or synthetically producing a SLC26A8 polypeptide; (b) formulating the polypeptide of (a) whereby it is an effective immunogen; (c) administering to an animal the formulation of (b) to generate an immune response in the animal comprising production of antibodies, wherein antibodies are present in the blood serum of the animal; and (d) collecting the blood serum from the animal of (c) comprising antibodies that specifically recognize a SLC26A8 polypeptide.
  • the method comprises: (a) obtaining a biological sample having peptidic material; (b) detecting a SLC26A8 polypeptide in the biological sample of (a) by immunochemical reaction with the antibody of the present invention, whereby an amount of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide in a sample is determined.
  • a recombinant expression system can comprise: (a) a SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 polypeptide of the invention (e.g., representative embodiments set forth as SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, and 8); and (b) a host cell expressing the SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
  • a host cell can comprise any suitable cell.
  • a preferred host cell comprises a mammalian cell, more preferably a human cell.
  • a method for identifying a modulator of anion transport comprises: (a) providing a recombinant expression system whereby a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide is expressed in a host cell, (b) providing a test substance to the system of (a); (c) assaying a level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 function in the presence of the test substance; (d) comparing the level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 function in the presence of the test substance with a control level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 function; and (e) identifying a test substance as an anion transport modulator by determining a level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 function in the presence of the test substance as significantly changed when compared to a control level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 function.
  • a method for identifying a modulator of anion transport comprises: (a) exposing a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide to one or more test substances; (b) assaying binding of a test substance to the isolated SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide; and (c) selecting a candidate substance that demonstrates specific binding to the SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
  • a method for identifying a modulator of anion transport comprises: (a) establishing a gene expression system comprising a chimeric gene comprising a SLC26A11 promoter operatively linked to a reporter gene, and components required for gene transcription and translation, whereby the reporter gene is expressed, and a level of reporter gene expression is assayable; (b) assaying a baseline level of reporter gene expression using the gene expression system of (a) in the absence of a candidate substance; (c) exposing the gene expression system of (a) to a plurality of candidate substances; (d) assaying a level of reporter gene expression using the gene expression system of (a) in the presence of a candidate substance of (c); and (e) selecting a candidate substance whose presence results in an altered level of reporter gene expression when compared to the baseline level.
  • the present invention further provides methods for modulating anion transport activity in a subject.
  • the subject is a mammalian subject, and more preferably a human subject.
  • the anion transport activity that is altered in a subject comprises an activity of a
  • a method for modulating anion transport activity in a subject comprises: (a) preparing a composition comprising a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 modulator identified according to the disclosed methods, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; (b) administering an effective dose of the composition to a subject, whereby anion transport activity in the subject is altered.
  • Figure 1 is an alignment of a conserved SLC26 domain encompassing the Prosite "sulfate transport" signature sequence (Bucher & Bairoch, 1994; Hofmann et al., 1999) (http://www.expasy.ch/prosite/) in mouse SLC26A1 (SEQ ID NO:10), mouse SLC26A2 (SEQ ID NO:11 ), mouse SLC26A3 (SEQ ID NO:12), mouse SLC26A4 (SEQ ID NO:13), mouse SLC26A5 (SEQ ID NO:14), mouse SLC26A6 (SEQ ID NO:15), mouse SLC26A7 (SEQ ID NO:16), mouse SLC26A8 (SEQ ID NO:17), mouse SLC26A9 (SEQ ID NO:18), and mouse SLC26A1 1 (SEQ ID NO:19).
  • the 22-residue Prosite motif is underlined in sequences that conform to the consensus (SLC26A1 , SLC26A2, SLC26A3, and SLC26A1 1 ). Shading, similar residues, conservative substitutions, and weakly similar residues; asterisks ( * ), invariant residues.
  • Figure 2 presents genomic sequence from the intergenic region of mouse SLC26A11 and sulphamidase (SEQ ID NO:28).
  • the sequence of the first, non-coding exon of mouse SLC26A 11 is in bold.
  • the coding sequence of the first exon of sulphamidase is bold and underlined.
  • Transcriptional start sites which were estimated from the most 5' of ESTs for each gene, are indicated by directional arrows.
  • a predicted CpG island comprises the sequences between brackets ( [ ] ). Potential binding sites for transcription factors are boxed and labeled. The binding sites were predicted using TESS (Schug & Overton, 1997; available at http://www.cbil.upenn.edu/tess).
  • AP-1 enhancer binding protein AP-1
  • NRF-1 nuclear respiratory factor 1
  • USF upstream transcription factor
  • Sp1 Sp1 transcription factor
  • NF-KB NF kappa B transcription factor
  • c-Ets-1 cellular Ets-domain transcription factor 1
  • p300 cruciform binding protein (CBP)
  • COUP chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor
  • NF-E2_p45 nuclear factor erythroid 2
  • AP-2 enhancer binding protein AP-2
  • CACCC-binding CACCC-binding protein.
  • Figure 3 is a bar graph that presents 36 CI " uptake (pmol/oocyte/hr) in oocytes expressing SLC26A8 or SLC26A9. Control cells (H 2 0) expressed neither SLC26A8 nor SLC26A9. Open bars, extracellular pH 7.4; Solid bars, extracellular pH 6.0; hr, hour.
  • Figure 4 is a phylogenetic tree of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family. Sequence-verified paralogs are denoted by Slc26d-, genes determined by genomic annotation are denoted by CG-. A total of seven full-length cDNAs have been identified, and six full-length sequences are included herein.
  • Figure 5 depicts chloride uptakes in Xenopus oocytes injected with water or singly with cRNA encoding four members of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family, with extracellular pH set at 7.4 (open bars) or 6.0 (filled bars).
  • Figure 6 depicts chloride uptakes in Xenopus oocytes injected with water or singly with cRNA encoding four members of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family, human SLC26A1 1 , mouse Slc26a8, and Drosophila CG8177 (an anion exchanger from the SLC4 gene family without significant homology to the SLC26 proteins), with extracellular pH set at 6.0. With the exception of CG21877 there is only a modest increase in Cl " uptake in some of the oocytes expressing injected cRNA.
  • Figure 7 depicts sulphate uptake in oocytes expressing several Drosophila SLC26 exchangers, human SLC26A11 , mouse Slc26a8, mouse Slc26a6 (right graph), or Drosophila CG8177. Uptakes in oocytes expressing the novel cDNAs are not as robust as those seen in Slc26a6 oocytes, yet are significantly greater than in water controls, particularly in SLC26A1 1 and Slc26d5002 cells.
  • Figure 8 depicts DIDS sensitivity of sulphate uptake in oocytes expressing selected Drosophila SLC26 paralogs or murine Slc26a6. Control cells are denoted by open bars, closed bars reflect oocytes exposed to 1 mM DIDS during the uptake period.
  • Odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs:1 -7 are nucleotide sequences described in Table 1.
  • Even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8 are protein sequences encoded by the immediately preceding nucleotide sequence, e.g., SEQ ID NO:2 is the protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1
  • SEQ ID NO:4 is the protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, etc.
  • SEQ ID NO:9 is a SLC26 conserved domain.
  • SEQ ID NOs:10-19 are the SLC26 sequences indicated in Table 1 , each sequence encompassing the Prosite "sulphate transport" signature sequence (Bucher & Bairoch, 1994; Hofmann et al., 1999) (http://www.expasy.ch/prosite/).
  • SEQ ID NOs:20-27 are primers.
  • SEQ ID NO:28 is the mouse SLC26A 11 promoter region.
  • SEQ ID NOs:29-30 are insertions sequences unique to SLC26A1 1.
  • SEQ ID NOs:31 and 32 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d9702 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
  • SEQ ID NOs:33 and 34 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d6125 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
  • SEQ ID NOs:35 and 36 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d6928 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
  • SEQ ID NOs:37 and 38 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d7005 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
  • SEQ ID NOs:39 and 40 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d5002 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
  • SEQ ID NOs:41 and 42 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d9717 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
  • a measurable value such as a percentage of sequence identity (e.g., when comparing nucleotide and amino acid sequences as described herein below), a nucleotide or protein length, an uptake amount, a pH value, etc. is meant to encompass variations of ⁇ 20% or ⁇ 10%, more preferably ⁇ 5%, even more preferably ⁇ 1 %, and still more preferably ⁇ 0.1 % from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform a disclosed method or otherwise carry out the present invention.
  • the present invention provides novel SLC26 nucleic acids and novel SLC26 polypeptides, including functional SLC26 polypeptides.
  • SLC26A and terms including “SLC26” (e.g., SLC26A8 and SLCA26A1 1 ) refer generally to isolated SLC26 nucleic acids, isolated polypeptides encoded by SLC26 nucleic acids, and activities thereof. SLC26 nucleic acids and polypeptides can be derived from any organism.
  • isolated indicates that the nucleic acid or polypeptide exists apart from its native environment and is not a product of nature.
  • An isolated nucleic acid or polypeptide can exist in a purified form or can exist in a non-native environment such as a transgenic host cell.
  • SLC26 and terms including “SLC26” also refer to polypeptides comprising Na + -independent anion transporters that transport S0 4 2" , Cl " , formate, and/or oxalate, and to nucleic acids encoding the same.
  • a region within the central hydrophobic core of SLC26 polypeptides includes a 22-residue "sulphate transport" consensus signature, Prosite motif PS01130 (Bucher & Bairoch, 1994; Hofmann et al., 1999)
  • SLC26A2 N425D mutant has further been shown to be non-functional in Xenopus oocytes (Karniski, 1989).
  • the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of SLC26 proteins encompasses the STAS (Sulphate Transporter and Anti-Sigma) domain, recently defined by the homology between the SLC26 proteins and bacterial anti-sigma factor antagonists (Aravind & Koonin, 2000).
  • Structural features of this domain have been predicted from the NMR analysis of the anti-sigma factor SPOIIAA (Aravind & Koonin, 2000), and include a characteristic ⁇ -helical handle. There is also a highly conserved loop interspersed between a ⁇ - pleated sheet and ⁇ -helix, just upstream of the ⁇ -helical handle. This loop and ⁇ -pleated sheet have been proposed to play a role in nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, in analogy to the known biochemistry of the anti-sigma factor antagonists (Aravind & Koonin, 2000). The loop is highly conserved in SLC26 proteins and contains two invariant residues, D660 and L667 of mouse SLC26A2.
  • the STAS domain also contains a highly variable loop just proximal to the ⁇ -pleated sheet and putative nucleotide binding loop (Aravind & Koonin, 2000).
  • This variable loop is the site of significant insertions in SLC26 proteins.
  • the largest known insertion comprises 150 amino acids in the case of human SLC26A8.
  • no such insertion is present in bacterial SLC26 homologues, and this loop is the shortest in SLC26A1 1 , which is arguably the most primeval of the mammalian SLC26 paralogs.
  • the present invention provides novel SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 polypeptides, SLC26A8 and SLC26A11 nucleic acids, and a SLC26A11 promoter.
  • Representative SLC26A8 nucleic acids of the present invention are set forth as SEQ ID NOs:1 and 3, which encode SLC26A8 polypeptides set forth as SEQ ID NOs:2 and 4, respectively.
  • Representative SLC26A 11 nucleic acids of the present invention are set forth as SEQ ID NOs:5 and 7, which encode SLC26A1 1 polypeptides set forth as SEQ ID NOs:6 and 8, respectively.
  • a representative SLC26A 11 promoter is set forth as SEQ ID NO:28.
  • Drosophila sources as disclosed in the Examples and in SEQ ID NOs: 31 -42, and the methods, definitions, sequence comparison, and hybridization conditions set forth herein are equally applicable to the Drosophila nucleic acids.
  • the mammalian SLC26A1 1 sequence has a greater percent identity to these Drosophila proteins than to other mammalian paralogs, functional and physiological characterization of the Drosophila family members facilitates understanding of mammalian SLC26A1 1.
  • the present invention also provides a system for functional expression of a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
  • the system employs a recombinant SLC26 nucleic acid, including any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1 -7.
  • nucleic acid molecule and “nucleic acid” each refer to deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides and polymers thereof in single- stranded, double-stranded, or triplexed form. Unless specifically limited, the term encompasses nucleic acids containing known analogues of natural nucleotides that have similar properties as the reference natural nucleic acid.
  • nucleic acid molecule or “nucleic acid” can also be used in place of "gene,” “cDNA,” “mRNA,” or “cRNA.” Nucleic acids can be synthesized, or can be derived from any biological source, including any organism. Representative methods for cloning a full-length SLC26 cDNA are described in Examples 1-2.
  • SLC26' and terms including “SLC26' are used herein to refer to nucleic acids that encode a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • SLC26' refers to isolated nucleic acids of the present invention comprising: (a) a nucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence of any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs:1-7; or (b) a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1-7.
  • SLC26' also refers to a SLC26 promoter, for example a SLC26A11 promoter of SEQ ID NO:28.
  • substantially identical refers to two or more sequences that have at least about least 60%, preferably at least about 70%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably about 90% to about 99%, still more preferably about 95% to about 99%, and most preferably about 99% nucleotide identity, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using one of the following sequence comparison algorithms or by visual inspection.
  • the substantial identity exists in nucleotide sequences of at least about 100 residues, more preferably in nucleotide sequences of at least about 150 residues, and most preferably in nucleotide sequences comprising a full length coding sequence.
  • substantially identical sequences can be polymorphic sequences.
  • polymorphic refers to the occurrence of two or more genetically determined alternative sequences or alleles in a population. An allelic difference can be as small as one base pair.
  • substantially identical sequences can comprise mutagenized sequences, including sequences comprising silent mutations.
  • a mutation can comprise one or more residue changes, a deletion of residues, or an insertion of additional residues.
  • nucleic acid hybridization two nucleic acid sequences being compared can be designated a "probe” and a "target.”
  • a “probe” is a reference nucleic acid molecule
  • a '"target is a test nucleic acid molecule, often found within a heterogeneous population of nucleic acid molecules.
  • a “target sequence” is synonymous with a 'lest sequence.”
  • a preferred nucleotide sequence employed for hybridization studies or assays includes probe sequences that are complementary to or mimic at least an about 14 to 40 nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention.
  • probes comprise 14 to 20 nucleotides, or even longer where desired, such as 30, 40, 50, 60, 100, 200, 300, or 500 nucleotides or up to the full length of any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1 -7 and SEQ ID ' NO:28.
  • Such fragments can be readily prepared by, for example, chemical synthesis of the fragment, by application of nucleic acid amplification technology, or by introducing selected sequences into recombinant vectors for recombinant production.
  • hybridizing specifically to refers to the binding, duplexing, or hybridizing of a molecule only to a particular nucleotide sequence under stringent conditions when that sequence is present in a complex nucleic acid mixture (e.g., total cellular DNA or RNA).
  • hybridizing substantially to refers to complementary hybridization between a probe nucleic acid molecule and a target nucleic acid molecule and embraces minor mismatches that can be accommodated by reducing the stringency of the hybridization media to achieve the desired hybridization.
  • Stringent hybridization conditions and “stringent hybridization wash conditions” in the context of nucleic acid hybridization experiments such as Southern and Northern blot analysis are both sequence- and environment- dependent.
  • the T m is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe.
  • Very stringent conditions are selected to be equal to the T m for a particular probe.
  • An example of stringent hybridization conditions for Southern or Northern Blot analysis of complementary nucleic acids having more than about 100 complementary residues is overnight hybridization in 50% formamide with 1 mg of heparin at 42 Q C.
  • An example of highly stringent wash conditions is 15 minutes in 0.1 X SSC at 65 e C.
  • An example of stringent wash conditions is 15 minutes in 0.2X SSC buffer at 65 S C. See Sambrook et al., eds (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual.
  • a high stringency wash is preceded by a low stringency wash to remove background probe signal.
  • An example of medium stringency wash conditions for a duplex of more than about 100 nucleotides is 15 minutes in 1 X SSC at 45 9 C.
  • An example of low stringency wash for a duplex of more than about 100 nucleotides is 15 minutes in 4X to 6X SSC at 40 S C.
  • stringent conditions typically involve salt concentrations of less than about 1 M Na + ion, typically about 0.01 to 1 M Na + ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0-8.3, and the temperature is typically at least about 30 Q C.
  • Stringent conditions can also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide.
  • destabilizing agents such as formamide.
  • a signal to noise ratio of 2-fold (or higher) than that observed for an unrelated probe in the particular hybridization assay indicates detection of a specific hybridization.
  • a probe nucleotide sequence preferably hybridizes to a target nucleotide sequence in 7% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.5M NaP0 4 , 1 mM EDTA at 50°C followed by washing in 2X SSC, 0.1 % SDS at 50°C; more preferably, a probe and target sequence hybridize in 7% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.5M NaP0 4 , 1 mM EDTA at 50°C followed by washing in 1X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50°C; more preferably, a probe and target sequence hybridize in 7% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.5M NaP0 4 , 1 mM EDTA at 50°C followed by washing in 0.5X SSC, 0.1 % SDS at
  • nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical, share an overall three-dimensional structure, or are biologically functional equivalents. These terms are defined further under the heading "SLC26 Polypeptides" herein below. Nucleic acid molecules that do not hybridize to each other under stringent conditions are still substantially identical if the corresponding proteins are substantially identical. This can occur, for example, when two nucleotide sequences comprise conservatively substituted variants as permitted by the genetic code.
  • conservatively substituted variants refers to nucleic acid sequences having degenerate codon substitutions wherein the third position of one or more selected (or all) codons is substituted with mixed-base and/or deoxyinosine residues.
  • SLC26' also encompasses nucleic acids comprising subsequences and elongated sequences of a SLC26 nucleic acid, including nucleic acids complementary to a SLC26 nucleic acid, SLC26 RNA molecules, and nucleic acids complementary to SLC26 RNAs (cRNAs).
  • sequence refers to a sequence of nucleic acids that comprises a part of a longer nucleic acid sequence.
  • An exemplary subsequence is a probe, described herein above, or a primer.
  • primer refers to a contiguous sequence comprising about 8 or more deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides, preferably 10-20 nucleotides, and more preferably 20-30 nucleotides of a selected nucleic acid molecule.
  • the primers of the invention encompass oligonucleotides of sufficient length and appropriate sequence so as to provide initiation of polymerization on a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention.
  • elongated sequence refers to an addition of nucleotides (or other analogous molecules) incorporated into the nucleic acid.
  • a polymerase e.g., a DNA polymerase
  • the nucleotide sequence can be combined with other DNA sequences, such as promoters, promoter regions, enhancers, polyadenylation signals, intronic sequences, additional restriction enzyme sites, multiple cloning sites, and other coding segments.
  • complementary sequences indicates two nucleotide sequences that comprise antiparallel nucleotide sequences capable of pairing with one another upon formation of hydrogen bonds between base pairs.
  • complementary sequences means nucleotide sequences which are substantially complementary, as can be assessed by the same nucleotide comparison methods set forth below, or is defined as being capable of hybridizing to the nucleic acid segment in question under relatively stringent conditions such as those described herein.
  • a particular example of a complementary nucleic acid segment is an antisense oligonucleotide.
  • the present invention also provides chimeric genes comprising the disclosed SLC26 nucleic acids and recombinant SLC26 nucleic acids.
  • constructs and vectors comprising SLC26 nucleic acids.
  • the term "gene” refers broadly to any segment of DNA associated with a biological function.
  • a gene encompasses sequences including but not limited to a coding sequence, a promoter region, a cis-regulatory sequence, a non-expressed DNA segment that is a specific recognition sequence for regulatory proteins, a non-expressed DNA segment that contributes to gene expression, a DNA segment designed to have desired parameters, or combinations thereof.
  • a gene can be obtained by a variety of methods, including cloning from a biological sample, synthesis based on known or predicted sequence information, and recombinant derivation of an existing sequence.
  • the term "chimeric gene,” as used herein, refers to a promoter region operatively linked to a SLC26 sequence, including a SLC26 cDNA, a SLC26 nucleic acid encoding an antisense RNA molecule, a SLC26 nucleic acid encoding an RNA molecule having tertiary structure (e.g., a hairpin structure) or a SLC26 nucleic acid encoding a double-stranded RNA molecule.
  • the term “chimeric gene” also refers to a SLC26 promoter region operatively linked to a heterologous sequence.
  • operatively linked refers to a functional combination between a promoter region and a nucleotide sequence such that the transcription of the nucleotide sequence is controlled and regulated by the promoter region.
  • Techniques for operatively linking a promoter region to a nucleotide sequence are known in the art.
  • recombinant generally refers to an isolated nucleic acid that is replicable in a non-native environment.
  • a recombinant nucleic acid can comprise a non-replicable nucleic acid in combination with additional nucleic acids, for example vector nucleic acids, that enable its replication in a host cell.
  • vector is used herein to refer to a nucleic acid molecule having nucleotide sequences that enable its replication in a host cell.
  • a vector can also include nucleotide sequences to permit ligation of nucleotide sequences within the vector, wherein such nucleotide sequences are also replicated in a host cell.
  • Representative vectors include plasmids, cosmids, and viral vectors.
  • a vector can also mediate recombinant production of a SLC26 polypeptide, as described further herein below.
  • construct refers to a vector further comprising a nucleotide sequence operatively inserted with the vector, such that the nucleotide sequence is recombinantly expressed.
  • recombinantly expressed or “recombinantly produced” are used interchangeably to refer generally to the process by which a polypeptide encoded by a recombinant nucleic acid is produced.
  • recombinant SLC26 nucleic acids comprise heterologous nucleic acids.
  • heterologous nucleic acids refers to a sequence that originates from a source foreign to an intended host cell or, if from the same source, is modified from its original form.
  • a heterologous nucleic acid in a host cell can comprise a nucleic acid that is endogenous to the particular host cell but has been modified, for example by mutagenesis or by isolation from native cis-regulatory sequences.
  • a heterologous nucleic acid also includes non-naturally occurring multiple copies of a native nucleotide sequence.
  • a heterologous nucleic acid can also comprise a nucleic acid that is incorporated into a host cell's nucleic acids at a position wherein such nucleic acids are not ordinarily found.
  • Nucleic acids of the present invention can be cloned, synthesized, altered, mutagenized, or combinations thereof. Standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used to isolate nucleic acids are known in the art. Site-specific mutagenesis to create base pair changes, deletions, or small insertions are also known in the art. See e.g., Sambrook et al.
  • an isolated SLC26 polypeptide of the present invention comprises a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide.
  • isolated SLC26 polypeptides comprise functional SLC26 polypeptides.
  • novel SLC26 polypeptides useful in the methods of the present invention comprise: (a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1-7; (b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid substantially identical to any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs:1 -7; (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of even- numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8; or (d) a polypeptide substantially identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8.
  • polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding the same, from Drosophila sources as disclosed in the Examples and in SEQ ID NOs: 31 -42, and the methods, definitions, sequence comparison, and hybridization conditions set forth herein are equally applicable to these nucleic acids and polypeptides.
  • substantially identical as used herein to describe a level of similarity between SLC26 and a protein substantially identical to a SLC26 protein, refers to a sequence that is at least about 35% identical to any of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, when compared over the full length of a SLC26 protein.
  • a protein substantially identical to a SLC26 protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 35% to about 45% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, more preferably at least about 45% to about 55% identical to any one of even- numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, even more preferably at least about 55% to about 65% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, still more preferably at least about 65% to about 75% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, still more preferably at least about 75% to about 85% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, still more preferably at least about 85% to about 95% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, and still more preferably at least about 95% to about 99% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8 when compared over the full length of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • full length refers to a functional SLC26 polypeptide, as described further herein below. Methods for determining percent identity between two polypeptides are also defined herein below under the heading “Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence Comparisons".
  • substantially identical when used to describe polypeptides, also encompasses two or more polypeptides sharing a conserved three-dimensional structure. Computational methods can be used to compare structural representations, and structural models can be generated and easily tuned to identify similarities around important active sites or ligand binding sites. See Saqi et al.
  • Substantially identical proteins also include proteins comprising amino acids that are functionally equivalent to amino acids of any one of even- numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8.
  • the term "functionally equivalent" in the context of amino acids is known in the art and is based on the relative similarity of the amino acid side-chain substituents. See Henikoff & Henikoff (2000) Adv Protein Chem 54:73-97.
  • arginine, lysine, and histidine are all positively charged residues; that alanine, glycine, and serine are all of similar size; and that phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine all have a generally similar shape.
  • arginine, lysine, and histidine; alanine, glycine, and serine; and phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine are defined herein as biologically functional equivalents.
  • hydropathic index of amino acids can be considered.
  • Each amino acid has been assigned a hydropathic index on the basis of their hydrophobicity and charge characteristics, these are: isoleucine (+ 4.5); valine (+ 4.2); leucine (+ 3.8); phenylalanine (+ 2.8); cysteine (+ 2.5); methionine (+ 1.9); alanine (+ 1.8); glycine (-0.4); threonine (-0.7); serine (-0.8); tryptophan (-0.9); tyrosine (-1.3); proline (-1.6); histidine (-3.2); glutamate (-3.5); glutamine (-3.5); aspartate (-3.5); asparagine (-3.5); lysine (-3.9); and arginine (-4.5).
  • 4,554,101 describes that the greatest local average hydrophilicity of a protein, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with its immunogenicity and antigenicity, e.g., with a biological property of the protein. It is understood that an amino acid can be substituted for another having a similar hydrophilicity value and still obtain a biologically equivalent protein.
  • hydrophilicity values have been assigned to amino acid residues: arginine (+ 3.0); lysine (+ 3.0); aspartate (+ 3.0 ⁇ 1); glutamate (+ 3.0 ⁇ 1 ); serine (+ 0.3); asparagine (+ 0.2); glutamine (+ 0.2); glycine (0); threonine (-0.4); proline (-0.5 ⁇ 1 ) alanine (-0.5); histidine (-0.5); cysteine (-1.0); methionine (-1 .3); valine (-1.5) leucine (-1.8); isoleucine (-1.8); tyrosine (-2.3); phenylalanine (-2.5) tryptophan (-3.4).
  • substantially identical also encompasses polypeptides that are biologically functional equivalents of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • the term “functional” includes an activity of an SLC26 polypeptide in transporting anions across a membrane. Preferably, such transport shows a magnitude and anion selectivity that is substantially similar to that of a cognate SLC26 polypeptide in vivo. Preferably, the term “functional” also refers to similar kinetics of activation and inactivation of anion transport activity. Representative methods for assessing anion transport activity are described herein below.
  • the present invention also provides functional fragments of a SLC26 polypeptide. Such functional portion need not comprise all or substantially all of the amino acid sequence of a native SLC26 gene product.
  • the present invention also includes functional polypeptide sequences that are longer sequences than that of a native SLC26 polypeptide.
  • one or more amino acids can be added to the N-terminus or C- terminus of a SLC26 polypeptide. Such additional amino acids can be employed in a variety of applications, including but not limited to purification applications. Methods of preparing elongated proteins are known in the art. II.C.
  • nucleotide and Amino Acid Seguence Comparisons refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using one of the sequence comparison algorithms disclosed herein or by visual inspection.
  • substantially identical in regards to a nucleotide or polypeptide sequence means that a particular sequence varies from the sequence of a naturally occurring sequence by one or more deletions, substitutions, or additions, the net effect of which is to retain biological function of a SLC26 nucleic acid or a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • one sequence acts as a reference sequence to which one or more test sequences are compared.
  • test and reference sequences are entered into a computer program, subsequence coordinates are designated if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are selected.
  • sequence comparison algorithm calculates the percent sequence identity for the designated test sequence(s) relative to the reference sequence, based on the selected program parameters.
  • Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, for example, by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman (1981 ) Adv Appl Math 2:482-489, by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch (1970) J Mol Biol 48:443-453, by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman (1988) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:2444-2448, by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, Madison, Wisconsin), or by visual inspection. See generally, Ausubel (ed.) (1995) Short Protocols in Molecular Biology, 3rd ed. Wiley, New York.
  • a preferred algorithm for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity is the BLAST algorithm, which is described in Altschul et al. (1990) J Mol Biol 215:403-410.
  • Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/).
  • This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive- valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold.
  • HSPs high scoring sequence pairs
  • the word hits are then extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always > 0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues; always ⁇ 0). For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value, the cumulative score goes to zero or below due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments, or the end of either sequence is reached.
  • the BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment.
  • W wordlength
  • E expectation
  • BLOSUM62 scoring matrix See Henikoff & Henikoff (1992) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 89: 10915-10919.
  • the BLAST algorithm In addition to calculating percent sequence identity, the BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences. See e.g., Karlin & Altschul (1993) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 90:5873-5877.
  • One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences that would occur by chance.
  • P(N) the smallest sum probability
  • a test nucleic acid sequence is considered similar to a reference sequence if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test nucleic acid sequence to the reference nucleic acid sequence is less than about 0.1 , more preferably less than about 0.01 , and most preferably less than about 0.001.
  • a method for detecting a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • Such methods can be used to detect SLC26 gene variants or altered gene expression.
  • detection of a change in SLC26 sequence or expression can be used for diagnosis of SZ-C2t -related diseases, disorders, and drug interactions.
  • the nucleic acids used for this method comprise sequences set forth as any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1-7.
  • nucleic acids detected by methods of the invention can detected, subcloned, sequenced, and further evaluated by any measure well known in the art using any method usually applied to the detection of a specific DNA sequence.
  • the nucleic acids of the present invention can be used to clone genes and genomic DNA comprising the disclosed sequences.
  • nucleic acids of the present invention can be used to clone genes and genomic DNA of related sequences.
  • nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein such methods are known to one skilled in the art. See e.g., Sambrook et al., eds (1989) Molecular Cloning. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Representative methods are also disclosed in Examples 1 -4.
  • levels of a SLC26 nucleic acid molecule are measured by, for example, using an RT-PCR assay. See Chiang (1998) J Chromatogr A 806:209-218, and references cited therein.
  • genetic assays based on nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be used to screen for genetic variants, for example by allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probe analysis (Conner et al., 1983), oligonucleotide ligation assays (OLAs) (Nickerson et al., 1990), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis (Orita et al., 1989), SSCP/heteroduplex analysis, enzyme mismatch cleavage, direct sequence analysis of amplified exons (Kestila et al., 1998; Yuan et al., 1999), allele-specific hybridization (Stoneking et al., 1991 ), and restriction analysis of amplified genomic DNA containing the specific mutation.
  • ASO allele-specific oligonucleotide
  • OVAs oligonucleotide ligation assays
  • SSCP single-strand conformation polymorphism
  • Automated methods can also be applied to large-scale characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms (Wang et al., 1998; Brookes, 1999).
  • Preferred detection methods are non-electrophoretic, including, for example, the TAQMANTM allelic discrimination assay, PCR- OLA, molecular beacons, padlock probes, and well fluorescence. See Landegren et al. (1998) Genome Res 8:769-776 and references cited therein.
  • the present invention further provides a system for expression of a recombinant SLC26 polypeptide of the present invention.
  • a system for expression of a recombinant SLC26 polypeptide of the present invention can be used for subsequent purification and/or characterization of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a purified SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide can be used as an immunogen for the production of an SLC26 antibody, described further herein below.
  • a system for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide can also be used for the identification of modulators of anion transport. In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for identification of SLC26 modulators, as described herein below.
  • the disclosed SLC26 polypeptides can be used as a control anion transporter when testing any other molecule for anion transport activity.
  • SLC26A8 is a chloride transporter, and thus a system for recombinant SLC26A8 expression can be used as a positive control in an assay to determine chloride transport of a test polypeptide.
  • Such test polypeptides can include candidates for any one of a variety of hereditary and acquired disease such as cystic fibrosis, nephrolithiasis, and cholera.
  • a heterologous expression system refers to a host cell comprising a heterologous nucleic acid and the polypeptide encoded by the heterologous nucleic acid.
  • a heterologous expression system can comprise a host cell transfected with a construct comprising a recombinant SLC26 nucleic acid, a host cell transfected with SLC26 cRNA, or a cell line produced by introduction of heterologous nucleic acids into a host cell genome.
  • a system for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide can comprise: (a) a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide; and (b) a host cell comprising the recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a SLC26 cRNA can be transcribed in vitro and then introduced into a host cell, whereby a SLC26 polypeptide is expressed.
  • SLC26 cRNA is provided to a host cell by direct injection of a solution comprising the SLC26 cRNA, as described in Example 5.
  • the system can further comprise a plurality of different SLC26 polypeptides.
  • a system for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide can also comprise: (a) a construct comprising a vector and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a SLC26 polypeptide operatively linked to a heterologous promoter; and (b) a host cell comprising the construct of (a), whereby the host cell expresses a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • the system can further comprise constructs encoding a plurality of different SLC26 polypeptides. Additionally, a single construct itself can encode a plurality of different SLC26 polypeptides. Isolated polypeptides and recombinantly produced polypeptides can be purified and characterized using a variety of standard techniques that are known to the skilled artisan.
  • a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide comprises a functional anion transporter.
  • a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide preferably displays transport of Cl " , S0 2" , oxalate, and/or formate across a lipid bilayer or membrane.
  • a recombinant SLC26 polypeptide shows ion selectivity similar to a native SLC26 polypeptide. Representative methods for determining SLC26 function are described herein below. IV.A. Expression Constructs
  • a construct for expression of a SLC26 polypeptide includes a vector and a SLC26 nucleotide sequence, wherein the SLC26 nucleotide sequence is operatively linked to a promoter sequence.
  • a construct for recombinant SLC26 expression can also comprise transcription termination signals and sequences required for proper translation of the nucleotide sequence. Preparation of an expression construct, including addition of translation and termination signal sequences, is known to one skilled in the art.
  • Recombinant production of a SLC26 polypeptide can be directed using a constitutive promoter or an inducible promoter.
  • Representative promoters that can be used in accordance with the present invention include Simian virus 40 early promoter, a long terminal repeat promoter from retrovirus, an actin promoter, a heat shock promoter, and a metallothien protein.
  • Suitable vectors that can be used to express a SLC26 polypeptide include but are not limited to viruses such as vaccinia virus or adenovirus, baculovirus vectors, yeast vectors, bacteriophage vectors (e.g., lambda phage), plasmid and cosmid DNA vectors, transposon-mediated transformation vectors, and derivatives thereof.
  • Constructs are introduced into a host cell using a transfection method compatible with the vector employed.
  • Standard transfection methods include electroporation, DEAE-Dextran transfection, calcium phosphate precipitation, liposome-mediated transfection, transposon-mediated transformation, infection using a retrovirus, particle-mediated gene transfer, hyper-velocity gene transfer, and combinations thereof.
  • host cell refers to a cell into which a heterologous nucleic acid molecule can be introduced.
  • Any suitable host cell can be used, including but not limited to eukaryotic hosts such as mammalian cells (e.g., HeLa cells, CV-1 cells, COS cells), amphibian cells (e.g., Xenopus oocytes), insect cells (e.g., Sf9 cells), as well as prokaryotic hosts such as E.coli and Bacillus subtilis.
  • eukaryotic hosts such as mammalian cells (e.g., HeLa cells, CV-1 cells, COS cells), amphibian cells (e.g., Xenopus oocytes), insect cells (e.g., Sf9 cells), as well as prokaryotic hosts such as E.coli and Bacillus subtilis.
  • Preferred host cells are amphibian cells such as Xenopus oocytes.
  • a host cell substantially lacks a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a host cell strain can be chosen which modulates the expression of the recombinant sequence, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired.
  • different host cells have characteristic and specific mechanisms for the translational and post- translational processing and modification (e.g., glycosylation, phosphorylation of proteins).
  • Appropriate cell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the desired modification and processing of the foreign protein expressed.
  • expression in a bacterial system can be used to produce a non-glycosylated core protein product, and expression in yeast will produce a glycosylated product.
  • the present invention further encompasses recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide in a stable cell line.
  • Methods for generating a stable cell line following transformation of a heterologous construct into a host cell are known in the art. See e.g., Joyner (1993) Gene Targeting: A Practical Approach. Oxford University Press, Oxford/New York.
  • transformed cells, tissues, or non-human organisms are understood to encompass not only the end product of a transformation process, but also transgenic progeny or propagated forms thereof.
  • the present invention further encompasses cryopreservation of cells expressing a recombinant SLC26 polypeptide as disclosed herein.
  • transiently transfected cells and cells of a stable cell line expressing SLC26 can be frozen and stored for later use. Frozen cells can be readily transported for use at a remote location.
  • Cryopreservation media generally consists of a base medium, cryopreservative, and a protein source.
  • the cryopreservative and protein protect the cells from the stress of the freeze-thaw process.
  • a typical cryopreservation medium is prepared as complete medium containing 10% glycerol; complete medium containing 10% DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide), or 50% cell-conditioned medium with 50% fresh medium with 10% glycerol or 10 % DMSO.
  • typical cryopreservation formulations include 50% cell-conditioned serum free medium with 50% fresh serum-free medium containing 7.5% DMSO; or fresh serum-free medium containing 7.5% DMSO and 10% cell culture grade DMSO.
  • a cell suspension comprising about 10 6 to about 10 7 cells per ml is mixed with cryopreservation medium.
  • Cells are combined with cryopreservation medium in a vial or other container suitable for frozen storage, for example NUNC® CRYOTUBESTM (available from Applied Scientific of South San Francisco, California). Cells can also be aliquotted to wells of a multi-well plate, for example a 96-well plate designed for high-throughput assays, and frozen in plated format.
  • a vial or other container suitable for frozen storage for example NUNC® CRYOTUBESTM (available from Applied Scientific of South San Francisco, California).
  • Cells can also be aliquotted to wells of a multi-well plate, for example a 96-well plate designed for high-throughput assays, and frozen in plated format.
  • Cells are preferably cooled from room temperature to a storage temperature at a rate of about -1 °C per minute.
  • the cooling rate can be controlled, for example, by placing vials containing cells in an insulated water-filled reservoir having about 1 liter liquid capacity, and placing such cube in a -70°C mechanical freezer.
  • the rate of cell cooling can be controlled at about -1 °C per minute by submersing vials in a volume of liquid refrigerant such as an aliphatic alcohol, the volume of liquid refrigerant being more than fifteen times the total volume of cell culture to be frozen, and placing the submersed culture vials in a conventional freezer at a temperature below about -70°C.
  • frozen cells are stored at or below about -70°C to about -80°C, and more preferably at or below about -130°C.
  • thawing of the cells must be performed as quickly as possible. Once a vial or other reservoir containing frozen cells is removed from storage, it should be placed directly into a 37°C water bath and gently shaken until it is completely thawed. If cells are particularly sensitive to cryopreservatives, the cells are centrifuged to remove cryopreservative prior to further growth.
  • the present invention also provides a transgenic animal comprising a disruption of SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 gene expression.
  • Altered gene expression can include expression of an altered level or mutated variant of a SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 gene.
  • the present invention provides nucleic acids encoding SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 that can be used to prepare constructs for generating a transgenic animal. Also provided is genomic localization data useful for preparation of constructs targeted to the SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 locus.
  • the transgenic animal can comprise a mouse with targeted modification of the mouse SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 locus and can further comprise mice strains with complete or partial functional inactivation of the SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 genes in all somatic cells.
  • a transgenic animal in accordance with the present invention is prepared using anti-sense or ribozyme SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 constructs, driven by a universal or tissue-specific promoter, to reduce levels of SLC26 gene expression in somatic cells, thus achieving a "knock-down" phenotype.
  • the present invention also provides the generation of murine strains with conditional or inducible inactivation of SLC26A8, SLC26A 11, or a combination thereof.
  • Such murine strains can also comprise additional synthetic or naturally occurring mutations, for example a mutation in any other SLC26 gene.
  • the present invention also provides mice strains with specific "knocked-in” modifications in the SLC26A8 and SLC26A11 genes, for example to create an over-expression or dominant negative phenotype.
  • "knocked-in” modifications include the expression of both wild type and mutated forms of a nucleic acid encoding a SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 polypeptide.
  • transgenic animals Techniques for the preparation of transgenic animals are known in the art. Exemplary techniques are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,489,742 (transgenic rats); U.S. Patent Nos. 4,736,866, 5,550,316, 5,614,396, 5,625,125 and 5,648,061 (transgenic mice); U.S. Patent No. 5,573,933 (transgenic pigs); 5,162,215 (transgenic avian species) and U.S. Patent No. 5,741 ,957 (transgenic bovine species), the entire contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference.
  • a transgenic animal of the present invention can comprises a mouse with targeted modification of the mouse SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 gene.
  • Mice strains with complete or partial functional inactivation of the SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 genes in all somatic cells are generated using standard techniques of site-specific recombination in murine embryonic stem cells. See Capecchi (1989) Science 244:1288-1292; Thomas & Capecchi (1990) Nature 346:847-850; and Delpire et al. (1999) Nat Genei l 22:192-195.
  • VL SLC26 Antibodies VL SLC26 Antibodies
  • a method for producing an antibody that specifically binds a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a full-length recombinant SLC26 polypeptide is formulated so that it can be used as an effective immunogen, and used to immunize an animal so as to generate an immune response in the animal.
  • the immune response is characterized by the production of antibodies that can be collected from the blood serum of the animal.
  • the present invention also provides antibodies produced by methods that employ the novel SLC26 polypeptides disclosed herein, including any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8.
  • antibody refers to an immunoglobulin protein, or functional portion thereof, including a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a hybrid antibody, a single chain antibody, a mutagenized antibody, a humanized antibody, and antibody fragments that comprise an antigen binding site (e.g., Fab and Fv antibody fragments).
  • a SLC26 antibody comprises a monoclonal antibody.
  • the present invention also encompasses antibodies and cell lines that produce monoclonal antibodies as described herein.
  • binding when used to describe binding of an antibody to a SLC26 polypeptide, refers to binding to a SLC26 polypeptide in a heterogeneous mixture of other polypeptides.
  • SLC26 antibodies prepared as disclosed herein can be used in methods known in the art relating to the localization and activity of SLC26 polypeptides, e.g., for cloning of nucleic acids encoding a SLC26 polypeptide, immunopu fication of a SLC26 polypeptide, imaging a SLC26 polypeptide in a biological sample, and measuring levels of a SLC26 polypeptide in appropriate biological samples.
  • an antibody of the present invention can further comprise a detectable label, including but not limited to a radioactive label, a fluorescent label, an epitope label, and a label that can be detected in vivo. Methods for selection of a label suitable for a particular detection technique, and methods for conjugating to or otherwise associating a detectable label with an antibody are known to one skilled in the art. VII. SLC26 Modulators
  • the present invention further discloses assays to identify modulators of SLC26 activity.
  • An assay can employ a system for expression of a SLC26 polypeptide, as disclosed herein above, or an isolated SLC26 polypeptide produced in such a system.
  • the present invention also provides modulators of anion transport activity identified using the disclosed methods.
  • modulate means an increase, decrease, or other alteration of any or all chemical and biological activities or properties of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • the method for identifying modulators involves assaying a level or quality of SLC26 function.
  • a method for identifying a modulator of anion transport can comprise: (a) providing a recombinant expression system whereby a SLC26 polypeptide is expressed in a host cell, and wherein the SLC26 polypeptide comprises a SLC26A8 polypeptide or SLC26A11 polypeptide; (b) providing a test substance to the system of (a); (c) assaying a level or quality of SLC26 function in the presence of the test substance; (d) comparing the level or quality of SLC26 function in the presence of the test substance with a control level or quality of SLC26 function; and (e) identifying a test substance as an anion transport modulator by determining a level or quality of SLC26 function in the presence of the test substance as significantly changed when compared to a control level or quality of SLC26 function.
  • assaying SLC26 function comprises determining a level of SLC26 gene expression.
  • assaying SLC26 function comprises assaying binding activity of a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a SLC26 activity can comprise an amount or a strength of binding of a modulator to a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • assaying SLC26 function can comprise assaying an active conformation of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • assaying SLC26 function comprises assaying anion transport activity of a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a representative level of SLC26 activity can thus comprise an amount of anion transport or a peak level of anion transport, measurable as described in Example 6.
  • a representative quality of SLC26 activity can comprise, for example, anion selectivity of a SLC26 polypeptide, pH sensitivity of anion transport, and pharmacological sensitivity of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • the electrophysiological behavior of SLC26A6 and other SLC26 polypeptides also provides a signature for transport activity.
  • a control level or quality of SLC26 activity refers to a level or quality of wild type SLC26 activity.
  • a system for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide comprises any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2- 8.
  • a control level or quality of SLC26 activity comprises a level or quality of activity in the absence of a test substance.
  • significantly changed refers to a quantified change in a measurable quality that is larger than the margin of error inherent in the measurement technique, preferably an increase or decrease by about 2-fold or greater relative to a control measurement, more preferably an increase or decrease by about 5-fold or greater, and most preferably an increase or decrease by about 10-fold or greater.
  • Modulators identified by the disclosed methods can comprise agonists and antagonists.
  • agonist means a substance that activates, synergizes, or potentiates the biological activity of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • antagonist refers to a substance that blocks or mitigates the biological activity of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a modulator can also comprise a ligand or a substance that specifically binds to a SLC26 polypeptide. Activity and binding assays for the determination of a SLC26 modulator can be performed in vitro or in vivo.
  • such assays are useful for the identification of SLC26 modulators that can be developed for the treatment and/or diagnosis of SLC26-related disorders, as described further herein below under the heading "Therapeutic Applications.”
  • SLC26 polypeptide can be performed for the purpose of prescreening bioactive agents, wherein an interaction between the agent and SLC26 is undesirable.
  • drugs intended for administration to a subject for the treatment of a non-SLC26-related disorder can be tested for SLC26 modulating activity that can result in undesirable side effects.
  • the disclosed assays and methods enable pre-screening of bioactive agents under development to identify deleterious effects of anion transport.
  • an assay disclosed herein can be used to characterize a mutant SLC26 polypeptide, for example a mutant polypeptide that is linked to a disorder of anion transport. Recombinant expression of mutated SLC26 polypeptides will permit further analysis of disorder-related SLC26 anion transporters.
  • This screening method comprises separately contacting a SLC26 polypeptide with a plurality of test substances.
  • the plurality of target substances preferably comprises more than about 10 4 samples, or more preferably comprises more than about 10 5 samples, and still more preferably more than about 10 6 samples.
  • a potential modulator assayed using the methods of the present invention comprises a candidate substance.
  • a test substance suspected to interact with a polypeptide can be evaluated for such an interaction using the methods disclosed herein.
  • test substances include but are not limited to peptides, oligomers, nucleic acids (e.g., aptamers), small molecules (e.g., chemical compounds), antibodies or fragments thereof, nucleic acid-protein fusions, any other affinity agent, and combinations thereof.
  • a test substance can additionally comprise a carbohydrate, a vitamin or derivative thereof, a hormone, a neurotransmitter, a virus or receptor binding domain thereof, an opsin or rhodopsin, an odorant, a phermone, a toxin, a growth factor, a platelet activation factor, a neuroactive peptide, or a neurohormone.
  • a candidate substance to be tested can be a purified molecule, a homogenous sample, or a mixture of molecules or compounds.
  • small molecule refers to a compound, for example an organic compound, with a molecular weight of less than about 1 ,000 daltons, more preferably less than about 750 daltons, still more preferably less than about 600 daltons, and still more preferably less than about 500 daltons.
  • a small molecule also preferably has a computed log octanol-water partition coefficient in the range of about -4 to about +14, more preferably in the range of about -2 to about +7.5.
  • Test substances can be obtained or prepared as a library.
  • library means a collection of molecules.
  • a library can contain a few or a large number of different molecules, varying from about ten molecules to several billion molecules or more.
  • a molecule can comprise a naturally occurring molecule, a recombinant molecule, or a synthetic molecule.
  • a plurality of test substances in a library can be assayed simultaneously.
  • test substances derived from different libraries can be pooled for simultaneous evaluation.
  • Representative libraries include but are not limited to a peptide library (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,156,511 , 6,107,059, 5,922,545, and 5,223,409), an oligomer library (U.S. Patent Nos. 5,650,489 and 5,858,670), an aptamer library (U.S. Patent No. 6,180,348 and 5,756,291 ), a small molecule library (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,168,912 and 5,738,996), a library of antibodies or antibody fragments (U.S. Patent Nos.
  • a library can comprise a random collection of molecules.
  • a library can comprise a collection of molecules having a bias for a particular sequence, structure, or conformation. See e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,264,563 and 5,824,483. Methods for preparing libraries containing diverse populations of various types of molecules are known in the art, for example as described in U.S. Patents cited herein above. Numerous libraries are also commercially available. VII.B. Expression Assays The present invention also provides a method for identifying a substance that regulates SLC26A11 gene expression.
  • the term "gene expression" is used herein to refer generally to the cellular processes by which a functional SLC26 polypeptide is produced from a nucleic acid.
  • a SLC26 modulator can comprise a substance that binds to and regulates a SLC26A 11 promoter.
  • promoter refers to a nucleic acid that can direct gene expression of a nucleic acid to which it is operatively linked.
  • a representative SLC26A 11 promoter is set forth as SEQ ID NO:28.
  • a gene expression assay utilizes a chimeric gene that includes an isolated SLC26A 11 promoter region operatively linked to a reporter gene.
  • a gene expression system is established that includes the chimeric gene and components required for gene transcription and translation so that reporter gene expression is assayable.
  • the method further provides the steps of using the gene expression system to determine a baseline level of reporter gene expression in the absence of a test substance, providing a plurality of test substances to the gene expression system, and assaying a level of reporter gene expression in the presence of a test substance.
  • a test substance is selected whose presence results in an altered level of reporter gene expression when compared to the baseline level.
  • the present invention further provides a chimeric gene comprising a SLC26A 11 promoter region operatively linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence.
  • the SLC26A 11 promoter region comprises the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:28, or functional portion thereof.
  • a chimeric gene of the invention is carried in a vector and expressed in a host cell.
  • Preferred host cells include mammalian cells, for example HeLa cells.
  • reporter gene each refer to a heterologous gene encoding a product that is readily observed and/or quantitated.
  • detectable reporter genes that can be operatively linked to a transcriptional regulatory region can be found in Alam & Cook (1990) Anal Biochem 188:245-254 and in PCT International Publication No. WO 97/47763.
  • Preferred reporter genes for transcriptional analyses include the lacZ gene (Rose & Botstein, 1983), Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) (Cubitt et al., 1995), luciferase, or chloramphenicol acetyl trans! 'erase (CAT).
  • An amount of reporter gene can be assayed by any method for qualitatively or preferably, quantitatively determining presence or activity of the reporter gene product.
  • the amount of reporter gene expression directed by each test promoter region fragment is compared to an amount of reporter gene expression to a control construct comprising the reporter gene in the absence of a promoter region fragment.
  • a promoter region fragment is identified as having promoter activity when there is significant increase in an amount of reporter gene expression in a test construct as compared to a control construct. Representative methods for reporter gene assays can be found in U.S. Patent No. 6,087,11 1 , among other places.
  • Modulators that bind a SLC26A 11 promoter can also be identified using one-hybrid analysis.
  • a SLC26A 11 promoter is operatively linked to one, or typically more, yeast reporter genes such as the lacZ gene, the URA3 gene, the LEU2 gene, the HIS3 gene, or the LYS2 gene, and the reporter gene fusion construct(s) is inserted into an appropriate yeast host strain. It is expected that the reporter genes are not transcriptionally active in the engineered yeast host strain, for lack of a transcriptional activator protein to bind the SLC26A 11 promoter.
  • the engineered yeast host strain is transformed with a library of cDNAs inserted in a yeast activation domain fusion protein expression vector, e.g. pGAD, where the coding regions of the cDNA inserts are fused to a functional yeast activation domain coding segment, such as those derived from the GAL4 or VP16 activators.
  • a yeast activation domain fusion protein expression vector e.g. pGAD
  • a functional yeast activation domain coding segment such as those derived from the GAL4 or VP16 activators.
  • Transformed yeast cells that acquire a cDNA encoding a protein that binds a cis-regulatory element of a SLC26A 11 promoter can be identified based on the concerted activation the reporter genes, either by genetic selection for prototrophy (e.g., LEU2, HIS3, or LYS2 reporters) or by screening with chromogenic substrates (lacZ reporter gene) by methods known in the art. See e.g., Luo et al. (1996) Biotechnigues 20:564-568; Vidal et al. (1996) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:10315-10320; and Li & Herskowitz (1993) Science 262:1870-1874.
  • genetic selection for prototrophy e.g., LEU2, HIS3, or LYS2 reporters
  • lacZ reporter gene chromogenic substrates
  • a method for identifying of a SLC26 modulator comprises determining specific binding of a test substance to a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • binding refers to an affinity between two molecules.
  • specific binding also encompasses a quality or state of mutual action such that an activity of one protein or compound on another protein is inhibitory (in the case of an antagonist) or enhancing (in the case of an agonist).
  • the binding of a modulator to a SLC26 polypeptide can be considered specific if the binding affinity is about 1 x10 4 M "1 to about 1x10 6 M '1 or greater.
  • the phrase “specifically binds” also refers to saturable binding. To demonstrate saturable binding of a test substance to a SLC26 polypeptide, Scatchard analysis can be carried out as described, for example, by Mak et al. (1989) J Biol Chem 264:21613-21618.
  • phase “substantially lack binding” or “substantially no binding”, as used herein to describe binding of a modulator to a control polypeptide or sample, refers to a level of binding that encompasses non-specific or background binding, but does not include specific binding.
  • FCS Spectroscopy
  • the expression is mediated in a host cell, such as E.coli, yeast, Xenopus oocytes, or mammalian cells.
  • the polypeptide is purified using chromatographic methods.
  • the poly-histidine tag can be used to bind the expressed polypeptide to a metal chelate column such as Ni 2+ chelated on iminodiacetic acid agarose.
  • the polypeptide is then labeled with a fluorescent tag such as carboxytetramethylrhodamine or BODIPYTM reagent (available from Molecular Probes of Eugene, Oregon).
  • the polypeptide is then exposed in solution to the potential ligand, and its diffusion rate is determined by FCS using instrumentation available from Carl Zeiss, Inc. (Thomwood, New York). Ligand binding is determined by changes in the diffusion rate of the polypeptide.
  • SELDI Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/lonization
  • SELDI provides a technique to rapidly analyze molecules retained on a chip. It can be applied to ligand-protein interaction analysis by covalently binding the target protein, or portion thereof, on the chip and analyzing by mass spectrometry the small molecules that bind to this protein (Worrall et al., 1998).
  • a target polypeptide e.g., a SLC26 polypeptide
  • the target polypeptide is bound to a SELDI chip either by utilizing a poly-histidine tag or by other interaction such as ion exchange or hydrophobic interaction.
  • a chip thus prepared is then exposed to the potential ligand via, for example, a delivery system able to pipet the ligands in a sequential manner (autosampler).
  • the chip is then washed in solutions of increasing stringency, for example a series of washes with buffer solutions containing an increasing ionic strength. After each wash, the bound material is analyzed by submitting the chip to SELDI-TOF.
  • Ligands that specifically bind a target polypeptide are identified by the stringency of the wash needed to elute them.
  • Biacore relies on changes in the refractive index at the surface layer upon binding of a ligand to a target polypeptide (e.g., a SLC26 polypeptide) immobilized on the layer.
  • a target polypeptide e.g., a SLC26 polypeptide
  • a collection of small ligands is injected sequentially in a 2-5 microliter cell, wherein the target polypeptide is immobilized within the cell. Binding is detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) by recording laser light refracting from the surface.
  • SPR surface plasmon resonance
  • the refractive index change for a given change of mass concentration at the surface layer is practically the same for all proteins and peptides, allowing a single method to be applicable for any protein (Liedberg et al., 1983; Malmquist, 1993).
  • a target protein is recombinantly expressed, purified, and bound to a Biacore chip. Binding can be facilitated by utilizing a poly-histidine tag or by other interaction such as ion exchange or hydrophobic interaction.
  • a chip thus prepared is then exposed to one or more potential ligands via the delivery system incorporated in the instruments sold by Biacore (Uppsala, Sweden) to pipet the ligands in a sequential manner (autosampler).
  • the SPR signal on the chip is recorded and changes in the refractive index indicate an interaction between the immobilized target and the ligand. Analysis of the signal kinetics of on rate and off rate allows the discrimination between non-specific and specific interaction. See also Homola et al. (1999) Sensors and Actuators 54:3-15 and references therein. VII.D. Conformational Assay
  • the present invention also provides a method for identifying a SLC26 modulator that relies on a conformational change of a SLC26 polypeptide when bound by or otherwise interacting with a SLC26 modulator.
  • Application of circular dichroism to solutions of macromolecules reveals the conformational states of these macromolecules.
  • the technique can distinguish random coil, alpha helix, and beta chain conformational states.
  • circular dichroism analysis can be performed using a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a SLC26 polypeptide is purified, for example by ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography, and mixed with a test substance. The mixture is subjected to circular dichroism.
  • the conformation of a SLC26 polypeptide in the presence of a test substance is compared to a conformation of a SLC26 polypeptide in the absence of a test substance.
  • a change in conformational state of a SLC26 polypeptide in the presence of a test substance can thus be used to identify a SLC26 modulator. Representative methods are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,776,859 and 5,780,242. VILE. Anion Transport Assays
  • a method for identifying a SLC26 modulator employs a functional SLC26 polypeptide.
  • Novel SLC26 polypeptides disclosed herein include any of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2- 8.
  • Representative methods for determining anion transport activity of a functional SLC26 modulator include measuring anion flux and determining electrogenic transport, each described briefly herein below.
  • cells expressing SLC26 can be provided in the form of a kit useful for performing an assay of SLC26 function.
  • cells can be frozen as described herein above and transported while frozen to others for performance of an assay.
  • a test kit is provided for detecting a SLC26 modulator, the kit comprising: (a) frozen cells transfected with DNA encoding a full-length SLC26 polypeptide; and (b) a medium for growing the cells.
  • a cell used in such an assay comprises a cell that is substantially devoid of native SLC26 and polypeptides substantially similar to SLC26.
  • a preferred cell comprises a vertebrate cell, for example a Xenopus oocyte.
  • a cell used in the assay comprises a stable cell line that recombinantly expresses SLC26.
  • a cell used in the assay can transiently express a SLC26 polypeptide as described in Example 5.
  • substantially devoid of refers to a quality of having a level of native SLC26A, a level of a polypeptide substantially similar to SLC26A, or a level of activity thereof, comprising a background level.
  • background level encompasses non-specific measurements of expression or activity that are typically detected in a cell free of SLC26 and free of polypeptides substantially similar to a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • all assays employing cells expressing recombinant SLC26 additionally employ control cells that are substantially devoid of native SLC26 and polypeptides substantially similar to a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a control cell can comprise, for example, an untransfected host cell.
  • a control cell can comprise, for example, a parent cell line used to derive the S/.C2c -expressing cell line.
  • Assays of SLC26 activity that employ transiently transfected cells preferably include a marker that distinguishes transfected cells from non- transfected cells.
  • marker refers to any detectable molecule that can be used to distinguish a cell that recombinantly expresses SLC26 from a cell that does not recombinantly express a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a marker is encoded by or otherwise associated with a construct for SLC26 expression, such that cells are simultaneously transfected with a nucleic acid molecule encoding SLC26 and the marker.
  • Representative detectable molecules that are useful as markers include but are not limited to a heterologous nucleic acid, a polypeptide encoded by a transfected construct (e.g., an enzyme or a fluorescent polypeptide), a binding protein, and an antigen.
  • a marker comprising a heterologous nucleic acid includes nucleic acids encoding a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • any suitable method can be used to detect the encoded SLC26 polypeptide, as described herein below.
  • enzymes that are useful as markers include phosphatases (such as acid or alkaline phosphatase), ⁇ -galactosidase, urease, glucose oxidase, carbonic anhydrase, acetylcholinesterase, glucoamylase, maleate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, ⁇ -glucosidase, proteases, pyruvate decarboxylase, esterases, luciferase, alcohol dehydrogenase, or peroxidases (such as horseradish peroxidase).
  • phosphatases such as acid or alkaline phosphatase
  • ⁇ -galactosidase urease, glucose oxidase,
  • a marker comprising an enzyme can be detected based on activity of the enzyme.
  • a substrate is be added to catalyze a reaction the end product of which is detectable, for example using spectrophotometer, a luminometer, or a fluorimeter.
  • Substrates for reaction by the above- mentioned enzymes, and that produce a detectable reaction product, are known to one of skill in the art.
  • a preferred marker comprises an encoded polypeptide that can be detected in the absence of an added substrate.
  • Representative polypeptides that can be detected directly include GFP and EGFP.
  • Common research equipment has been developed to perform high- throughput detection of fluorescence, for example GFP or EGFP fluorescence, including instruments from GSI Lumonics (Watertown, Massachusetts, United States of America), Amersham Pharmacia Biotech/Molecular Dynamics (Sunnyvale, California, United States of America), Applied Precision Inc. (Issauah, Washington, United States of America), and Genomic Solutions Inc. (Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America). Most of the commercial systems use some form of scanning technology with photomultiplier tube detection.
  • Anion Flux Assay A candidate substance can be tested for its ability to modulate a SLC26 polypeptide by determining anion flux across a membrane or lipid bilayer. Anion levels can be determined by any suitable approach. For example, an anion can be detected using a radiolabeled anion as described in Example 6.
  • an indicator compound comprises a compound that can be detected in a high-throughput capacity.
  • Representative fluorescent indicators useful for detecting halides include quinolium-type Cl " indicators (Verkman, 1990; Mansoura et al., 1999), cell-permeable indicators (Biwersi & Verkman, 1991), ratiometric indicators (Biwersi & Verkman, 1991 ), and long wavelength indicators (Biwersi et al., 1994; Jayaraman et al., 1999).
  • An indicator can also comprise a recombinant protein.
  • the yellow fluorescent protein mutant YFP-H148Q
  • produces fluorescence that is decreased upon halide binding Jayaraman et al., 2000; Galietta et al., 2001 .
  • Such indicators are compatible with high- throughput assay formats and can be detected using, for example, an instrument for fluorescent detection as noted herein above.
  • Anion flux in a population of cultured cells can also be measured based on changes in a degree of light scattering that is correlated with cell size. See e.g., Krick et al. (1998) Pflugers Arch 435:415-421.
  • An anion flux assay can also comprise a competitive assay design.
  • the method can comprise: (a) providing an expression system, whereby a functional SLC26 polypeptide is expressed; (b) adding a SLC26 activator to the expression system, whereby anion transport is elicited; (c) adding a test substance to the expression system; and (d) observing a suppression of the anion transport in the presence of the SLC26 activator and the test substance, whereby an inhibitor of SLC26 is determined.
  • the persistent activator and test substance can be provided to the functional expression simultaneously.
  • an assay for determining a SLC26 activator can comprise steps (a)-(d) above with the exception that an enhancement of conductance is observed in the presence of the persistent activator and the test substance.
  • Electrogenic Transport Assay Anion transport via a SLC26 polypeptide of the present invention can further be determined to be electrogenic by monitoring changes in intracellular pH (pH,) and membrane voltage (V m ) during transport. Representative methods are described by Romero et al. (1998) Am J Physiol 274:F425-432 and Romero et al. (2000) J Biol Chem 275:24552-24559. See also Example 7.
  • an oocyte is visualized with a dissecting microscope and held on a nylon mesh in a chamber having a volume of about 250 ⁇ .
  • the oocyte is continuously superfused with a saline solution (3 ml/minute to 5 ml/minute) that is delivered through TYGON® tubing (Worchester, Massachusetts, United States of America). Solutions can be switched using a daisy-chain system of computer-actuated five-way valves with zero dead space. Solution changes in the chamber typically occur within 15 seconds to about 20 seconds.
  • Membrane voltage (V m ) and intracellular pH (pH,) of X.laevis oocytes are measured simultaneously using microelectrodes, as described by Romero et al.
  • m electrodes can be pulled from borosilicate fiber-capillary glass (Warner Instruments of West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America). Electrodes are backfilled with 3M KCI and typically have a resistance of about 3M ⁇ to 5M ⁇ .
  • the pH electrodes can be pulled in a similar manner, and are silanized by exposing them to 40 ⁇ l of bis-d - (methylamino)-dimethylsilane (Fluka Chemical of Ronkonkoma, New York, United States of America) for 5 minutes to 10 minutes. Silanized electrodes are deposited in an enclosed container at 200°C, and then baked overnight.
  • pH micropipettes are cooled under vacuum, and their tips are filled with hydrogen ionophore l-cocktail B (Fluka Chemical of Ronkonkoma, New York, United States of America).
  • the pH micropipettes are then backfilled with a buffer containing 0.04M KH 2 P0 4 , 0.023M NaOH, and 0.015M NaCI (pH 7.0).
  • Representative pH microelectrodes have slopes ranging from about -54 mV/pH unit to -59 mV/pH unit.
  • Vm and pHj electrodes are connected to high-impedance electrometers as described by Davis et al. (1992) Am J Physiol 263:C246- 256 and Siebens & Boron (1989) Am J Physiol 256:F354-365.
  • the voltage due to pH can be obtained by electronically subtracting the signals from the pH and V m electrodes.
  • V m can be obtained by subtracting the signals from the V m electrode and an external reference (calomel) electrode.
  • electrogenic transport can be detected using any suitable method.
  • pH can also be assayed by detecting the presence of a fluorescence dye, for example BCECF (available from Photon Technology International, Inc. of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, United States of America).
  • BCECF available from Photon Technology International, Inc. of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, United States of America.
  • a SLC26 modulator Once a SLC26 modulator has been identified, its effectiveness in modulating anion transport activity can further be tested in isolated membrane vesicles, including brush border membrane vesicles derived from kidney and gut. Modulators can also be tested for activity in cultured grafts, for example intact renal proximal tubules. Methods for preparing membrane vesicles and exografts are known in the art, and representative protocols are described by Pritchard & Miller (1993) Physiol Rev 73:765-796; Miller et al. (1996) Am J Physiol 271 :F508-520; Masereeuw et al.
  • the structure of a SLC26 polypeptide can be determined by X-ray crystallography and/or by computational algorithms that generate three- dimensional representations. See Saqi et al. (1999) Bioinformatics 15:521 - 522; Huang et al. (2000) Pac Symp Biocompu .230-2 ⁇ ; and PCT International Publication No. WO 99/26966.
  • a working model of a SLC26 polypeptide structure can be derived by homology modeling (Maalouf et al., 1998).
  • a SLC26 polypeptide is a membrane protein, and can be purified in soluble form using detergents or other suitable amphiphilic molecules.
  • the identification of functional Drosophila Slc26d- proteins is a significant advance, since it is highly likely that much higher protein yield can be obtained from expressing Drosophila paralogs in Sf9 insect cells.
  • the sequence similarity between Slc26d5002 and SLC26A11 in particular provides that structural study of this Drosophila paralog will yield information of specific relevance to the mammalian SLC26A1 1 protein.
  • the resulting SLC26 polypeptide is in sufficient purity and concentration for crystallization.
  • the purified SLC26 polypeptide preferably runs as a single band under reducing or non-reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).
  • the purified SLC26 polypeptide can be crystallized under varying conditions of at least one of the following: pH, buffer type, buffer concentration, salt type, polymer type, polymer concentration, other precipitating ligands, and concentration of purified SLC26.
  • SLC26 crystals range in size from 0.1 -1 .5 mm. These crystals diffract X-rays to at least 10 A resolution, such as 1.5-10.0 A or any range of value therein, such as 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1 , 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1 , 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3, with 3.5 A or less being preferred for the highest resolution. VIM. Methods for Detecting a SLC26 Polypeptide The present invention further provides methods for detecting a SLC26 polypeptide. The disclosed methods can be used for determining altered levels of SLC26 expression that are associated with SLC26A-related disorders and disease states.
  • the method involves performing an immunochemical reaction with an antibody that specifically recognizes a SLC26 polypeptide, wherein the antibody was prepared according to a method of the present invention for producing such an antibody.
  • the method comprises: (a) obtaining a biological sample comprising peptidic material; (b) contacting the biological sample with an antibody that specifically binds a SLC26 polypeptide and that was produced according to the disclosed methods, wherein the antibody comprises a detectable label; and (c) detecting the detectable label, whereby a SLC26 polypeptide in a sample is detected.
  • a modulator that shows specific binding to a SLC26 polypeptide is used to detect a SLC26 anion transporter.
  • the method comprises: (a) obtaining a biological sample comprising peptidic material; (b) contacting the biological sample with a modulator of a SLC26 polypeptide, wherein the modulator comprises a detectable label; and (c) detecting the detectable label, whereby a SLC26 polypeptide in a sample is detected.
  • Any suitable detectable label can be used, for example a fluorophore or epitope label.
  • the present invention provides methods for identification of modulators of anion transport activity of SLC26A8 and SLC26A11.
  • a construct encoding a recombinant SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 polypeptide can be used to replace diminished or lost SLC26 function.
  • the modulators and constructs of the invention are useful for regulation of anion transport in a subject, for example to remedy dysfunctional anion transport associated with sulphate homeostasis, sulphation, oxalate homeostasis, transepithelial salt transport, bicarbonate transport, and physiological pH regulation.
  • a construct encoding a recombinant SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide can be used to replace diminished or lost SLC26 function.
  • subject includes any vertebrate species, preferably warm-blooded vertebrates such as mammals and birds. More particularly, the methods of the present invention are contemplated for the treatment of tumors in mammals such as humans, as well as those mammals of importance due to being endangered (such as Siberian tigers), of economical importance (animals raised on farms for consumption by humans) and/or social importance (animals kept as pets or in zoos) to humans, for instance, carnivores other than humans (such as cats and dogs), swine (pigs, hogs, and wild boars), ruminants and livestock (such as cattle, oxen, sheep, giraffes, deer, goats, bison, and camels), and horses.
  • endangered such as Siberian tigers
  • social importance animals kept as pets or in zoos
  • birds including those kinds of birds that are endangered or kept in zoos, as well as fowl, and more particularly domesticated fowl or poultry, such as turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, and the like, as they are also of economical importance to humans.
  • SLC26A8-Related Disorders Linkage studies of families ascertained through patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) suggest that an HLA-linked susceptibility gene on chromosome 6, designated "EJM1 ,” predisposes to a group of idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) comprising JME, juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), childhood absence epilepsies (CAE), and epilepsies with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) (Sander et al., 1995).
  • IGEs generalized epilepsies
  • JME juvenile absence epilepsy
  • CAE childhood absence epilepsies
  • GTCS generalized tonic-clonic seizures
  • SLC26A8 in brain, as disclosed herein, and its potential role in the regulation of both neuronal Cl " and neuronal pH also suggest its role in epilepsy. SLC26A8 is also expressed in testis, and thus is implicated in spermatocyte development and/or function (Example 4). SLC26A8 physically interacts with the RhoGTPase MgcracGAP (Toure et al., 2001 ), which is important for cell division (Jantsch-Plunger et al., 2000; Hirose et al., 2001). MgcracGAP normally interacts with the mitotic spindle to facilitate cytokinesis.
  • SLC26A8 is proposed to disrupt this interaction, thereby precluding complete cytokinesis during meiotic divisions in spermatocytes (Toure et al., 2001 ). See also Lohi et al. (2002) J Biol Chem 7:electronic publication. SLC26A1 1 -Related Disorders. SLC26A 11 is a positional candidate for the autosomal dominant deafness locus DFNA20, which causes dominant, nonsyndromic, progressive hearing loss in multiple generations (Morell et al., 2000). DFNA20 has been mapped to chromosome 17q25, and the present invention discloses that SLC26A 11 lies within this region.
  • SLC26A11 is also a positional candidate for familial Moyamoya disease, in which the circle of Willis spontaneously occludes (Yamauchi et al., 2000).
  • a characteristic feature of Moyamoya disease is an abnormal vascular network at the base of the brain, suggesting a primary abnormality of angiogenesis.
  • Linkage analysis has localized the disease gene within a 9-cM region of chromosome 17q25.
  • the present invention discloses that SLC26A11 is included within this chromosomal region.
  • a composition that is administered to alter anion transport activity in a subject comprises: (a) an effective amount of a SLC26 modulator; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • a SLC26 modulator can comprise any one of the types of test substances described herein above.
  • a SLC26 modulator can also comprise a pH modifier.
  • the present invention also provides methods for modulating anion transport activity in a subject via administration of a gene therapy construct comprising an SLC26 polypeptide.
  • a gene therapy construct comprising an SLC26 polypeptide.
  • Such a construct can be prepared as described herein above, further comprising a carrier suitable for administration to a subject.
  • a method for modulating SLC26 anion transport by administering a modulator of a SLC26 polypeptide to the subject, wherein the modulator comprises a pH modifier.
  • pH modifier refers to any substance that can be used to regulate the pH of an in situ environment.
  • An effective amount of a pH modifier comprises an amount sufficient to alter a pH to a level sufficient for activation of a SLC26 polypeptide.
  • An effective amount of a pH modifier effective to achieve the desired in vivo pH modification will depend on the acidity or basicity (pKa or pKb) of the compound used, the pH of the carrier (e.g., a polymer composition) used when in vivo, and the in vivo environment's physiologic pH.
  • Representative pH modifiers include acidic compounds or anhydrous precursors thereof, or chemically protected acids.
  • a pH modifier can comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of: amino acids; carboxylic acids and salts thereof; di-acids and salts thereof; poly-acids and salts thereof; esters that are easily hydrolyzable in vivo; lactones that are easily hydrolyzable in vivo; organic carbonates; enolic compounds; acidic phenols; polyphenolic compounds; aromatic alcohols; ammonium compounds or salts thereof; boron-containing compounds; sulfonic acids and salts thereof; sulfinic acids and salts thereof; phosphorus-containing compounds; acid halides; chloroformates; acid gases; acid anhydrides; inorganic acids and salts thereof; and polymers having functional groups of at least one of the preceding members.
  • a pH modifier of this invention can also comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of: glycine; alanine; proline; lysine; glutaric acid; D- galacturonic acid; succinic acid; lactic acid; glycolic acid; poly(acrylic acid); sodium acetate; diglycolic anhydride; succinic anhydride; citraconic anhydride; maleic anhydride; lactide; diethyl oxalate; Meldrum's acid; diethyl carbonate; dipropyl carbonate; diethyl pyrocarbonate; diallyl pyrocarbonate; di-tert-butyl dicarbonate; ascorbic acid; catechin; ammonium chloride; D- glucosamine hydrochloride; 4-hydroxy-ephedrine hydrochloride; boric acid; nitric acid; hydrochloric acid; sulfuric acid; ethanesulfonic acid; and p- toluenesulfonic acid; 2-
  • a pH modifier can be prepared in a microcapsule, such that the pH modifier diffuses through the microcapsule or is released by bioerosion of the microcapsule.
  • the microcapsule may be formulated so that the pH modifier is released from the microcapsule continuously over a period of time.
  • Microencapsulation of the pH modifier can be achieved by many known microencapsulation techniques, as described further herein below under the heading "Carriers.” X.B. Carriers
  • the carrier can be a viral vector or a non- viral vector.
  • Suitable viral vectors include adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), retroviruses, pseudotyped retroviruses, herpes viruses, vaccinia viruses, Semiliki forest virus, and baculoviruses.
  • Suitable non-viral vectors that can be used to deliver a SLC26 polypeptide or a SLC26 modulator include but are not limited to a plasmid, a nanosphere (Manome et al., 1994; Saltzman & Fung, 1997), a peptide (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,127,339 and 5,574,172), a glycosaminoglycan (U.S. Patent No. 6,106,866), a fatty acid (U.S. Patent No. 5,994,392), a fatty emulsion (U.S. Patent No. 5,651 ,991), a lipid or lipid derivative (U.S. Patent No. 5,786,387), collagen (U.S. Patent No.
  • plasmid vector can be used in conjunction with liposomes.
  • a carrier can be selected to effect sustained bioavailability of a SLC26 modulator to a site in need of treatment.
  • sustained bioavailability encompasses factors including but not limited to prolonged release of a SLC26 modulator from a carrier, metabolic stability of a SLC26 modulator, systemic transport of a composition comprising a SLC26 modulator, and effective dose of a SLC26 modulator.
  • Representative compositions for sustained bioavailability can include but are not limited to polymer matrices, including swelling and biodegradable polymer matrices, (U.S. Patent Nos.
  • Microcapsules can be carried out by dissolving a coating polymer in a volatile solvent, e.g., methylene chloride, to a polymer concentration of about 6% by weight; adding a pH modifying compound (selected to be acidic or basic according to the pH level to be achieved in situ) in particulate form to the coating polymer/solvent solution under agitation, to yield a pH modifier concentration of 2% to 10% by weight; adding the resulting polymer dispersion to a methylene chloride solution containing a phase inducer, such as silicone oil, under agitation; allowing the mixture to equilibrate for about 20 minutes; further adding the mixture slowly to a non-solvent, such as heptane, under rapid agitation; allowing the more volatile solvent to evaporate under agitation; removing the agitator; separating the solids from the silicone oil and heptane; and washing and drying the microcapsules.
  • the size of the microcapsules will range from about 0.001 to about
  • a microencapsulating coating polymer is preferably biodegradable and/or can permit diffusion of the encapsulated modulator (e.g., a pH modifier).
  • a microencapsulating coating also preferably has low inherent moisture content. Biodegradation preferably occurs at rates greater than or similar to the rate of degradation of the base polymer.
  • polyesters such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, copolymers of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, poly- ⁇ - hydroxybutyrate, copolymers of D-caprolactone and D-valerolactone, copolymers of D-caprolactone and DL-dilactide, and polyester hydrogels; polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyamides; gelatin; albumin; proteins; collagen; poly(orthoesters); poly(anhydrides); poly(alkyl-2-cyanoacrylates); poly(dihydropyrans); poly(acetals); poly(phosphazenes); poly(urethanes); poly(dioxinones); cellulose; and starches.
  • polyesters such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, copolymers of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, poly- ⁇ - hydroxybutyrate, copolymers of D-caprolactone and D-val
  • Viral Gene Therapy Vectors are preferably disabled, e.g. replication-deficient. That is, they lack one or more functional genes required for their replication, which prevents their uncontrolled replication in vivo and avoids undesirable side effects of viral infection.
  • all of the viral genome is removed except for the minimum genomic elements required to package the viral genome incorporating the therapeutic gene into the viral coat or capsid. For example, it is desirable to delete all the viral genome except: (a) the Long Terminal Repeats (LTRs) or Invented Terminal Repeats (ITRs); and (b) a packaging signal.
  • LTRs Long Terminal Repeats
  • ITRs Invented Terminal Repeats
  • deletions are typically made in the E1 region and optionally in one or more of the E2, E3 and/or E4 regions.
  • Other viral vectors can be similarly deleted of genes required for replication. Deletion of sequences can be achieved by a recombinant approach, for example, involving digestion with appropriate restriction enzymes, followed by re-ligation. Replication-competent self-limiting or self- destructing viral vectors can also be used.
  • Nucleic acid constructs of the invention can be incorporated into viral genomes by any suitable approach known in the art. Typically, such incorporation is performed by ligating the construct into an appropriate restriction site in the genome of the virus. Viral genomes can then be packaged into viral coats or capsids using any suitable procedure. In particular, any suitable packaging cell line can be used to generate viral vectors of the invention. These packaging lines complement the replication- deficient viral genomes of the invention, as they include, for example by incorporation into their genomes, the genes that have been deleted from the replication-deficient genome. Thus, the use of packaging lines allows viral vectors of the invention to be generated in culture.
  • Suitable packaging lines for retroviruses include derivatives of PA317 cells, ⁇ -2 cells, CRE cells, CRIP cells, E-86-GP cells, and 293GP cells. Line 293 cells are preferred for use with adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses.
  • a SLC26 modulator or SLC26 polypeptide can also be encoded by a plasmid.
  • Advantages of a plasmid carrier include low toxicity and easy large-scale production.
  • a polymer- coated plasmid can be delivered using electroporation as described by Fewell et al. (2001 ) Mol Ther 3:574-583.
  • a plasmid can be combined with an additional carrier, for example a cationic polyamine, a dendrimer, or a lipid, that facilitates delivery. See e.g., Baher et al. (1999) Anticancer Res 19:2917-2924; Maruyama-Tabata et al.
  • Liposomes A composition of the invention can also be delivered using a liposome.
  • Liposomes can be prepared by any of a variety of techniques that are known in the art. See e.g., — (1997). Current Protocols in Human Genetics on CD-ROM. John Wiley & Sons, New York; Lasic & Martin (1995) STEALTH® Liposomes. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America; Janoff (1999) Liposomes: Rational Design. M. Dekker, New York; Gregoriadis (1993) Liposome Technology. 2nd ed.
  • lipid carriers can also be used in accordance with the claimed invention, such as lipid microparticles, micelles, lipid suspensions, and lipid emulsions. See e.g., Labat-Moleur et al. (1996) Gene Therapy 3:1010-1017; and U.S. Patent Nos. 5,01 1 ,634; 6,056,938; 6,217,886; 5,948,767; and 6,210,707.
  • lipid microparticles such as lipid microparticles, micelles, lipid suspensions, and lipid emulsions.
  • a composition of the invention can include one or more ligands having affinity for a specific cellular marker to thereby enhance delivery of a SLC26 modulator or a SLC26 polypeptide to a site in need of treatment in a subject.
  • Ligands include antibodies, cell surface markers, peptides, and the like, which act to home the therapeutic composition to particular cells.
  • target tissue refers to an intended site for accumulation of a ligand following administration to a subject.
  • control tissue refers to a site suspected to substantially lack binding and/or accumulation of an administered ligand.
  • selective targeting of "selective homing” as used herein each refer to a preferential localization of a ligand that results in an amount of ligand in a target tissue that is about 2-fold greater than an amount of ligand in a control tissue, more preferably an amount that is about 5-fold or greater, and most preferably an amount that is about 10-fold or greater.
  • selective targeting and “selective homing” also refer to binding or accumulation of a ligand in a target tissue concomitant with an absence of targeting to a control tissue, preferably the absence of targeting to all control tissues.
  • Representative targeting ligands include peptides and antibodies.
  • peptide encompasses any of a variety of forms of peptide derivatives, that include amides, conjugates with proteins, cyclized peptides, polymerized peptides, conservatively substituted variants, analogs, fragments, peptoids, chemically modified peptides, and peptide mimetics.
  • Representative peptide ligands that show tumor-binding activity include, for example, those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,180,084 and 6,296,832.
  • antibody indicates an immunoglobulin protein, or functional portion thereof, including a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a hybrid antibody, a single chain antibody (e.g., a single chain antibody represented in a phage library), a mutagenized antibody, a humanized antibody, and antibody fragments that comprise an antigen binding site (e.g., Fab and Fv antibody fragments).
  • a polyclonal antibody e.g., a single chain antibody represented in a phage library
  • a mutagenized antibody e.g., Fab and Fv antibody fragments
  • Antibodies, peptides, or other ligands can be coupled to drugs (e.g., a SLC26 modulator or a gene therapy construct comprising a SLC26 polypeptide) or drug carriers using methods known in the art, including but not limited to carbodiimide conjugation, esterification, sodium periodate oxidation followed by reductive alkylation, and glutaraldehyde crosslinking. See e.g., Bauminger & Wilchek (1980) Methods Enzymol 70:151 -159; Goldman et al. (1997) Cancer Res 57:1447-1451 ; Kirpotin et al. (1997) Biochemistry 36:66-75; (1997). Current Protocols in Human
  • Suitable formulations for administration of a composition of the invention to a subject include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which can contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, bactericidal antibiotics and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the bodily fluids of the intended recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which can include suspending agents and thickening agents.
  • the formulations can be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealed ampoules and vials, and can be stored in a frozen or freeze- dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of sterile liquid carrier, for example water for injections, immediately prior to use.
  • SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate
  • PBS phosphate-buffered saline
  • the therapeutic regimens and compositions of the invention can be used with additional adjuvants or biological response modifiers including, but not limited to, the cytokines interferon alpha (IFN- ⁇ ), interferon gamma (IFN- ⁇ ), interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or other cytokine affecting immune cells.
  • additional adjuvants or biological response modifiers including, but not limited to, the cytokines interferon alpha (IFN- ⁇ ), interferon gamma (IFN- ⁇ ), interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or other cytokine affecting immune cells.
  • composition of the present invention can be administered to a subject systemically, parenterally, or orally.
  • parenteral as used herein includes intravenous injection, intra-muscular injection, intra-arterial injection, and infusion techniques.
  • compositions can be administered as an aerosol or coarse spray.
  • a delivery method is selected based on considerations such as the type of the type of carrier or vector, therapeutic efficacy of the composition, and the condition to be treated.
  • an effective amount of a composition of the invention is administered to a subject.
  • an "effective amount” is an amount of a composition sufficient to modulate SLC26 anion transport activity.
  • Actual dosage levels of active ingredients in a therapeutic composition of the invention can be varied so as to administer an amount of the composition that is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular subject. The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the therapeutic composition, formulation, the route of administration, combination with other drugs or treatments, the disease or disorder to be treated, and the physical condition and prior medical history of the subject being treated. Determination and adjustment of an effective amount or dose, as well as evaluation of when and how to make such adjustments, are known to those of ordinary skill in the art of medicine.
  • Candidates for the 3'- UTR were identified by analyzing genomic contigs, in which a cluster of ESTs a few kilobases 3' of the central coding exons was recognized.
  • LA TAGTM DNA polymerase (TaKaRa of Verivers, Belgium) was used for PCR amplification according to the following conditions: 30 cycles of denaturation at 98°C for 30 seconds and amplification/extension at 68°C for 6 minutes. Amplified PCR products were subcloned into the pCR2.1 vector (Invitrogen Corporation of Carlsbad, California, United States of America) and sequenced. A 500,000 base pair contig containing the entire mouse SLC26A8 gene was identified by performing a BLASTn search of mouse genomic sequences (Celera of Rockville, Maryland) using human SLC26A8 cDNA as a query sequence.
  • the Mouse Genome Database (MGD, available at http://www.informatics.jax.org/mgihome/) was used as a resource for the analysis of murine genomic contigs.
  • a 3294 base pair cDNA encompassing the entire open mouse SLC26A8 reading frame was then cloned from reverse-transcribed mouse testis RNA, using LA TAQ U DNA polymerase (TaKaRa of Verivers, Belgium) with a sense primer (SEQ ID NO:22) and an anti-sense primer (SEQ ID NO:23), as described above for human SLC26A8.
  • the mouse and human SLC26A8 proteins are 984 and 970 amino acids in length, respectively, and the proteins are 74% identical.
  • the analysis of large genomic contigs containing the mouse and human genes revealed that the surrounding chromosomes have a conserved organization.
  • Both SLC26A8 genes are flanked at the 5' ends by the MAPK-13 and MAPK14 genes and at the 3' end by the SRPK1 and colipase genes (Hu et al., 1999; Wang et al., 1999).
  • the genomic structure of the two SLC26A8 genes is conserved, with a total of 19 coding exons spanning about 80 kb of genomic DNA.
  • the two SLC26A8 genes are thus clearly orthologous.
  • the predicted SLC26A8 proteins are much longer than any of the other SLC26 exchangers. Most of this increased length is due to a large insertion within the predicted STAS domain and to a C-terminus that extends about 174 amino acids beyond that of the closest homologue. This C- terminal extension in particular is rich in glutamate, aspartate, proline, serine, and threonine.
  • a predicted type 3 PDZ (nNOS) interaction motif was identified at the extreme C-terminal end of human SLC26A8 using Scansite (Songyang et al., 1993; Songyang et al., 1997; Yaffe et al., 1997; available at http://cansite.bidmc.harvard.edu/cantley85.html). However, this domain does not appear to be conserved in mouse SLC26A8.
  • Example 2 Example 2
  • the Mouse Genome Database (MGD, available at http://www.informatics.jax.org/mgihome/) was used as a resource for the analysis of murine genomic contigs. This effort identified END04D09, a mouse EST from the extreme 5' of the mouse SLC26A 11 cDNA that showed significant homology to the predicted amino-terminus of Drosophila SLC26 proteins.
  • the mouse open reading frame was cloned by RT-PCR from mouse brain and kidney, using LA TAQTM DNA polymerase (TaKaRa of Verivers, Belgium) and primers (SEQ ID NOs:24-25) according to the following PCR conditions: 30 cycles of denaturation at 98°C for 30 seconds and amplification/extension at 68°C for 6 minutes.
  • a partial human cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR from human brain and kidney, using LA TAQTM DNA polymerase (TaKaRa of Verivers, Belgium) and primers (SEQ ID NOs:26-27). The remaining 5' end of human SLC26A 11 was then identified by sequencing a human 5' EST, I.M.A.G.E.
  • mice and human SLC26A 11 predict proteins of 593 and 606 residues in length, respectively, and are substantially shorter than other SLC26 proteins.
  • Mouse and human SLC26A1 1 are about 80% identical.
  • SLC26A 11 appears to be a particularly ancient member of the mammalian SLC26 gene family, in that SLC26A11 is more homologous to SLC26 proteins in Drosophila, C. elegans, and S. cerevisiae than it is to the mammalian SLC26 proteins.
  • mouse SLC26A1 1 is 37% identical to the predicted CG5002 and CG7912 Drosophila proteins.
  • the Drosophila SLC26 proteins and the SLC26A1 1 proteins share two short insertions within the hydrophobic central region.
  • the corresponding sequences, PHPEMPLAVKFSRG (SEQ ID NO:29; residues 208-221 of mouse SLC26A1 1 ) and EMVQDMGAGLAV (SEQ ID NO:30; residues 284-295 of mouse SLC26A11 ) are not conserved in the Drosophila proteins are also absent from other mammalian SLC26A1 1 paralogs.
  • the C-termini of the SLC26A1 1 proteins are significantly shorter than the other mammalian orthologs and lack an expanded STAS domain observed in SLC26A8.
  • Example 3 Genomic Localization of Human SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 Based on the known localization of physically linked genes and sequence tagged sites (STS), the human SLC26A8 gene was localized at the centromeric end of the HLA complex on chromosome 6p21.3. Genomic localization of human STS markers was performed using the LDB (Location Database, available at http://cedar.genetics.soton.ac.uk/public_html/). The mouse ortholog is flanked on a 500 kb contig (Celera of
  • the murine MAPK13, SRPK1, and colipase genes which have been localized near the murine MHC complex on chromosome 17, at about 15 cM (Hu et al., 1999; Wang et al., 1999).
  • the mouse and human SLC26A 11 genes are both arranged head- to-head with the gene encoding sulphamidase, the disease gene for Sanfilippo A syndrome (Scott et al., 1995).
  • the human sulphamidase gene is on chromosome 17q25, as are several STS markers in genomic contigs encompassing human SLC26A 1 1.
  • Mouse sulphamidase is on the syntenic region of murine chromosome 1 1 , at about 75 cM (Costanzi et al., 2000). Genomic contigs that included SLC26A 11 also included neuronal pentraxin, which had been previously localized to this region of mouse chromosome 1 1 and human chromosome 17 (Omeis et al., 1996).
  • mice SLC26A1 1 and sulphamidase The distance between the transcription start sites of mouse SLC26A1 1 and sulphamidase was estimated from the positions of the most 5' ESTs to be only 34 base pairs ( Figure 2). Thus, the mouse SLC26A 11 and sulphamidase genes likely share a bi-directional promoter (SEQ ID NO:28). The intergenic also contains a CpG island, consistent with the widespread expression of the two genes.
  • the Panc-1 and Calu-3 cell lines were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC of Manassas, Virginia, United States of America) and grown in DMEM with 10% FBS.
  • Calu-3 is a model for pulmonary submucosal gland serous epithelial cells (Lee et al., 1998)
  • Panc-1 is a model for pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (Elgavish & Meezan, 1992).
  • RNA (10 ⁇ g/lane) was size-fractionated by electrophoresis (5% formaldehyde, 1 % agarose), and transferred to a nylon membrane (Stratagene of La Jolla, California, United States of America).
  • Amplified fragments of mouse SLC26A8, mouse SLC26A 11, and GAPDH were labeled with 32 P by the random priming method (DecaPrime kit for randomly-prime labeling, available from Ambion, Inc. of Austin, Texas, United States of America).
  • the blots were sequentially hybridized and stripped according to standard methods known in the art.
  • Northern blots prepared using 2 ⁇ g/lane of human poly-A + RNA were purchased from Clontech of Palo Alto, California, United States of America, and were hybridized to S-.C26-specific probes and to a human ⁇ - actin probe.
  • Hybridization of all blots was performed overnight at 42°C in 4X SSCP/40% formamide/4X Denhart's solution/0.5% SDS/200 ⁇ g salmon sperm DNA.
  • Membranes were washed twice for 10 minutes at room temperature in 2X SSCP/0.1 %SDS, and twice for 1 hour at 65°C in 0.1 X SSCP/0.1 % SDS.
  • Human SLC26A8 transcripts were expressed in a restricted pattern, with a 3.3 kb transcript detected in brain and mouse testis. SLC26A8 transcripts were also amplified by RT-PCR from mouse brain and human testis. A 3.0 kb mouse SLC26A 11 transcript was detected in all tissues probed and thus appeared to be ubiquitously expressed.
  • Example 5 Expression of SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 in Xenopus laevis Oocytes
  • Full-length mouse SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 cDNAs were cloned into the Xenopus expression vector pGEMHE (Liman et al., 1992).
  • SLC26A6 and SLC26A2 constructs were also prepared for use as controls in transport assays (Example 6). Expression constructs were linearized, and cRNA was transcribed in vitro using T7 RNA polymerase and a MMESSAGE MMACHINE® transcription kit (Ambion, Inc. of Austin, Texas, United States of America).
  • Defolliculated oocytes were injected with 25 nl to 50 nl of water or with a solution containing cRNA at a concentration of 0.5 ⁇ g/ ⁇ l (12.5 ng to 25 ng per oocyte) using a Nanoliter-2000 injector (WPI Instruments of Sarasota, Florida, United States of America). Oocytes were incubated at 17°C in 50% Leibovitz's L-15 media supplemented with penicillin/streptomycin (1000 units/ml) and glutamine for 2-3 days for uptake assays.
  • oocytes are pre-incubated for 20 minutes in chloride-free uptake medium (100mM NMDG gluconate, 2mM potassium gluconate, 1 mM calcium gluconate, 1 mM magnesium gluconate, 10mM HEPES-Tris, pH 6.0 or pH 7.5 as indicated), followed by a 60-minute period for uptake in the same medium supplemented with 1 mM K 2 35 S0 4 (40 ⁇ Ci/ml). The cells are then washed three times in uptake buffer with 5mM cold K 2 S0 4 to remove tracer activity in the extracellular fluid.
  • chloride-free uptake medium 100mM NMDG gluconate, 2mM potassium gluconate, 1 mM calcium gluconate, 1 mM magnesium gluconate, 10mM HEPES-Tris, pH 6.0 or pH 7.5 as indicated
  • the oocytes are dissolved individually in 10% SDS, and tracer activity is determined by scintillation counting. Uptake of chloride, formate, and oxalate is assayed using the same chloride-free uptake solutions, substituting 8.3mM 36 CI, 500 ⁇ M [ 14 C]oxalate, or 50 ⁇ M [ 14 C]formate for labeled sulphate. Each uptake experiment preferably includes 12-18 oocytes in each experimental group, and results are reported as means ⁇ SEM.
  • the concentration of NMDG-gluconate in the uptake solution is adjusted to maintain isotonic osmolality (-210 mOsm/Kg), which can be confirmed experimentally using a FISKE® osmometer (Fiske Associates, Inc. of Bethel,
  • C0 2 /HC ⁇ 3 -free ND96 medium contains 96mM NaCI, 2mM KCI, 1 mM MgCI , 1.8mM CaCI 2 , and 5mM HEPES (pH 7.5 and 195-200mOsm).
  • 33mM NaHC0 3 replaces 33mM NaCI.
  • choline replaces Na + .
  • gluconate replaces Cl " .
  • pH electrodes preferably have slopes of at least -56 mV/decade change.
  • Example 8 Drosophila SLC26 Gene Family Figure 4 is a phylogenetic tree of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family.
  • Sequence-verified paralogs are denoted by Slc26d-, genes determined by genomic annotation are denoted by CG-.
  • Slc26d- genes determined by genomic annotation are denoted by CG-.
  • CG- genomic annotation
  • a total of seven full-length cDNAs have been identified, and six full-length sequences are disclosed herein as SEQ ID NOs:31 -42.
  • Figure 5 depicts chloride uptakes in Xenopus oocytes injected with water or singly with cRNA encoding four members of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family, with extracellular pH set at 7.4 (open bars) or 6.0 (filled bars).
  • Figure 6 depicts chloride uptakes in Xenopus oocytes injected with water or singly with cRNA encoding four members of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family, human SLC26A1 1 , mouse Slc26a8, and Drosophila CG8177 (an anion exchanger from the SLC4 gene family without significant homology to the SLC26 proteins), with extracellular pH set at 6.0. With the exception of CG21877 there is only a modest increase in Cl " uptake in some of the oocytes expressing injected cRNA.
  • Figure 7 depicts sulphate uptake in oocytes expressing several Drosophila SLC26 exchangers, human SLC26A1 1 , mouse Slc26a8, mouse Slc26a6 (right graph), or Drosophila CG8177. Uptakes in oocytes expressing the novel cDNAs are not as robust as those seen in Slc26a6 oocytes, yet are significantly greater than in water controls, particularly in SLC26A1 1 and Slc26d5002 cells.
  • Figure 8 depicts DIDS sensitivity of sulphate uptake in oocytes expressing selected Drosophila SLC26 paralogs or murine Slc26a6. Control cells are denoted by open bars, closed bars reflect oocytes exposed to 1 mM DIDS during the uptake period.
  • Jayaraman S Teitler L, Skalski B & Verkman AS (1999) Long-Wavelength Iodide-Sensitive Fluorescent Indicators for Measurement of Functional CFTR Expression in Cells. Am J P/7ys/o/277:C1008-1018. Jayaraman S, Haggie P, Wachter RM, Remington SJ & Verkman AS (2000) Mechanism and Cellular Applications of a Green Fluorescent Protein- Based Halide Sensor. J Biol Chem 275:6047-6050.
  • Kestila M Lenkkeri U, Mannikko M, Lamerdin J, McCready P, Putaala H, Ruotsalainen V, Morita T, Nissinen M, Herva R, Kashtan CE,
  • Binding Proteins by Yeast One-Hybrid and One-Two-Hybrid Systems Binding Proteins by Yeast One-Hybrid and One-Two-Hybrid Systems.
  • Pendrin An Apical CI70H7HC0 3 " Exchanger in the Kidney Cortex. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 280: F356-364.
  • Ada Med Scand Suppl 640 1 -100. Tam P, Monck M, Lee D, Ludkovski O, Leng EC, Clow K, Stark H, Scherrer P, Graham RW & Cullis PR (2000) Stabilized Plasmid-Lipid Particles for Systemic Gene Therapy. Gene Ther 7:1867-1874. Taylor G, Vimr E, Garman E & Laver G (1992) Purification, Crystallization and Preliminary Crystallographic Study of Neuraminidase from Vibrio

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Abstract

Isolated nucleic acids encoding SLC26A8 and SLC26A11 anion transporter polypeptides, recombinantly expressed SLC26AB and SLC26A11 anion transporter polypeptides, heterologous expression systems for recombinant expression of SLC26AB and SLC26A11 anion transporter polypeptides, assay methods employing the same, and methods for modulation of anion transport activity.

Description

Description CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SLC26A8 and SLC26A11 ANION EXCHANGERS Cross Reference to Related Applications This application is based on and claims priority to United States
Provisional Application Serial Number 60/360,828, filed February 28, 2002, and entitled CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 ANION EXCHANGERS, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Grant Statement
This work was supported by grants RO1 DK57708, PO1 DK038226, RO1 DK56218, and T32 DK07569-12 from the U.S. National Institute of Health. Thus, the U.S. government has certain rights in the invention.
Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to anion transporter polypeptides and anion transport activity mediated by the same. More particularly, the present invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding SLC26 anion transporter polypeptides, isolated and functional SLC26 anion transporter polypeptides, a heterologous expression system for recombinant expression of SLC26 anion transporter polypeptides, methods for identifying modulators of an anion transporter, and uses thereof.
Table of Abbreviations AE - anion exchanger
ATCC - American Type Culture Collection BAC - bacterial artificial chromosome
BLAST - basic alignment and search tool
CF - cystic fibrosis
CFTR - cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator cM - centimorgan
CMV - cytomegalovirus cRNA complementary RNA
CpG unmethylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotides
DIDS 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid
DTST diastrophic dysplasia sulphate transporter;
SLC26A2
EGFP enhanced green fluorescent protein
EST expressed sequence tag
Fab antigen-binding antibody fragment
FCS Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
Fv antigen-binding antibody fragment
GAPDH glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
GFP green fluorescent protein
HEPES 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1- piperazineethanesulfonic acid
HLA human leukocyte antigen
HTGS high throughput genomic sequences
HUGO Human Genome Organization
I.M.A.G.E. Integrated Molecular Analysis of
Genomes and their Expression database
LA-PCR long and accurate PCR
LDB location database
MGD Mouse Genome Database
MHC major histocompatibility complex
NMDG N-methyl-D-glucamine
ORF open reading frame
OSM osmolality
PAC P-1 derived artificial chromosome pCMV-SLC26 - construct encoding SLC26 under the control of a CMV promoter PCR - polymerase chain reaction
PFU - plaque-forming unit pHj - intracellular pH
PKA - phosphokinase A
PKC - phosphokinase C
RACE - rapid amplification of cDNA ends
RH - radiation hybrid RT-PCR - reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction Sat-1 - sulphate anion transporter-1 (SLC26A1 )
SDS - sodium dodecyl sulphate
SELDI-TOF - Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/lonization Time-Of-flight
Spectroscopy SLC26 - solute carrier 26 protein family
Sp1 - pregnancy-"specific" beta 1 -glycoprotein;
Cys2-His2 zinc finger transcription factor
SPR - surface plasmon resonance
STAS - sulfate transporter and anti-sigma domain
STS - sequence-tagged site
TESS - Transcription Element Search Software UTR - untranslated region
Vm - membrane voltage
Background of the Invention Anion exchange at the plasma membrane is primarily mediated by the products of two structurally distinct gene families: (1 ) the AE (anion exchanger) genes, which form a subset of the bicarbonate transporter SLC4 superfamily (Romero et al., 2000; Tsuganezawa et al., 2001 ); and (2) the SLC26 or sulphate permease gene family (Everett & Green, 1999). Members of the SLC26 gene family have been identified by expression cloning (Bissig et al., 1994), subtractive cDNA cloning (Zheng et al., 2000), and positional cloning of human disease genes (Everett & Green, 1999). The SLC26 gene family has been highly conserved during evolution, and homologues have been identified in bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals. See Everett & Green (1999) Hum Mol Genet 8:1883-1891 and Kere et al. (1999) Am J Physiol 276:G7-G13. Four mammalian SLC26 genes have been described (SLC26A1 , SLC26A2, SLC26A3, and SLC26A4). The Drosophila genome contains at least nine family members, suggesting that additional mammalian paralogues also exist.
Physiological roles for individual family members include transepithelial salt transport (Everett & Green, 1999; Scott & Karniski, 2000), thryoidal iodide transport (Scott et al., 1999), development and function of the inner ear (Everett & Green, 1999; Zheng et al., 2000), sulphation of extracellular matrix (Satoh et al., 1998), and renal excretion of bicarbonate (Royaux et al., 2001 ) and oxalate (Karniski et al., 1998). The various substrates transported by the SLC26 anion exchangers include sulphate (SO 2'), chloride (Cl"), iodide (I"), formate, oxalate, hydroxyl ion (OH"), and bicarbonate (HCO3 ") (Bissig et al., 1994; Karniski et al., 1998; Satoh et al., 1998; Moseley et al., 1999; Scott & Karniski, 2000; Soleimani et al., 2001 ).
The multiple physiological roles of SLC26 transporters are supported by diverse anion transport properties. Despite a capacity for versatile anion exchange, SLC26 anion transporters display distinct patterns of anion specificity and cis-inhibition. For example, SLC26A4, also known as pendrin, can transport chloride, hydroxyl ion, bicarbonate, iodide, and formate, but neither oxalate nor sulphate (Scott et al., 1999; Scott & Karniski, 2000; Royaux et al., 2001 ; Soleimani et al., 2001 ).
Thus, there exists a long-felt need in the art to identify and functionally characterize SLC26 anion transporters as pharmaceutical targets for diseases and disorders related to abnormal anion transport activity.
To meet this need, the present invention provides novel SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 anion transporter polypeptides. The present invention also provides methods for identifying and using modulators of anion transport via SLC26A8 and SLC26A11.
Summary of Invention The present invention provides isolated SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 polypeptides, SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 nucleic acids, and a SLC26A1 1 promoter. The polypeptides and nucleic acids are useful in the detection methods and assays disclosed herein. The present invention further provides antibodies that specifically recognize a SLC26A8 polypeptide or a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
A SLC26A8 polypeptide can comprise: (a) a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (b) a polypeptide substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; or (d) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.
A SLC26A8 polypeptide can also comprise a polypeptide encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), or (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of (a), (b), or (c) above. A SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule of the invention preferably comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding a SLC26A8 polypeptide. A SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule can comprise: (a) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; or (b) a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3. A SLC26A8 nucleic acid can also comprise a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
A SLC26A1 1 polypeptide can comprise: (a) a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6 or 8; (b) a polypeptide substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:6 or 8; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7; or (d) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to SEQ ID O:5 or 7.
A SLC26A1 1 polypeptide can also comprise a polypeptide encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6 or 8; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A11 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above. A SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule of the invention preferably comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide. A SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule can comprise: (a) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7; or (b) a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:5 or 7. A SLC26A11 nucleic acid can also comprise a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6 or 8; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 or 7 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
A SLC26A 11 promoter of the present invention can comprise: (a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:28; or (b) a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:28. The isolated SLC26A 11 promoter can also comprise a 20 base pair nucleotide sequence identical to a contiguous 20 base pair nucleotide portion of SEQ ID NO:28. Also provided are chimeric genes and vectors comprising the disclosed SLC26A 11 promoter, and host cells comprising the chimeric genes and vectors.
The present invention further provides methods for detecting a SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 nucleic acid, the method comprising: (a) procuring a biological sample having nucleic acid material; (b) hybridizing the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 , 3, 5, or 7 under stringent hybridization conditions to the biological sample of (a), thereby forming a duplex structure between the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 , 3, 5, or 7 and a nucleic acid within the biological sample; and (c) detecting the duplex structure of (b), whereby a SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule is detected.
The present invention further provides antibodies that specifically recognize a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide, and methods for producing the same. A representative embodiment of the method comprises: (a) recombinantly or synthetically producing a SLC26A8 polypeptide; (b) formulating the polypeptide of (a) whereby it is an effective immunogen; (c) administering to an animal the formulation of (b) to generate an immune response in the animal comprising production of antibodies, wherein antibodies are present in the blood serum of the animal; and (d) collecting the blood serum from the animal of (c) comprising antibodies that specifically recognize a SLC26A8 polypeptide.
Also provided is a method for detecting a level of a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide. In a representative embodiment, the method comprises: (a) obtaining a biological sample having peptidic material; (b) detecting a SLC26A8 polypeptide in the biological sample of (a) by immunochemical reaction with the antibody of the present invention, whereby an amount of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide in a sample is determined.
Also provided are systems for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide. A recombinant expression system can comprise: (a) a SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 polypeptide of the invention (e.g., representative embodiments set forth as SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, and 8); and (b) a host cell expressing the SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide. A host cell can comprise any suitable cell. A preferred host cell comprises a mammalian cell, more preferably a human cell. Using the disclosed system for recombinant expression of a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide, the present invention further provides a method for identifying modulators of anion transport. Also provided are modulators of anion transport that are identified by the disclosed methods.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a method for identifying a modulator of anion transport comprises: (a) providing a recombinant expression system whereby a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide is expressed in a host cell, (b) providing a test substance to the system of (a); (c) assaying a level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 function in the presence of the test substance; (d) comparing the level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 function in the presence of the test substance with a control level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 function; and (e) identifying a test substance as an anion transport modulator by determining a level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 function in the presence of the test substance as significantly changed when compared to a control level or quality of SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 function. In another embodiment of the invention, a method for identifying a modulator of anion transport comprises: (a) exposing a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide to one or more test substances; (b) assaying binding of a test substance to the isolated SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide; and (c) selecting a candidate substance that demonstrates specific binding to the SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a method for identifying a modulator of anion transport comprises: (a) establishing a gene expression system comprising a chimeric gene comprising a SLC26A11 promoter operatively linked to a reporter gene, and components required for gene transcription and translation, whereby the reporter gene is expressed, and a level of reporter gene expression is assayable; (b) assaying a baseline level of reporter gene expression using the gene expression system of (a) in the absence of a candidate substance; (c) exposing the gene expression system of (a) to a plurality of candidate substances; (d) assaying a level of reporter gene expression using the gene expression system of (a) in the presence of a candidate substance of (c); and (e) selecting a candidate substance whose presence results in an altered level of reporter gene expression when compared to the baseline level.
The present invention further provides methods for modulating anion transport activity in a subject. Preferably, the subject is a mammalian subject, and more preferably a human subject. Also preferably, the anion transport activity that is altered in a subject comprises an activity of a
SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for modulating anion transport activity in a subject comprises: (a) preparing a composition comprising a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 modulator identified according to the disclosed methods, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; (b) administering an effective dose of the composition to a subject, whereby anion transport activity in the subject is altered.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel SLC26 nucleic acids and polypeptides, methods for detecting a SLC26 nucleic acid, heterologous expression systems whereby a SLC26 polypeptide is expressed, methods and assays employing a heterologous SLC26 expression system, and methods for modulating and detecting a SLC26 polypeptide. This object is achieved in whole or in part by the present invention.
An object of the invention having been stated above, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a study of the following description of the invention, Figures, and non-limiting Examples. Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is an alignment of a conserved SLC26 domain encompassing the Prosite "sulfate transport" signature sequence (Bucher & Bairoch, 1994; Hofmann et al., 1999) (http://www.expasy.ch/prosite/) in mouse SLC26A1 (SEQ ID NO:10), mouse SLC26A2 (SEQ ID NO:11 ), mouse SLC26A3 (SEQ ID NO:12), mouse SLC26A4 (SEQ ID NO:13), mouse SLC26A5 (SEQ ID NO:14), mouse SLC26A6 (SEQ ID NO:15), mouse SLC26A7 (SEQ ID NO:16), mouse SLC26A8 (SEQ ID NO:17), mouse SLC26A9 (SEQ ID NO:18), and mouse SLC26A1 1 (SEQ ID NO:19). The 22-residue Prosite motif is underlined in sequences that conform to the consensus (SLC26A1 , SLC26A2, SLC26A3, and SLC26A1 1 ). Shading, similar residues, conservative substitutions, and weakly similar residues; asterisks (*), invariant residues.
Figure 2 presents genomic sequence from the intergenic region of mouse SLC26A11 and sulphamidase (SEQ ID NO:28). The sequence of the first, non-coding exon of mouse SLC26A 11 is in bold. The coding sequence of the first exon of sulphamidase is bold and underlined. Transcriptional start sites, which were estimated from the most 5' of ESTs for each gene, are indicated by directional arrows. A predicted CpG island comprises the sequences between brackets ( [ ] ). Potential binding sites for transcription factors are boxed and labeled. The binding sites were predicted using TESS (Schug & Overton, 1997; available at http://www.cbil.upenn.edu/tess). AP-1 , enhancer binding protein AP-1 ; NRF-1 , nuclear respiratory factor 1 ; USF, upstream transcription factor; Sp1 , Sp1 transcription factor; NF-KB, NF kappa B transcription factor; c-Ets-1 , cellular Ets-domain transcription factor 1 ; p300, cruciform binding protein (CBP); COUP, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor; NF-E2_p45, nuclear factor erythroid 2; AP-2, enhancer binding protein AP-2; CACCC-binding, CACCC-binding protein.
Figure 3 is a bar graph that presents 36CI" uptake (pmol/oocyte/hr) in oocytes expressing SLC26A8 or SLC26A9. Control cells (H20) expressed neither SLC26A8 nor SLC26A9. Open bars, extracellular pH 7.4; Solid bars, extracellular pH 6.0; hr, hour.
Figure 4 is a phylogenetic tree of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family. Sequence-verified paralogs are denoted by Slc26d-, genes determined by genomic annotation are denoted by CG-. A total of seven full-length cDNAs have been identified, and six full-length sequences are included herein. Figure 5 depicts chloride uptakes in Xenopus oocytes injected with water or singly with cRNA encoding four members of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family, with extracellular pH set at 7.4 (open bars) or 6.0 (filled bars).
Only in Slc26d7005 oocytes is Cl" uptake significantly increased over that of water-injected controls.
Figure 6 depicts chloride uptakes in Xenopus oocytes injected with water or singly with cRNA encoding four members of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family, human SLC26A1 1 , mouse Slc26a8, and Drosophila CG8177 (an anion exchanger from the SLC4 gene family without significant homology to the SLC26 proteins), with extracellular pH set at 6.0. With the exception of CG21877 there is only a modest increase in Cl" uptake in some of the oocytes expressing injected cRNA.
Figure 7 depicts sulphate uptake in oocytes expressing several Drosophila SLC26 exchangers, human SLC26A11 , mouse Slc26a8, mouse Slc26a6 (right graph), or Drosophila CG8177. Uptakes in oocytes expressing the novel cDNAs are not as robust as those seen in Slc26a6 oocytes, yet are significantly greater than in water controls, particularly in SLC26A1 1 and Slc26d5002 cells.
Figure 8 depicts DIDS sensitivity of sulphate uptake in oocytes expressing selected Drosophila SLC26 paralogs or murine Slc26a6. Control cells are denoted by open bars, closed bars reflect oocytes exposed to 1 mM DIDS during the uptake period.
Brief Description of Seguences in the Seguence Listing Odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs:1 -7 are nucleotide sequences described in Table 1. Even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8 are protein sequences encoded by the immediately preceding nucleotide sequence, e.g., SEQ ID NO:2 is the protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 , SEQ ID NO:4 is the protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, etc. SEQ ID NO:9 is a SLC26 conserved domain. SEQ ID NOs:10-19 are the SLC26 sequences indicated in Table 1 , each sequence encompassing the Prosite "sulphate transport" signature sequence (Bucher & Bairoch, 1994; Hofmann et al., 1999) (http://www.expasy.ch/prosite/). SEQ ID NOs:20-27 are primers.
SEQ ID NO:28 is the mouse SLC26A 11 promoter region. SEQ ID NOs:29-30 are insertions sequences unique to SLC26A1 1. SEQ ID NOs:31 and 32 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d9702 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
SEQ ID NOs:33 and 34 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d6125 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
SEQ ID NOs:35 and 36 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d6928 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
SEQ ID NOs:37 and 38 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d7005 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively. SEQ ID NOs:39 and 40 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d5002 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
SEQ ID NOs:41 and 42 are the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a Drosophila SLC26d9717 cDNA and polypeptide, respectively.
Table 1
Sequence Listing Summary
Figure imgf000015_0001
Figure imgf000016_0001
Detailed Description of the Invention L Definitions
While the following terms are believed to be well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the following definitions are set forth to facilitate explanation of the invention. The terms "a," "an," and "the" are used in accordance with longstanding convention to refer to one or more.
The term "about", as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as a percentage of sequence identity (e.g., when comparing nucleotide and amino acid sequences as described herein below), a nucleotide or protein length, an uptake amount, a pH value, etc. is meant to encompass variations of ±20% or ±10%, more preferably ±5%, even more preferably ±1 %, and still more preferably ±0.1 % from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform a disclosed method or otherwise carry out the present invention.
IL SLC26 Nucleic Acids and Polypeptides
The present invention provides novel SLC26 nucleic acids and novel SLC26 polypeptides, including functional SLC26 polypeptides. The term "SLC26A" and terms including "SLC26" (e.g., SLC26A8 and SLCA26A1 1 ) refer generally to isolated SLC26 nucleic acids, isolated polypeptides encoded by SLC26 nucleic acids, and activities thereof. SLC26 nucleic acids and polypeptides can be derived from any organism.
The term "isolated", as used in the context of a nucleic acid or polypeptide, indicates that the nucleic acid or polypeptide exists apart from its native environment and is not a product of nature. An isolated nucleic acid or polypeptide can exist in a purified form or can exist in a non-native environment such as a transgenic host cell.
The terms "SLC26" and terms including "SLC26" also refer to polypeptides comprising Na+-independent anion transporters that transport S04 2", Cl", formate, and/or oxalate, and to nucleic acids encoding the same.
A region within the central hydrophobic core of SLC26 polypeptides includes a 22-residue "sulphate transport" consensus signature, Prosite motif PS01130 (Bucher & Bairoch, 1994; Hofmann et al., 1999)
(http://www.expasy.ch/prosite/), which was initially defined by comparison of the first mammalian family members with homologues in lower organisms.
An alignment of this region is presented in Figure 1. SLC26A6 functions as a sulphate transporter, despite its lack of a consensus "sulphate transport" sequence, and thus the functional significance of this sequence motif is unclear. Within this region, many of the SLC26 proteins also share the sequence -GTSRHISV- (SEQ ID NO:9), whereas mouse SLC26A8 and mouse SLC26A9 depart from this consensus. The Prosite sulphate transport region also contains a total of seven invariant residues, which likely play a role in anion transport (Figure 1 ).
There is a second cluster of invariant residues at the C-terminal end of the hydrophobic core, in a conserved area defined by Saier et al (Saier et al., 1999). This region includes the triplet -NQE-, residues 417-419 of mouse SLC26A6, which is conservatively variable only in SLC26A8 (-NQD-). Three invariant residues in this section, E419, N425, and L483 in mouse SLC26A2, have been shown to have functional significance in SHST1 , a SLC26 homologue from the plant S. hamata (Khurana et al., 2000). Moreover, two of these invariant residues are mutated (N425D and L483P) in patients with a severe defect in human SLC26A2, causing achondrogenesis type 1 B and/or atelosteogenesis type 2. The SLC26A2 N425D mutant has further been shown to be non-functional in Xenopus oocytes (Karniski, 1989). The C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of SLC26 proteins encompasses the STAS (Sulphate Transporter and Anti-Sigma) domain, recently defined by the homology between the SLC26 proteins and bacterial anti-sigma factor antagonists (Aravind & Koonin, 2000). Structural features of this domain have been predicted from the NMR analysis of the anti-sigma factor SPOIIAA (Aravind & Koonin, 2000), and include a characteristic α-helical handle. There is also a highly conserved loop interspersed between a β- pleated sheet and α-helix, just upstream of the α-helical handle. This loop and β-pleated sheet have been proposed to play a role in nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, in analogy to the known biochemistry of the anti-sigma factor antagonists (Aravind & Koonin, 2000). The loop is highly conserved in SLC26 proteins and contains two invariant residues, D660 and L667 of mouse SLC26A2.
The STAS domain also contains a highly variable loop just proximal to the β-pleated sheet and putative nucleotide binding loop (Aravind & Koonin, 2000). This variable loop is the site of significant insertions in SLC26 proteins. The largest known insertion comprises 150 amino acids in the case of human SLC26A8. Interestingly, no such insertion is present in bacterial SLC26 homologues, and this loop is the shortest in SLC26A1 1 , which is arguably the most primeval of the mammalian SLC26 paralogs. The present invention provides novel SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 polypeptides, SLC26A8 and SLC26A11 nucleic acids, and a SLC26A11 promoter. Representative SLC26A8 nucleic acids of the present invention are set forth as SEQ ID NOs:1 and 3, which encode SLC26A8 polypeptides set forth as SEQ ID NOs:2 and 4, respectively. Representative SLC26A 11 nucleic acids of the present invention are set forth as SEQ ID NOs:5 and 7, which encode SLC26A1 1 polypeptides set forth as SEQ ID NOs:6 and 8, respectively. A representative SLC26A 11 promoter is set forth as SEQ ID NO:28.
Also disclosed are representative nucleic acids from Drosophila sources, as disclosed in the Examples and in SEQ ID NOs: 31 -42, and the methods, definitions, sequence comparison, and hybridization conditions set forth herein are equally applicable to the Drosophila nucleic acids. Moreover, in so far that the mammalian SLC26A1 1 sequence has a greater percent identity to these Drosophila proteins than to other mammalian paralogs, functional and physiological characterization of the Drosophila family members facilitates understanding of mammalian SLC26A1 1.
As disclosed further herein below, the present invention also provides a system for functional expression of a SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide. The system employs a recombinant SLC26 nucleic acid, including any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1 -7. MA SLC26 Nucleic Acids
The terms "nucleic acid molecule" and "nucleic acid" each refer to deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides and polymers thereof in single- stranded, double-stranded, or triplexed form. Unless specifically limited, the term encompasses nucleic acids containing known analogues of natural nucleotides that have similar properties as the reference natural nucleic acid. The terms "nucleic acid molecule" or "nucleic acid" can also be used in place of "gene," "cDNA," "mRNA," or "cRNA." Nucleic acids can be synthesized, or can be derived from any biological source, including any organism. Representative methods for cloning a full-length SLC26 cDNA are described in Examples 1-2.
The terms "SLC26' and terms including "SLC26' (e.g., SLC26A8 and SLC26A11) are used herein to refer to nucleic acids that encode a SLC26 polypeptide. Thus, the term "SLC26' refers to isolated nucleic acids of the present invention comprising: (a) a nucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence of any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs:1-7; or (b) a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1-7. The term "SLC26' also refers to a SLC26 promoter, for example a SLC26A11 promoter of SEQ ID NO:28. The term "substantially identical", as used herein to describe a degree of similarity between nucleotide sequences, refers to two or more sequences that have at least about least 60%, preferably at least about 70%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably about 90% to about 99%, still more preferably about 95% to about 99%, and most preferably about 99% nucleotide identity, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using one of the following sequence comparison algorithms or by visual inspection. Preferably, the substantial identity exists in nucleotide sequences of at least about 100 residues, more preferably in nucleotide sequences of at least about 150 residues, and most preferably in nucleotide sequences comprising a full length coding sequence. The term 'lull length" is used herein to refer to a complete open reading frame encoding a functional SLC26 polypeptide, as described further herein below. Methods for determining percent identity between two polypeptides are defined herein below under the heading "Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence Comparisons". In one aspect, substantially identical sequences can be polymorphic sequences. The term "polymorphic" refers to the occurrence of two or more genetically determined alternative sequences or alleles in a population. An allelic difference can be as small as one base pair.
In another aspect, substantially identical sequences can comprise mutagenized sequences, including sequences comprising silent mutations. A mutation can comprise one or more residue changes, a deletion of residues, or an insertion of additional residues.
Another indication that two nucleotide sequences are substantially identical is that the two molecules hybridize specifically to or hybridize substantially to each other under stringent conditions. In the context of nucleic acid hybridization, two nucleic acid sequences being compared can be designated a "probe" and a "target." A "probe" is a reference nucleic acid molecule, and a '"target" is a test nucleic acid molecule, often found within a heterogeneous population of nucleic acid molecules. A "target sequence" is synonymous with a 'lest sequence."
A preferred nucleotide sequence employed for hybridization studies or assays includes probe sequences that are complementary to or mimic at least an about 14 to 40 nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. Preferably, probes comprise 14 to 20 nucleotides, or even longer where desired, such as 30, 40, 50, 60, 100, 200, 300, or 500 nucleotides or up to the full length of any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1 -7 and SEQ ID' NO:28. Such fragments can be readily prepared by, for example, chemical synthesis of the fragment, by application of nucleic acid amplification technology, or by introducing selected sequences into recombinant vectors for recombinant production. The phrase "hybridizing specifically to" refers to the binding, duplexing, or hybridizing of a molecule only to a particular nucleotide sequence under stringent conditions when that sequence is present in a complex nucleic acid mixture (e.g., total cellular DNA or RNA). The phrase "hybridizing substantially to" refers to complementary hybridization between a probe nucleic acid molecule and a target nucleic acid molecule and embraces minor mismatches that can be accommodated by reducing the stringency of the hybridization media to achieve the desired hybridization. "Stringent hybridization conditions" and "stringent hybridization wash conditions" in the context of nucleic acid hybridization experiments such as Southern and Northern blot analysis are both sequence- and environment- dependent. Longer sequences hybridize specifically at higher temperatures. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen (1993) Laboratory Technigues in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology- Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes, part I chapter 2, Elsevier, New York, New York. Generally, highly stringent hybridization and wash conditions are selected to be about 5QC lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. Typically, under "stringent conditions" a probe will hybridize specifically to its target subsequence, but to no other sequences.
The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe. Very stringent conditions are selected to be equal to the Tm for a particular probe. An example of stringent hybridization conditions for Southern or Northern Blot analysis of complementary nucleic acids having more than about 100 complementary residues is overnight hybridization in 50% formamide with 1 mg of heparin at 42QC. An example of highly stringent wash conditions is 15 minutes in 0.1 X SSC at 65eC. An example of stringent wash conditions is 15 minutes in 0.2X SSC buffer at 65SC. See Sambrook et al., eds (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York for a description of SSC buffer. Often, a high stringency wash is preceded by a low stringency wash to remove background probe signal. An example of medium stringency wash conditions for a duplex of more than about 100 nucleotides, is 15 minutes in 1 X SSC at 459C. An example of low stringency wash for a duplex of more than about 100 nucleotides, is 15 minutes in 4X to 6X SSC at 40SC. For short probes (e.g., about 10 to 50 nucleotides), stringent conditions typically involve salt concentrations of less than about 1 M Na+ ion, typically about 0.01 to 1 M Na+ ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0-8.3, and the temperature is typically at least about 30QC. Stringent conditions can also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide. In general, a signal to noise ratio of 2-fold (or higher) than that observed for an unrelated probe in the particular hybridization assay indicates detection of a specific hybridization. The following are examples of hybridization and wash conditions that can be used to identify nucleotide sequences that are substantially identical to reference nucleotide sequences of the present invention: a probe nucleotide sequence preferably hybridizes to a target nucleotide sequence in 7% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.5M NaP04, 1 mM EDTA at 50°C followed by washing in 2X SSC, 0.1 % SDS at 50°C; more preferably, a probe and target sequence hybridize in 7% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.5M NaP04, 1 mM EDTA at 50°C followed by washing in 1X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50°C; more preferably, a probe and target sequence hybridize in 7% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.5M NaP04, 1 mM EDTA at 50°C followed by washing in 0.5X SSC, 0.1 % SDS at 50°C; more preferably, a probe and target sequence hybridize in 7% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.5M NaP04, 1 mM EDTA at 50°C followed by washing in 0.1 X SSC, 0.1 % SDS at 50°C; more preferably, a probe and target sequence hybridize in 7% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.5M NaP04, 1 mM EDTA at 50°C followed by washing in 0.1 X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65°C. A further indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that proteins encoded by the nucleic acids are substantially identical, share an overall three-dimensional structure, or are biologically functional equivalents. These terms are defined further under the heading "SLC26 Polypeptides" herein below. Nucleic acid molecules that do not hybridize to each other under stringent conditions are still substantially identical if the corresponding proteins are substantially identical. This can occur, for example, when two nucleotide sequences comprise conservatively substituted variants as permitted by the genetic code. The term "conservatively substituted variants" refers to nucleic acid sequences having degenerate codon substitutions wherein the third position of one or more selected (or all) codons is substituted with mixed-base and/or deoxyinosine residues. See Batzer et al. (1991 ) Nucleic Acids Res 19:5081 ; Ohtsuka et al. (1985) J Biol Chem 260:2605-2608; and Rossolini et al. (1994) Mol Cell Probes 8:91 -98.
The term "SLC26' also encompasses nucleic acids comprising subsequences and elongated sequences of a SLC26 nucleic acid, including nucleic acids complementary to a SLC26 nucleic acid, SLC26 RNA molecules, and nucleic acids complementary to SLC26 RNAs (cRNAs). The term "subsequence" refers to a sequence of nucleic acids that comprises a part of a longer nucleic acid sequence. An exemplary subsequence is a probe, described herein above, or a primer. The term "primer" as used herein refers to a contiguous sequence comprising about 8 or more deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides, preferably 10-20 nucleotides, and more preferably 20-30 nucleotides of a selected nucleic acid molecule. The primers of the invention encompass oligonucleotides of sufficient length and appropriate sequence so as to provide initiation of polymerization on a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention.
The term "elongated sequence" refers to an addition of nucleotides (or other analogous molecules) incorporated into the nucleic acid. For example, a polymerase (e.g., a DNA polymerase) can add sequences at the 3' terminus of the nucleic acid molecule. In addition, the nucleotide sequence can be combined with other DNA sequences, such as promoters, promoter regions, enhancers, polyadenylation signals, intronic sequences, additional restriction enzyme sites, multiple cloning sites, and other coding segments.
The term "complementary sequences," as used herein, indicates two nucleotide sequences that comprise antiparallel nucleotide sequences capable of pairing with one another upon formation of hydrogen bonds between base pairs. As used herein, the term "complementary sequences" means nucleotide sequences which are substantially complementary, as can be assessed by the same nucleotide comparison methods set forth below, or is defined as being capable of hybridizing to the nucleic acid segment in question under relatively stringent conditions such as those described herein. A particular example of a complementary nucleic acid segment is an antisense oligonucleotide.
The present invention also provides chimeric genes comprising the disclosed SLC26 nucleic acids and recombinant SLC26 nucleic acids. Thus, also included are constructs and vectors comprising SLC26 nucleic acids. The term "gene" refers broadly to any segment of DNA associated with a biological function. A gene encompasses sequences including but not limited to a coding sequence, a promoter region, a cis-regulatory sequence, a non-expressed DNA segment that is a specific recognition sequence for regulatory proteins, a non-expressed DNA segment that contributes to gene expression, a DNA segment designed to have desired parameters, or combinations thereof. A gene can be obtained by a variety of methods, including cloning from a biological sample, synthesis based on known or predicted sequence information, and recombinant derivation of an existing sequence. The term "chimeric gene," as used herein, refers to a promoter region operatively linked to a SLC26 sequence, including a SLC26 cDNA, a SLC26 nucleic acid encoding an antisense RNA molecule, a SLC26 nucleic acid encoding an RNA molecule having tertiary structure (e.g., a hairpin structure) or a SLC26 nucleic acid encoding a double-stranded RNA molecule. The term "chimeric gene" also refers to a SLC26 promoter region operatively linked to a heterologous sequence.
The term "operatively linked", as used herein, refers to a functional combination between a promoter region and a nucleotide sequence such that the transcription of the nucleotide sequence is controlled and regulated by the promoter region. Techniques for operatively linking a promoter region to a nucleotide sequence are known in the art.
The term "recombinant" generally refers to an isolated nucleic acid that is replicable in a non-native environment. Thus, a recombinant nucleic acid can comprise a non-replicable nucleic acid in combination with additional nucleic acids, for example vector nucleic acids, that enable its replication in a host cell.
The term "vector" is used herein to refer to a nucleic acid molecule having nucleotide sequences that enable its replication in a host cell. A vector can also include nucleotide sequences to permit ligation of nucleotide sequences within the vector, wherein such nucleotide sequences are also replicated in a host cell. Representative vectors include plasmids, cosmids, and viral vectors. A vector can also mediate recombinant production of a SLC26 polypeptide, as described further herein below.
The term "construct", as used herein to describe a type of construct comprising an expression construct, refers to a vector further comprising a nucleotide sequence operatively inserted with the vector, such that the nucleotide sequence is recombinantly expressed.
The terms "recombinantly expressed" or "recombinantly produced" are used interchangeably to refer generally to the process by which a polypeptide encoded by a recombinant nucleic acid is produced. Thus, preferably recombinant SLC26 nucleic acids comprise heterologous nucleic acids. The term "heterologous nucleic acids" refers to a sequence that originates from a source foreign to an intended host cell or, if from the same source, is modified from its original form. A heterologous nucleic acid in a host cell can comprise a nucleic acid that is endogenous to the particular host cell but has been modified, for example by mutagenesis or by isolation from native cis-regulatory sequences. A heterologous nucleic acid also includes non-naturally occurring multiple copies of a native nucleotide sequence. A heterologous nucleic acid can also comprise a nucleic acid that is incorporated into a host cell's nucleic acids at a position wherein such nucleic acids are not ordinarily found. Nucleic acids of the present invention can be cloned, synthesized, altered, mutagenized, or combinations thereof. Standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used to isolate nucleic acids are known in the art. Site-specific mutagenesis to create base pair changes, deletions, or small insertions are also known in the art. See e.g., Sambrook et al. (eds.) (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; Silhavy et al. (1984) Experiments with Gene Fusions. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; Glover & Hames (1995) DNA Cloning: A Practical Approach. 2nd ed. IRL Press at Oxford University Press, Oxford/New York; Ausubel (ed.) (1995) Short Protocols in Molecular Biology. 3rd ed. Wiley, New York.
II.B. SLC26 Polypeptides
The present invention provides novel SLC26A8 polypeptides and SLC26A1 1 polypeptides. Representative embodiments are set forth as even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8. Preferably, an isolated SLC26 polypeptide of the present invention comprises a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide. Also preferably, isolated SLC26 polypeptides comprise functional SLC26 polypeptides.
Thus, novel SLC26 polypeptides useful in the methods of the present invention comprise: (a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1-7; (b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid substantially identical to any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs:1 -7; (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of even- numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8; or (d) a polypeptide substantially identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8. Also provided are polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding the same, from Drosophila sources, as disclosed in the Examples and in SEQ ID NOs: 31 -42, and the methods, definitions, sequence comparison, and hybridization conditions set forth herein are equally applicable to these nucleic acids and polypeptides. The term "substantially identical", as used herein to describe a level of similarity between SLC26 and a protein substantially identical to a SLC26 protein, refers to a sequence that is at least about 35% identical to any of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, when compared over the full length of a SLC26 protein. Preferably, a protein substantially identical to a SLC26 protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 35% to about 45% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, more preferably at least about 45% to about 55% identical to any one of even- numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, even more preferably at least about 55% to about 65% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, still more preferably at least about 65% to about 75% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, still more preferably at least about 75% to about 85% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, still more preferably at least about 85% to about 95% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8, and still more preferably at least about 95% to about 99% identical to any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8 when compared over the full length of a SLC26 polypeptide. The term "full length" refers to a functional SLC26 polypeptide, as described further herein below. Methods for determining percent identity between two polypeptides are also defined herein below under the heading "Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence Comparisons". The term "substantially identical," when used to describe polypeptides, also encompasses two or more polypeptides sharing a conserved three-dimensional structure. Computational methods can be used to compare structural representations, and structural models can be generated and easily tuned to identify similarities around important active sites or ligand binding sites. See Saqi et al. (1999) Bioinformatics 15:521 - 522; Barton (1998) Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 54:1 139-1 146; Henikoff et al. (2000) Electrophoresis 21 :1700-1706; and Huang et al. (2000) Pac Symp Biocompu . 230-241. Substantially identical proteins also include proteins comprising amino acids that are functionally equivalent to amino acids of any one of even- numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8. The term "functionally equivalent" in the context of amino acids is known in the art and is based on the relative similarity of the amino acid side-chain substituents. See Henikoff & Henikoff (2000) Adv Protein Chem 54:73-97. Relevant factors for consideration include side-chain hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, charge, and size. For example, arginine, lysine, and histidine are all positively charged residues; that alanine, glycine, and serine are all of similar size; and that phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine all have a generally similar shape. By this analysis, described further herein below, arginine, lysine, and histidine; alanine, glycine, and serine; and phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine; are defined herein as biologically functional equivalents.
In making biologically functional equivalent amino acid substitutions, the hydropathic index of amino acids can be considered. Each amino acid has been assigned a hydropathic index on the basis of their hydrophobicity and charge characteristics, these are: isoleucine (+ 4.5); valine (+ 4.2); leucine (+ 3.8); phenylalanine (+ 2.8); cysteine (+ 2.5); methionine (+ 1.9); alanine (+ 1.8); glycine (-0.4); threonine (-0.7); serine (-0.8); tryptophan (-0.9); tyrosine (-1.3); proline (-1.6); histidine (-3.2); glutamate (-3.5); glutamine (-3.5); aspartate (-3.5); asparagine (-3.5); lysine (-3.9); and arginine (-4.5). The importance of the hydropathic amino acid index in conferring interactive biological function on a protein is generally understood in the art (Kyte et al., 1982). It is known that certain amino acids can be substituted for other amino acids having a similar hydropathic index or score and still retain a similar biological activity. In making changes based upon the hydropathic index, the substitution of amino acids whose hydropathic indices are within ±2 of the original value is preferred, those which are within ±1 of the original value are particularly preferred, and those within ±0.5 of the original value are even more particularly preferred. It is also understood in the art that the substitution of like amino acids can be made effectively on the basis of hydrophilicity. U.S. Patent No. 4,554,101 describes that the greatest local average hydrophilicity of a protein, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with its immunogenicity and antigenicity, e.g., with a biological property of the protein. It is understood that an amino acid can be substituted for another having a similar hydrophilicity value and still obtain a biologically equivalent protein.
As detailed in U.S. Patent No. 4,554,101 , the following hydrophilicity values have been assigned to amino acid residues: arginine (+ 3.0); lysine (+ 3.0); aspartate (+ 3.0±1); glutamate (+ 3.0±1 ); serine (+ 0.3); asparagine (+ 0.2); glutamine (+ 0.2); glycine (0); threonine (-0.4); proline (-0.5±1 ) alanine (-0.5); histidine (-0.5); cysteine (-1.0); methionine (-1 .3); valine (-1.5) leucine (-1.8); isoleucine (-1.8); tyrosine (-2.3); phenylalanine (-2.5) tryptophan (-3.4). In making changes based upon similar hydrophilicity values, the substitution of amino acids whose hydrophilicity values are within ±2 of the original value is preferred, those which are within ±1 of the original value are particularly preferred, and those within ±0.5 of the original value are even more particularly preferred. The term "substantially identical" also encompasses polypeptides that are biologically functional equivalents of a SLC26 polypeptide. The term "functional" includes an activity of an SLC26 polypeptide in transporting anions across a membrane. Preferably, such transport shows a magnitude and anion selectivity that is substantially similar to that of a cognate SLC26 polypeptide in vivo. Preferably, the term "functional" also refers to similar kinetics of activation and inactivation of anion transport activity. Representative methods for assessing anion transport activity are described herein below.
The present invention also provides functional fragments of a SLC26 polypeptide. Such functional portion need not comprise all or substantially all of the amino acid sequence of a native SLC26 gene product.
The present invention also includes functional polypeptide sequences that are longer sequences than that of a native SLC26 polypeptide. For example, one or more amino acids can be added to the N-terminus or C- terminus of a SLC26 polypeptide. Such additional amino acids can be employed in a variety of applications, including but not limited to purification applications. Methods of preparing elongated proteins are known in the art. II.C. Nucleotide and Amino Acid Seguence Comparisons The terms "identical" or "percent identity" in the context of two or more nucleotide or polypeptide sequences, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using one of the sequence comparison algorithms disclosed herein or by visual inspection.
The term "substantially identical" in regards to a nucleotide or polypeptide sequence means that a particular sequence varies from the sequence of a naturally occurring sequence by one or more deletions, substitutions, or additions, the net effect of which is to retain biological function of a SLC26 nucleic acid or a SLC26 polypeptide.
For comparison of two or more sequences, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence to which one or more test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer program, subsequence coordinates are designated if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are selected. The sequence comparison algorithm . then calculates the percent sequence identity for the designated test sequence(s) relative to the reference sequence, based on the selected program parameters.
Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, for example, by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman (1981 ) Adv Appl Math 2:482-489, by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch (1970) J Mol Biol 48:443-453, by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman (1988) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:2444-2448, by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, Madison, Wisconsin), or by visual inspection. See generally, Ausubel (ed.) (1995) Short Protocols in Molecular Biology, 3rd ed. Wiley, New York.
A preferred algorithm for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity is the BLAST algorithm, which is described in Altschul et al. (1990) J Mol Biol 215:403-410. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive- valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold. These initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are then extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always > 0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues; always < 0). For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value, the cumulative score goes to zero or below due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments, or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength W=11 , an expectation E=10, a cutoff of 100, M=5, N=- 4, and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 3, an expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix. See Henikoff & Henikoff (1992) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 89: 10915-10919.
In addition to calculating percent sequence identity, the BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences. See e.g., Karlin & Altschul (1993) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 90:5873-5877. One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences that would occur by chance. For example, a test nucleic acid sequence is considered similar to a reference sequence if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test nucleic acid sequence to the reference nucleic acid sequence is less than about 0.1 , more preferably less than about 0.01 , and most preferably less than about 0.001. IL Methods for Detecting a SLC26 Nucleic Acid
In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for detecting a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a SLC26 polypeptide. Such methods can be used to detect SLC26 gene variants or altered gene expression. For example, detection of a change in SLC26 sequence or expression can be used for diagnosis of SZ-C2t -related diseases, disorders, and drug interactions. Preferably, the nucleic acids used for this method comprise sequences set forth as any one of odd-numbered SEQ ID NOs: 1-7.
Sequences detected by methods of the invention can detected, subcloned, sequenced, and further evaluated by any measure well known in the art using any method usually applied to the detection of a specific DNA sequence. Thus, the nucleic acids of the present invention can be used to clone genes and genomic DNA comprising the disclosed sequences. Alternatively, the nucleic acids of the present invention can be used to clone genes and genomic DNA of related sequences. Using the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein, such methods are known to one skilled in the art. See e.g., Sambrook et al., eds (1989) Molecular Cloning. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Representative methods are also disclosed in Examples 1 -4.
In one embodiment of the invention, levels of a SLC26 nucleic acid molecule are measured by, for example, using an RT-PCR assay. See Chiang (1998) J Chromatogr A 806:209-218, and references cited therein.
In another embodiment of the invention, genetic assays based on nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be used to screen for genetic variants, for example by allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probe analysis (Conner et al., 1983), oligonucleotide ligation assays (OLAs) (Nickerson et al., 1990), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis (Orita et al., 1989), SSCP/heteroduplex analysis, enzyme mismatch cleavage, direct sequence analysis of amplified exons (Kestila et al., 1998; Yuan et al., 1999), allele-specific hybridization (Stoneking et al., 1991 ), and restriction analysis of amplified genomic DNA containing the specific mutation. Automated methods can also be applied to large-scale characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms (Wang et al., 1998; Brookes, 1999). Preferred detection methods are non-electrophoretic, including, for example, the TAQMAN™ allelic discrimination assay, PCR- OLA, molecular beacons, padlock probes, and well fluorescence. See Landegren et al. (1998) Genome Res 8:769-776 and references cited therein.
IV. System for Recombinant Expression of a SLC26 Polypeptide
The present invention further provides a system for expression of a recombinant SLC26 polypeptide of the present invention. Such a system can be used for subsequent purification and/or characterization of a SLC26 polypeptide. For example, a purified SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide can be used as an immunogen for the production of an SLC26 antibody, described further herein below. A system for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide can also be used for the identification of modulators of anion transport. In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for identification of SLC26 modulators, as described herein below. Alternatively, the disclosed SLC26 polypeptides can be used as a control anion transporter when testing any other molecule for anion transport activity. For example, the present invention discloses that SLC26A8 is a chloride transporter, and thus a system for recombinant SLC26A8 expression can be used as a positive control in an assay to determine chloride transport of a test polypeptide. Such test polypeptides can include candidates for any one of a variety of hereditary and acquired disease such as cystic fibrosis, nephrolithiasis, and cholera.
The term "expression system" refers to a host cell comprising a heterologous nucleic acid and the polypeptide encoded by the heterologous nucleic acid. For example, a heterologous expression system can comprise a host cell transfected with a construct comprising a recombinant SLC26 nucleic acid, a host cell transfected with SLC26 cRNA, or a cell line produced by introduction of heterologous nucleic acids into a host cell genome.
A system for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide can comprise: (a) a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide; and (b) a host cell comprising the recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide. For example, a SLC26 cRNA can be transcribed in vitro and then introduced into a host cell, whereby a SLC26 polypeptide is expressed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, SLC26 cRNA is provided to a host cell by direct injection of a solution comprising the SLC26 cRNA, as described in Example 5. The system can further comprise a plurality of different SLC26 polypeptides.
A system for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide can also comprise: (a) a construct comprising a vector and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a SLC26 polypeptide operatively linked to a heterologous promoter; and (b) a host cell comprising the construct of (a), whereby the host cell expresses a SLC26 polypeptide. The system can further comprise constructs encoding a plurality of different SLC26 polypeptides. Additionally, a single construct itself can encode a plurality of different SLC26 polypeptides. Isolated polypeptides and recombinantly produced polypeptides can be purified and characterized using a variety of standard techniques that are known to the skilled artisan. See e.g., Schroder & Lϋbke (1965) The Peptides. Academic Press, New York; Schneider & Eberle (1993) Peptides, 1992: Proceedings of the Twenty-Second European Peptide Symposium. September 13-19. 1992. Interlaken. Switzerland. Escom, Leiden; Bodanszky (1993) Principles of Peptide Synthesis. 2nd rev. ed. Springer-Verlag, Berlin; New York; Ausubel (ed.) (1995) Short Protocols in Molecular Biology. 3rd ed. Wiley, New York.
Preferably, a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide comprises a functional anion transporter. Thus, a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide preferably displays transport of Cl", S0 2", oxalate, and/or formate across a lipid bilayer or membrane. Also preferably, a recombinant SLC26 polypeptide shows ion selectivity similar to a native SLC26 polypeptide. Representative methods for determining SLC26 function are described herein below. IV.A. Expression Constructs
A construct for expression of a SLC26 polypeptide includes a vector and a SLC26 nucleotide sequence, wherein the SLC26 nucleotide sequence is operatively linked to a promoter sequence. A construct for recombinant SLC26 expression can also comprise transcription termination signals and sequences required for proper translation of the nucleotide sequence. Preparation of an expression construct, including addition of translation and termination signal sequences, is known to one skilled in the art.
Recombinant production of a SLC26 polypeptide can be directed using a constitutive promoter or an inducible promoter. Representative promoters that can be used in accordance with the present invention include Simian virus 40 early promoter, a long terminal repeat promoter from retrovirus, an actin promoter, a heat shock promoter, and a metallothien protein. Suitable vectors that can be used to express a SLC26 polypeptide include but are not limited to viruses such as vaccinia virus or adenovirus, baculovirus vectors, yeast vectors, bacteriophage vectors (e.g., lambda phage), plasmid and cosmid DNA vectors, transposon-mediated transformation vectors, and derivatives thereof. Constructs are introduced into a host cell using a transfection method compatible with the vector employed. Standard transfection methods include electroporation, DEAE-Dextran transfection, calcium phosphate precipitation, liposome-mediated transfection, transposon-mediated transformation, infection using a retrovirus, particle-mediated gene transfer, hyper-velocity gene transfer, and combinations thereof. IV.B. Host Cells
The term "host cell", as used herein, refers to a cell into which a heterologous nucleic acid molecule can be introduced. Any suitable host cell can be used, including but not limited to eukaryotic hosts such as mammalian cells (e.g., HeLa cells, CV-1 cells, COS cells), amphibian cells (e.g., Xenopus oocytes), insect cells (e.g., Sf9 cells), as well as prokaryotic hosts such as E.coli and Bacillus subtilis. Preferred host cells are amphibian cells such as Xenopus oocytes. Also preferably, a host cell substantially lacks a SLC26 polypeptide.
A host cell strain can be chosen which modulates the expression of the recombinant sequence, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired. For example, different host cells have characteristic and specific mechanisms for the translational and post- translational processing and modification (e.g., glycosylation, phosphorylation of proteins). Appropriate cell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the desired modification and processing of the foreign protein expressed. For example, expression in a bacterial system can be used to produce a non-glycosylated core protein product, and expression in yeast will produce a glycosylated product.
The present invention further encompasses recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide in a stable cell line. Methods for generating a stable cell line following transformation of a heterologous construct into a host cell are known in the art. See e.g., Joyner (1993) Gene Targeting: A Practical Approach. Oxford University Press, Oxford/New York. Thus, transformed cells, tissues, or non-human organisms are understood to encompass not only the end product of a transformation process, but also transgenic progeny or propagated forms thereof.
The present invention further encompasses cryopreservation of cells expressing a recombinant SLC26 polypeptide as disclosed herein. Thus, transiently transfected cells and cells of a stable cell line expressing SLC26 can be frozen and stored for later use. Frozen cells can be readily transported for use at a remote location.
Cryopreservation media generally consists of a base medium, cryopreservative, and a protein source. The cryopreservative and protein protect the cells from the stress of the freeze-thaw process. For serum- containing medium, a typical cryopreservation medium is prepared as complete medium containing 10% glycerol; complete medium containing 10% DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide), or 50% cell-conditioned medium with 50% fresh medium with 10% glycerol or 10 % DMSO. For serum-free medium, typical cryopreservation formulations include 50% cell-conditioned serum free medium with 50% fresh serum-free medium containing 7.5% DMSO; or fresh serum-free medium containing 7.5% DMSO and 10% cell culture grade DMSO. Preferably, a cell suspension comprising about 106 to about 107 cells per ml is mixed with cryopreservation medium.
Cells are combined with cryopreservation medium in a vial or other container suitable for frozen storage, for example NUNC® CRYOTUBES™ (available from Applied Scientific of South San Francisco, California). Cells can also be aliquotted to wells of a multi-well plate, for example a 96-well plate designed for high-throughput assays, and frozen in plated format.
Cells are preferably cooled from room temperature to a storage temperature at a rate of about -1 °C per minute. The cooling rate can be controlled, for example, by placing vials containing cells in an insulated water-filled reservoir having about 1 liter liquid capacity, and placing such cube in a -70°C mechanical freezer. Alternatively, the rate of cell cooling can be controlled at about -1 °C per minute by submersing vials in a volume of liquid refrigerant such as an aliphatic alcohol, the volume of liquid refrigerant being more than fifteen times the total volume of cell culture to be frozen, and placing the submersed culture vials in a conventional freezer at a temperature below about -70°C. Commercial devices for freezing cells are also available, for example, the Planer Mini-Freezer R202/200R (Planer Products Ltd. of Great Britain) and the BF-5 Biological Freezer (Union Carbide Corporation of Danbury, Connecticut, United States of America). Preferably, frozen cells are stored at or below about -70°C to about -80°C, and more preferably at or below about -130°C.
To obtain the best possible cell survival, thawing of the cells must be performed as quickly as possible. Once a vial or other reservoir containing frozen cells is removed from storage, it should be placed directly into a 37°C water bath and gently shaken until it is completely thawed. If cells are particularly sensitive to cryopreservatives, the cells are centrifuged to remove cryopreservative prior to further growth.
Additional methods for preparation and handling of frozen cells can be found in Freshney (1987) Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technigue. 2nd ed. A.R. Liss, New York and in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,176,089; 6,140,123; 5,629,145; and 4,455,842; among other places. V. Transgenic Animals
The present invention also provides a transgenic animal comprising a disruption of SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 gene expression. Altered gene expression can include expression of an altered level or mutated variant of a SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 gene. The present invention provides nucleic acids encoding SLC26A8 and SLC26A1 1 that can be used to prepare constructs for generating a transgenic animal. Also provided is genomic localization data useful for preparation of constructs targeted to the SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 locus.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the transgenic animal can comprise a mouse with targeted modification of the mouse SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 locus and can further comprise mice strains with complete or partial functional inactivation of the SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 genes in all somatic cells.
In an alternative embodiment, a transgenic animal in accordance with the present invention is prepared using anti-sense or ribozyme SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 constructs, driven by a universal or tissue-specific promoter, to reduce levels of SLC26 gene expression in somatic cells, thus achieving a "knock-down" phenotype. The present invention also provides the generation of murine strains with conditional or inducible inactivation of SLC26A8, SLC26A 11, or a combination thereof. Such murine strains can also comprise additional synthetic or naturally occurring mutations, for example a mutation in any other SLC26 gene. The present invention also provides mice strains with specific "knocked-in" modifications in the SLC26A8 and SLC26A11 genes, for example to create an over-expression or dominant negative phenotype. Thus, "knocked-in" modifications include the expression of both wild type and mutated forms of a nucleic acid encoding a SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 polypeptide.
Techniques for the preparation of transgenic animals are known in the art. Exemplary techniques are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,489,742 (transgenic rats); U.S. Patent Nos. 4,736,866, 5,550,316, 5,614,396, 5,625,125 and 5,648,061 (transgenic mice); U.S. Patent No. 5,573,933 (transgenic pigs); 5,162,215 (transgenic avian species) and U.S. Patent No. 5,741 ,957 (transgenic bovine species), the entire contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference.
For example, a transgenic animal of the present invention can comprises a mouse with targeted modification of the mouse SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 gene. Mice strains with complete or partial functional inactivation of the SLC26A8 or SLC26A 11 genes in all somatic cells are generated using standard techniques of site-specific recombination in murine embryonic stem cells. See Capecchi (1989) Science 244:1288-1292; Thomas & Capecchi (1990) Nature 346:847-850; and Delpire et al. (1999) Nat Geneil 22:192-195. VL SLC26 Antibodies
In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for producing an antibody that specifically binds a SLC26 polypeptide. According to the method, a full-length recombinant SLC26 polypeptide is formulated so that it can be used as an effective immunogen, and used to immunize an animal so as to generate an immune response in the animal. The immune response is characterized by the production of antibodies that can be collected from the blood serum of the animal. The present invention also provides antibodies produced by methods that employ the novel SLC26 polypeptides disclosed herein, including any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2-8. The term "antibody" refers to an immunoglobulin protein, or functional portion thereof, including a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a hybrid antibody, a single chain antibody, a mutagenized antibody, a humanized antibody, and antibody fragments that comprise an antigen binding site (e.g., Fab and Fv antibody fragments). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a SLC26 antibody comprises a monoclonal antibody. Thus, the present invention also encompasses antibodies and cell lines that produce monoclonal antibodies as described herein.
The term "specifically binds", when used to describe binding of an antibody to a SLC26 polypeptide, refers to binding to a SLC26 polypeptide in a heterogeneous mixture of other polypeptides.
The phrases "substantially lack binding" or "substantially no binding", as used herein to describe binding of an antibody to a control polypeptide or sample, refers to a level of binding that encompasses non-specific or background binding, but does not include specific binding.
Techniques for preparing and characterizing antibodies are known in the art. See e.g., Harlow & Lane (1988) Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York and U.S. Patent Nos. 4,196,265; 4,946,778; 5,091 ,513; 5,132,405; 5,260,203; 5,677,427; 5,892,019; 5,985,279; 6,054561.
SLC26 antibodies prepared as disclosed herein can be used in methods known in the art relating to the localization and activity of SLC26 polypeptides, e.g., for cloning of nucleic acids encoding a SLC26 polypeptide, immunopu fication of a SLC26 polypeptide, imaging a SLC26 polypeptide in a biological sample, and measuring levels of a SLC26 polypeptide in appropriate biological samples. To perform such methods, an antibody of the present invention can further comprise a detectable label, including but not limited to a radioactive label, a fluorescent label, an epitope label, and a label that can be detected in vivo. Methods for selection of a label suitable for a particular detection technique, and methods for conjugating to or otherwise associating a detectable label with an antibody are known to one skilled in the art. VII. SLC26 Modulators
The present invention further discloses assays to identify modulators of SLC26 activity. An assay can employ a system for expression of a SLC26 polypeptide, as disclosed herein above, or an isolated SLC26 polypeptide produced in such a system. The present invention also provides modulators of anion transport activity identified using the disclosed methods.
The term "modulate" means an increase, decrease, or other alteration of any or all chemical and biological activities or properties of a SLC26 polypeptide. Thus, the method for identifying modulators involves assaying a level or quality of SLC26 function.
A method for identifying a modulator of anion transport can comprise: (a) providing a recombinant expression system whereby a SLC26 polypeptide is expressed in a host cell, and wherein the SLC26 polypeptide comprises a SLC26A8 polypeptide or SLC26A11 polypeptide; (b) providing a test substance to the system of (a); (c) assaying a level or quality of SLC26 function in the presence of the test substance; (d) comparing the level or quality of SLC26 function in the presence of the test substance with a control level or quality of SLC26 function; and (e) identifying a test substance as an anion transport modulator by determining a level or quality of SLC26 function in the presence of the test substance as significantly changed when compared to a control level or quality of SLC26 function.
In one embodiment of the invention, assaying SLC26 function comprises determining a level of SLC26 gene expression.
In another embodiment of the invention, assaying SLC26 function comprises assaying binding activity of a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide. For example, a SLC26 activity can comprise an amount or a strength of binding of a modulator to a SLC26 polypeptide. In still another embodiment of the invention, assaying SLC26 function can comprise assaying an active conformation of a SLC26 polypeptide. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, assaying SLC26 function comprises assaying anion transport activity of a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide. A representative level of SLC26 activity can thus comprise an amount of anion transport or a peak level of anion transport, measurable as described in Example 6. A representative quality of SLC26 activity can comprise, for example, anion selectivity of a SLC26 polypeptide, pH sensitivity of anion transport, and pharmacological sensitivity of a SLC26 polypeptide. The electrophysiological behavior of SLC26A6 and other SLC26 polypeptides also provides a signature for transport activity. A control level or quality of SLC26 activity refers to a level or quality of wild type SLC26 activity. Preferably, a system for recombinant expression of a SLC26 polypeptide comprises any one of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2- 8. When evaluating the modulating capacity of a test substance, a control level or quality of SLC26 activity comprises a level or quality of activity in the absence of a test substance.
The term "significantly changed", as used herein to refer to an altered level or activity of a SLC26 polypeptide, refers to a quantified change in a measurable quality that is larger than the margin of error inherent in the measurement technique, preferably an increase or decrease by about 2-fold or greater relative to a control measurement, more preferably an increase or decrease by about 5-fold or greater, and most preferably an increase or decrease by about 10-fold or greater.
Modulators identified by the disclosed methods can comprise agonists and antagonists. As used herein, the term "agonist" means a substance that activates, synergizes, or potentiates the biological activity of a SLC26 polypeptide. As used herein, the term "antagonist" refers to a substance that blocks or mitigates the biological activity of a SLC26 polypeptide. A modulator can also comprise a ligand or a substance that specifically binds to a SLC26 polypeptide. Activity and binding assays for the determination of a SLC26 modulator can be performed in vitro or in vivo. In one embodiment of the invention, such assays are useful for the identification of SLC26 modulators that can be developed for the treatment and/or diagnosis of SLC26-related disorders, as described further herein below under the heading "Therapeutic Applications." In another embodiment of the invention, assays using a recombinant
SLC26 polypeptide can be performed for the purpose of prescreening bioactive agents, wherein an interaction between the agent and SLC26 is undesirable. Thus, drugs intended for administration to a subject for the treatment of a non-SLC26-related disorder can be tested for SLC26 modulating activity that can result in undesirable side effects. The disclosed assays and methods enable pre-screening of bioactive agents under development to identify deleterious effects of anion transport.
In still another embodiment of the invention, an assay disclosed herein can be used to characterize a mutant SLC26 polypeptide, for example a mutant polypeptide that is linked to a disorder of anion transport. Recombinant expression of mutated SLC26 polypeptides will permit further analysis of disorder-related SLC26 anion transporters.
In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a rapid and high throughput screening method that relies on the methods described herein. This screening method comprises separately contacting a SLC26 polypeptide with a plurality of test substances. In such a screening method the plurality of target substances preferably comprises more than about 104 samples, or more preferably comprises more than about 105 samples, and still more preferably more than about 106 samples. VILA. Test Substances
A potential modulator assayed using the methods of the present invention comprises a candidate substance. As used herein, the terms "candidate substance" and 'lest substance" are used interchangeably, and each refers to a substance that is suspected to interact with a SLC26 polypeptide, including any synthetic, recombinant, or natural product or composition. A test substance suspected to interact with a polypeptide can be evaluated for such an interaction using the methods disclosed herein.
Representative test substances include but are not limited to peptides, oligomers, nucleic acids (e.g., aptamers), small molecules (e.g., chemical compounds), antibodies or fragments thereof, nucleic acid-protein fusions, any other affinity agent, and combinations thereof. A test substance can additionally comprise a carbohydrate, a vitamin or derivative thereof, a hormone, a neurotransmitter, a virus or receptor binding domain thereof, an opsin or rhodopsin, an odorant, a phermone, a toxin, a growth factor, a platelet activation factor, a neuroactive peptide, or a neurohormone. A candidate substance to be tested can be a purified molecule, a homogenous sample, or a mixture of molecules or compounds.
The term "small molecule" as used herein refers to a compound, for example an organic compound, with a molecular weight of less than about 1 ,000 daltons, more preferably less than about 750 daltons, still more preferably less than about 600 daltons, and still more preferably less than about 500 daltons. A small molecule also preferably has a computed log octanol-water partition coefficient in the range of about -4 to about +14, more preferably in the range of about -2 to about +7.5. Test substances can be obtained or prepared as a library. As used herein, the term "library" means a collection of molecules. A library can contain a few or a large number of different molecules, varying from about ten molecules to several billion molecules or more. A molecule can comprise a naturally occurring molecule, a recombinant molecule, or a synthetic molecule. A plurality of test substances in a library can be assayed simultaneously. Optionally, test substances derived from different libraries can be pooled for simultaneous evaluation.
Representative libraries include but are not limited to a peptide library (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,156,511 , 6,107,059, 5,922,545, and 5,223,409), an oligomer library (U.S. Patent Nos. 5,650,489 and 5,858,670), an aptamer library (U.S. Patent No. 6,180,348 and 5,756,291 ), a small molecule library (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,168,912 and 5,738,996), a library of antibodies or antibody fragments (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,174,708, 6,057,098, 5,922,254, 5,840,479, 5,780,225, 5,702,892, and 5,667988), a library of nucleic acid- protein fusions (U.S. Patent No. 6,214,553), and a library of any other affinity agent that can potentially bind to a SLC26 polypeptide (e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,948,635, 5,747,334, and 5,498,538).
A library can comprise a random collection of molecules. Alternatively, a library can comprise a collection of molecules having a bias for a particular sequence, structure, or conformation. See e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,264,563 and 5,824,483. Methods for preparing libraries containing diverse populations of various types of molecules are known in the art, for example as described in U.S. Patents cited herein above. Numerous libraries are also commercially available. VII.B. Expression Assays The present invention also provides a method for identifying a substance that regulates SLC26A11 gene expression. The term "gene expression" is used herein to refer generally to the cellular processes by which a functional SLC26 polypeptide is produced from a nucleic acid. Thus, a SLC26 modulator can comprise a substance that binds to and regulates a SLC26A 11 promoter.
The term "promoter" refers to a nucleic acid that can direct gene expression of a nucleic acid to which it is operatively linked. A representative SLC26A 11 promoter is set forth as SEQ ID NO:28.
Reporter Gene Assay. In one embodiment of the invention, a gene expression assay utilizes a chimeric gene that includes an isolated SLC26A 11 promoter region operatively linked to a reporter gene. According to this method, a gene expression system is established that includes the chimeric gene and components required for gene transcription and translation so that reporter gene expression is assayable. To select a substance that modulates SLC26A 11 expression, the method further provides the steps of using the gene expression system to determine a baseline level of reporter gene expression in the absence of a test substance, providing a plurality of test substances to the gene expression system, and assaying a level of reporter gene expression in the presence of a test substance. A test substance is selected whose presence results in an altered level of reporter gene expression when compared to the baseline level.
To perform the disclosed method, the present invention further provides a chimeric gene comprising a SLC26A 11 promoter region operatively linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence. Preferably, the SLC26A 11 promoter region comprises the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:28, or functional portion thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a chimeric gene of the invention is carried in a vector and expressed in a host cell. Preferred host cells include mammalian cells, for example HeLa cells.
The terms "reporter gene," "marker gene," and "selectable marker" each refer to a heterologous gene encoding a product that is readily observed and/or quantitated. Non-limiting examples of detectable reporter genes that can be operatively linked to a transcriptional regulatory region can be found in Alam & Cook (1990) Anal Biochem 188:245-254 and in PCT International Publication No. WO 97/47763. Preferred reporter genes for transcriptional analyses include the lacZ gene (Rose & Botstein, 1983), Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) (Cubitt et al., 1995), luciferase, or chloramphenicol acetyl trans! 'erase (CAT).
An amount of reporter gene can be assayed by any method for qualitatively or preferably, quantitatively determining presence or activity of the reporter gene product. The amount of reporter gene expression directed by each test promoter region fragment is compared to an amount of reporter gene expression to a control construct comprising the reporter gene in the absence of a promoter region fragment. A promoter region fragment is identified as having promoter activity when there is significant increase in an amount of reporter gene expression in a test construct as compared to a control construct. Representative methods for reporter gene assays can be found in U.S. Patent No. 6,087,11 1 , among other places.
One-Hybrid Analysis. Modulators that bind a SLC26A 11 promoter can also be identified using one-hybrid analysis. According to this approach, a SLC26A 11 promoter is operatively linked to one, or typically more, yeast reporter genes such as the lacZ gene, the URA3 gene, the LEU2 gene, the HIS3 gene, or the LYS2 gene, and the reporter gene fusion construct(s) is inserted into an appropriate yeast host strain. It is expected that the reporter genes are not transcriptionally active in the engineered yeast host strain, for lack of a transcriptional activator protein to bind the SLC26A 11 promoter. The engineered yeast host strain is transformed with a library of cDNAs inserted in a yeast activation domain fusion protein expression vector, e.g. pGAD, where the coding regions of the cDNA inserts are fused to a functional yeast activation domain coding segment, such as those derived from the GAL4 or VP16 activators. Transformed yeast cells that acquire a cDNA encoding a protein that binds a cis-regulatory element of a SLC26A 11 promoter can be identified based on the concerted activation the reporter genes, either by genetic selection for prototrophy (e.g., LEU2, HIS3, or LYS2 reporters) or by screening with chromogenic substrates (lacZ reporter gene) by methods known in the art. See e.g., Luo et al. (1996) Biotechnigues 20:564-568; Vidal et al. (1996) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:10315-10320; and Li & Herskowitz (1993) Science 262:1870-1874.
In Situ Filter Detection. About 107 Dgt1 1 clones of a cDNA expression library are prepared poly(A)+ RNA derived from a tissue where SLC26A 11 is normally expressed (e.g., kidney). Clones are plated and replicated on nitrocellulose filters. After denaturation and renaturation, the filter-bound proteins are screened with a concatenated oligonucleotide probe containing the nucleotide sequence of a SLC26A 11 promoter. The probe is prepared by nick translation with a specific activity of >108 /mg. Duplicate screening using a probe carrying a mutated SLC26A 11 promoter is carried out to eliminate false positive clones. VII.C. Binding Assays
In another embodiment, a method for identifying of a SLC26 modulator comprises determining specific binding of a test substance to a SLC26 polypeptide. The term "binding" refers to an affinity between two molecules. Preferably, specific binding also encompasses a quality or state of mutual action such that an activity of one protein or compound on another protein is inhibitory (in the case of an antagonist) or enhancing (in the case of an agonist).
The phrase "specifically (or selectively) binds", when referring to the binding capacity of a candidate modulator, refers to a binding reaction which is determinative of the presence of the protein in a heterogeneous population of proteins and other biological materials. The binding of a modulator to a SLC26 polypeptide can be considered specific if the binding affinity is about 1 x104M"1 to about 1x106M'1 or greater. The phrase "specifically binds" also refers to saturable binding. To demonstrate saturable binding of a test substance to a SLC26 polypeptide, Scatchard analysis can be carried out as described, for example, by Mak et al. (1989) J Biol Chem 264:21613-21618.
The phases "substantially lack binding" or "substantially no binding", as used herein to describe binding of a modulator to a control polypeptide or sample, refers to a level of binding that encompasses non-specific or background binding, but does not include specific binding.
Several techniques can be used to detect interactions between a SLC26 polypeptide and a test substance without employing a known competitive modulator. Representative methods include, but are not limited to, Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy, Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/lonization Time-Of-flight Spectroscopy, and Biacore technology, each technique described herein below. These methods are amenable to automated, high-throughput screening. Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy. Fluorescence Correlation
Spectroscopy (FCS) measures the average diffusion rate of a fluorescent molecule within a small sample volume (Tallgren, 1980). The sample size can be as low as 103 fluorescent molecules and the sample volume as low as the cytoplasm of a single bacterium. The diffusion rate is a function of the mass of the molecule and decreases as the mass increases. FCS can therefore be applied to polypeptide-ligand interaction analysis by measuring the change in mass and therefore in diffusion rate of a molecule upon binding. In a typical experiment, the target to be analyzed (e.g., a SLC26 polypeptide) is expressed as a recombinant polypeptide with a sequence tag, such as a poly-histidine sequence, inserted at the N-terminus or C- terminus. The expression is mediated in a host cell, such as E.coli, yeast, Xenopus oocytes, or mammalian cells. The polypeptide is purified using chromatographic methods. For example, the poly-histidine tag can be used to bind the expressed polypeptide to a metal chelate column such as Ni2+ chelated on iminodiacetic acid agarose. The polypeptide is then labeled with a fluorescent tag such as carboxytetramethylrhodamine or BODIPY™ reagent (available from Molecular Probes of Eugene, Oregon). The polypeptide is then exposed in solution to the potential ligand, and its diffusion rate is determined by FCS using instrumentation available from Carl Zeiss, Inc. (Thomwood, New York). Ligand binding is determined by changes in the diffusion rate of the polypeptide.
Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/lonization. Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/lonization (SELDI) was developed by Hutchens & Yip (1993) Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 7:576-580. When coupled to a time- of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF), SELDI provides a technique to rapidly analyze molecules retained on a chip. It can be applied to ligand-protein interaction analysis by covalently binding the target protein, or portion thereof, on the chip and analyzing by mass spectrometry the small molecules that bind to this protein (Worrall et al., 1998). In a typical experiment, a target polypeptide (e.g., a SLC26 polypeptide) is recombinantly expressed and purified. The target polypeptide is bound to a SELDI chip either by utilizing a poly-histidine tag or by other interaction such as ion exchange or hydrophobic interaction. A chip thus prepared is then exposed to the potential ligand via, for example, a delivery system able to pipet the ligands in a sequential manner (autosampler). The chip is then washed in solutions of increasing stringency, for example a series of washes with buffer solutions containing an increasing ionic strength. After each wash, the bound material is analyzed by submitting the chip to SELDI-TOF. Ligands that specifically bind a target polypeptide are identified by the stringency of the wash needed to elute them.
Biacore. Biacore relies on changes in the refractive index at the surface layer upon binding of a ligand to a target polypeptide (e.g., a SLC26 polypeptide) immobilized on the layer. In this system, a collection of small ligands is injected sequentially in a 2-5 microliter cell, wherein the target polypeptide is immobilized within the cell. Binding is detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) by recording laser light refracting from the surface. In general, the refractive index change for a given change of mass concentration at the surface layer is practically the same for all proteins and peptides, allowing a single method to be applicable for any protein (Liedberg et al., 1983; Malmquist, 1993). In a typical experiment, a target protein is recombinantly expressed, purified, and bound to a Biacore chip. Binding can be facilitated by utilizing a poly-histidine tag or by other interaction such as ion exchange or hydrophobic interaction. A chip thus prepared is then exposed to one or more potential ligands via the delivery system incorporated in the instruments sold by Biacore (Uppsala, Sweden) to pipet the ligands in a sequential manner (autosampler). The SPR signal on the chip is recorded and changes in the refractive index indicate an interaction between the immobilized target and the ligand. Analysis of the signal kinetics of on rate and off rate allows the discrimination between non-specific and specific interaction. See also Homola et al. (1999) Sensors and Actuators 54:3-15 and references therein. VII.D. Conformational Assay
The present invention also provides a method for identifying a SLC26 modulator that relies on a conformational change of a SLC26 polypeptide when bound by or otherwise interacting with a SLC26 modulator. Application of circular dichroism to solutions of macromolecules reveals the conformational states of these macromolecules. The technique can distinguish random coil, alpha helix, and beta chain conformational states.
To identify modulators of a SLC26 polypeptide, circular dichroism analysis can be performed using a recombinantly expressed SLC26 polypeptide. A SLC26 polypeptide is purified, for example by ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography, and mixed with a test substance. The mixture is subjected to circular dichroism. The conformation of a SLC26 polypeptide in the presence of a test substance is compared to a conformation of a SLC26 polypeptide in the absence of a test substance. A change in conformational state of a SLC26 polypeptide in the presence of a test substance can thus be used to identify a SLC26 modulator. Representative methods are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,776,859 and 5,780,242. VILE. Anion Transport Assays
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a method for identifying a SLC26 modulator employs a functional SLC26 polypeptide. Novel SLC26 polypeptides disclosed herein include any of even-numbered SEQ ID NOs:2- 8. Representative methods for determining anion transport activity of a functional SLC26 modulator include measuring anion flux and determining electrogenic transport, each described briefly herein below.
In accordance with the method, cells expressing SLC26 can be provided in the form of a kit useful for performing an assay of SLC26 function. Thus, cells can be frozen as described herein above and transported while frozen to others for performance of an assay. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a test kit is provided for detecting a SLC26 modulator, the kit comprising: (a) frozen cells transfected with DNA encoding a full-length SLC26 polypeptide; and (b) a medium for growing the cells.
Preferably, a cell used in such an assay comprises a cell that is substantially devoid of native SLC26 and polypeptides substantially similar to SLC26. A preferred cell comprises a vertebrate cell, for example a Xenopus oocyte. In one embodiment of the invention, a cell used in the assay comprises a stable cell line that recombinantly expresses SLC26. Alternatively, a cell used in the assay can transiently express a SLC26 polypeptide as described in Example 5.
The term "substantially devoid of", as used herein to describe a host cell or a control cell, refers to a quality of having a level of native SLC26A, a level of a polypeptide substantially similar to SLC26A, or a level of activity thereof, comprising a background level. The term "background level" encompasses non-specific measurements of expression or activity that are typically detected in a cell free of SLC26 and free of polypeptides substantially similar to a SLC26 polypeptide.
Also preferably, all assays employing cells expressing recombinant SLC26 additionally employ control cells that are substantially devoid of native SLC26 and polypeptides substantially similar to a SLC26 polypeptide. When using transiently transfected cells, a control cell can comprise, for example, an untransfected host cell. When using a stable cell line expressing a SLC26 polypeptide, a control cell can comprise, for example, a parent cell line used to derive the S/.C2c -expressing cell line. Assays of SLC26 activity that employ transiently transfected cells preferably include a marker that distinguishes transfected cells from non- transfected cells. The term "marker" refers to any detectable molecule that can be used to distinguish a cell that recombinantly expresses SLC26 from a cell that does not recombinantly express a SLC26 polypeptide. Preferably, a marker is encoded by or otherwise associated with a construct for SLC26 expression, such that cells are simultaneously transfected with a nucleic acid molecule encoding SLC26 and the marker. Representative detectable molecules that are useful as markers include but are not limited to a heterologous nucleic acid, a polypeptide encoded by a transfected construct (e.g., an enzyme or a fluorescent polypeptide), a binding protein, and an antigen.
A marker comprising a heterologous nucleic acid includes nucleic acids encoding a SLC26 polypeptide. Alternatively, any suitable method can be used to detect the encoded SLC26 polypeptide, as described herein below. Examples of enzymes that are useful as markers include phosphatases (such as acid or alkaline phosphatase), β-galactosidase, urease, glucose oxidase, carbonic anhydrase, acetylcholinesterase, glucoamylase, maleate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, proteases, pyruvate decarboxylase, esterases, luciferase, alcohol dehydrogenase, or peroxidases (such as horseradish peroxidase).
A marker comprising an enzyme can be detected based on activity of the enzyme. Thus, a substrate is be added to catalyze a reaction the end product of which is detectable, for example using spectrophotometer, a luminometer, or a fluorimeter. Substrates for reaction by the above- mentioned enzymes, and that produce a detectable reaction product, are known to one of skill in the art.
A preferred marker comprises an encoded polypeptide that can be detected in the absence of an added substrate. Representative polypeptides that can be detected directly include GFP and EGFP. Common research equipment has been developed to perform high- throughput detection of fluorescence, for example GFP or EGFP fluorescence, including instruments from GSI Lumonics (Watertown, Massachusetts, United States of America), Amersham Pharmacia Biotech/Molecular Dynamics (Sunnyvale, California, United States of America), Applied Precision Inc. (Issauah, Washington, United States of America), and Genomic Solutions Inc. (Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America). Most of the commercial systems use some form of scanning technology with photomultiplier tube detection.
Anion Flux Assay. A candidate substance can be tested for its ability to modulate a SLC26 polypeptide by determining anion flux across a membrane or lipid bilayer. Anion levels can be determined by any suitable approach. For example, an anion can be detected using a radiolabeled anion as described in Example 6.
Anion flux can also be measured using any of a variety of indicator compounds. Preferably, an indicator compound comprises a compound that can be detected in a high-throughput capacity. Representative fluorescent indicators useful for detecting halides (e.g., chloride) include quinolium-type Cl" indicators (Verkman, 1990; Mansoura et al., 1999), cell-permeable indicators (Biwersi & Verkman, 1991), ratiometric indicators (Biwersi & Verkman, 1991 ), and long wavelength indicators (Biwersi et al., 1994; Jayaraman et al., 1999). An indicator can also comprise a recombinant protein. For example, the yellow fluorescent protein mutant, YFP-H148Q, produces fluorescence that is decreased upon halide binding (Jayaraman et al., 2000; Galietta et al., 2001 ). Such indicators are compatible with high- throughput assay formats and can be detected using, for example, an instrument for fluorescent detection as noted herein above.
Anion flux in a population of cultured cells can also be measured based on changes in a degree of light scattering that is correlated with cell size. See e.g., Krick et al. (1998) Pflugers Arch 435:415-421. An anion flux assay can also comprise a competitive assay design.
For example, the method can comprise: (a) providing an expression system, whereby a functional SLC26 polypeptide is expressed; (b) adding a SLC26 activator to the expression system, whereby anion transport is elicited; (c) adding a test substance to the expression system; and (d) observing a suppression of the anion transport in the presence of the SLC26 activator and the test substance, whereby an inhibitor of SLC26 is determined. Optionally, the persistent activator and test substance can be provided to the functional expression simultaneously. Similarly, an assay for determining a SLC26 activator can comprise steps (a)-(d) above with the exception that an enhancement of conductance is observed in the presence of the persistent activator and the test substance.
Electrogenic Transport Assay. Anion transport via a SLC26 polypeptide of the present invention can further be determined to be electrogenic by monitoring changes in intracellular pH (pH,) and membrane voltage (Vm) during transport. Representative methods are described by Romero et al. (1998) Am J Physiol 274:F425-432 and Romero et al. (2000) J Biol Chem 275:24552-24559. See also Example 7.
Briefly, an oocyte is visualized with a dissecting microscope and held on a nylon mesh in a chamber having a volume of about 250 μ\. The oocyte is continuously superfused with a saline solution (3 ml/minute to 5 ml/minute) that is delivered through TYGON® tubing (Worchester, Massachusetts, United States of America). Solutions can be switched using a daisy-chain system of computer-actuated five-way valves with zero dead space. Solution changes in the chamber typically occur within 15 seconds to about 20 seconds. Membrane voltage (Vm) and intracellular pH (pH,) of X.laevis oocytes are measured simultaneously using microelectrodes, as described by Romero et al. (1997) Nature 387:409-413. m electrodes can be pulled from borosilicate fiber-capillary glass (Warner Instruments of West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America). Electrodes are backfilled with 3M KCI and typically have a resistance of about 3MΩ to 5MΩ . The pH electrodes can be pulled in a similar manner, and are silanized by exposing them to 40 μl of bis-d - (methylamino)-dimethylsilane (Fluka Chemical of Ronkonkoma, New York, United States of America) for 5 minutes to 10 minutes. Silanized electrodes are deposited in an enclosed container at 200°C, and then baked overnight. The pH micropipettes are cooled under vacuum, and their tips are filled with hydrogen ionophore l-cocktail B (Fluka Chemical of Ronkonkoma, New York, United States of America). The pH micropipettes are then backfilled with a buffer containing 0.04M KH2P04, 0.023M NaOH, and 0.015M NaCI (pH 7.0). Representative pH microelectrodes have slopes ranging from about -54 mV/pH unit to -59 mV/pH unit.
The Vm and pHj electrodes are connected to high-impedance electrometers as described by Davis et al. (1992) Am J Physiol 263:C246- 256 and Siebens & Boron (1989) Am J Physiol 256:F354-365. The voltage due to pH can be obtained by electronically subtracting the signals from the pH and Vm electrodes. Vm can be obtained by subtracting the signals from the Vm electrode and an external reference (calomel) electrode.
In accordance with the methods of the present invention, electrogenic transport can be detected using any suitable method. For example, pH can also be assayed by detecting the presence of a fluorescence dye, for example BCECF (available from Photon Technology International, Inc. of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, United States of America).
Vesicle Transport Assays. Once a SLC26 modulator has been identified, its effectiveness in modulating anion transport activity can further be tested in isolated membrane vesicles, including brush border membrane vesicles derived from kidney and gut. Modulators can also be tested for activity in cultured grafts, for example intact renal proximal tubules. Methods for preparing membrane vesicles and exografts are known in the art, and representative protocols are described by Pritchard & Miller (1993) Physiol Rev 73:765-796; Miller et al. (1996) Am J Physiol 271 :F508-520; Masereeuw et al. (1996) Am J Physiol 271 :F1 173-1182; Masereeuw et al. (1999) J Pharmacol Exp Ther 289:1 104-1 1 1 1 ; Hagenbuch et al. (1985) Pflugers Arch 405:202-208; Kuo & Aronson (1988) J Biol Chem 263:9710- 9717; and Pritchard & Renfro (1983) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 80:2603- 2607. VII.F. Rational Design
The knowledge of the structure a native SLC26 polypeptide provides an approach for rational design of modulators and diagnostic agents. In brief, the structure of a SLC26 polypeptide can be determined by X-ray crystallography and/or by computational algorithms that generate three- dimensional representations. See Saqi et al. (1999) Bioinformatics 15:521 - 522; Huang et al. (2000) Pac Symp Biocompu .230-2^ ; and PCT International Publication No. WO 99/26966. Alternatively, a working model of a SLC26 polypeptide structure can be derived by homology modeling (Maalouf et al., 1998). Computer models can further predict binding of a protein structure to various substrate molecules that can be synthesized and tested using the assays described herein above. Additional compound design techniques are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,834,228 and 5,872,01 1. In general, a SLC26 polypeptide is a membrane protein, and can be purified in soluble form using detergents or other suitable amphiphilic molecules. In this regard, the identification of functional Drosophila Slc26d- proteins is a significant advance, since it is highly likely that much higher protein yield can be obtained from expressing Drosophila paralogs in Sf9 insect cells. The sequence similarity between Slc26d5002 and SLC26A11 in particular provides that structural study of this Drosophila paralog will yield information of specific relevance to the mammalian SLC26A1 1 protein. The resulting SLC26 polypeptide is in sufficient purity and concentration for crystallization. The purified SLC26 polypeptide preferably runs as a single band under reducing or non-reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The purified SLC26 polypeptide can be crystallized under varying conditions of at least one of the following: pH, buffer type, buffer concentration, salt type, polymer type, polymer concentration, other precipitating ligands, and concentration of purified SLC26. Methods for generating a crystalline polypeptide are known in the art and can be reasonably adapted for determination of a SLC26 polypeptide as disclosed herein. See e.g., Deisenhofer et al. (1984) J Mol Biol 180:385-398; Weiss et al. (1990) FEBS Lett 267:268-272; or the methods provided in a commercial kit, such as the CRYSTAL SCREEN™ kit (available from Hampton Research of Riverside, California, United States of America). A crystallized SLC26 polypeptide can be tested for functional activity and differently sized and shaped crystals are further tested for suitability in X-ray diffraction. Generally, larger crystals provide better crystallography than smaller crystals, and thicker crystals provide better crystallography than thinner crystals. Preferably, SLC26 crystals range in size from 0.1 -1 .5 mm. These crystals diffract X-rays to at least 10 A resolution, such as 1.5-10.0 A or any range of value therein, such as 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1 , 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1 , 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3, with 3.5 A or less being preferred for the highest resolution. VIM. Methods for Detecting a SLC26 Polypeptide The present invention further provides methods for detecting a SLC26 polypeptide. The disclosed methods can be used for determining altered levels of SLC26 expression that are associated with SLC26A-related disorders and disease states.
In one embodiment of the invention, the method involves performing an immunochemical reaction with an antibody that specifically recognizes a SLC26 polypeptide, wherein the antibody was prepared according to a method of the present invention for producing such an antibody. Thus, the method comprises: (a) obtaining a biological sample comprising peptidic material; (b) contacting the biological sample with an antibody that specifically binds a SLC26 polypeptide and that was produced according to the disclosed methods, wherein the antibody comprises a detectable label; and (c) detecting the detectable label, whereby a SLC26 polypeptide in a sample is detected.
Techniques for detecting such antibody-antigen conjugates or complexes are known in the art and include but are not limited to centrifugation, affinity chromatography and other immunochemical methods. See e.g., Manson (1992) Immunochemical Protocols. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, United States of America; Ishikawa (1999) Ultrasensitive and Rapid Enzyme Immunoassay. Elsevier, Amsterdam/New York, United States of America; Law (1996) Immunoassay: A Practical Guide. Taylor & Francis, London/Bristol, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Chan (1996) Immunoassay Automation: An Updated Guide to Systems. Academic Press, San Diego; Liddell & Weeks (1995) Antibody Technology. Bios Scientific Publishers, Oxford, United Kingdom; Masseyeff et al. (1993) Methods of Immunological Analysis. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft/VCH Publishers, Weinheim, Federal Republic of Germany/New York, United States of America; Walker & Rapley (1993) Molecular and Antibody Probes in Diagnosis. Wiley, Chichester, New York; Wyckoff et al. (1985) Diffraction Methods for Biological Macromolecules. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida, United States of America; and references cited therein.
In another embodiment of the invention, a modulator that shows specific binding to a SLC26 polypeptide is used to detect a SLC26 anion transporter. Analogous to detection of a SLC26 polypeptide using an antibody, the method comprises: (a) obtaining a biological sample comprising peptidic material; (b) contacting the biological sample with a modulator of a SLC26 polypeptide, wherein the modulator comprises a detectable label; and (c) detecting the detectable label, whereby a SLC26 polypeptide in a sample is detected. Any suitable detectable label can be used, for example a fluorophore or epitope label. I Therapeutic Applications
The present invention provides methods for identification of modulators of anion transport activity of SLC26A8 and SLC26A11. Alternatively, a construct encoding a recombinant SLC26A8 or SLC26A11 polypeptide can be used to replace diminished or lost SLC26 function. The modulators and constructs of the invention are useful for regulation of anion transport in a subject, for example to remedy dysfunctional anion transport associated with sulphate homeostasis, sulphation, oxalate homeostasis, transepithelial salt transport, bicarbonate transport, and physiological pH regulation. Alternatively, a construct encoding a recombinant SLC26A8 or SLC26A1 1 polypeptide can be used to replace diminished or lost SLC26 function.
The term "subject" as used herein includes any vertebrate species, preferably warm-blooded vertebrates such as mammals and birds. More particularly, the methods of the present invention are contemplated for the treatment of tumors in mammals such as humans, as well as those mammals of importance due to being endangered (such as Siberian tigers), of economical importance (animals raised on farms for consumption by humans) and/or social importance (animals kept as pets or in zoos) to humans, for instance, carnivores other than humans (such as cats and dogs), swine (pigs, hogs, and wild boars), ruminants and livestock (such as cattle, oxen, sheep, giraffes, deer, goats, bison, and camels), and horses. Also contemplated is the treatment of birds, including those kinds of birds that are endangered or kept in zoos, as well as fowl, and more particularly domesticated fowl or poultry, such as turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, and the like, as they are also of economical importance to humans.
SLC26A8-Related Disorders. Linkage studies of families ascertained through patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) suggest that an HLA-linked susceptibility gene on chromosome 6, designated "EJM1 ," predisposes to a group of idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) comprising JME, juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), childhood absence epilepsies (CAE), and epilepsies with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) (Sander et al., 1995). The present invention discloses that SLC26A8 lies within this region of chromosome 6p21 , and thus SLC26A8 is a positional candidate for subtypes of JME. The expression of SLC26A8 in brain, as disclosed herein, and its potential role in the regulation of both neuronal Cl" and neuronal pH also suggest its role in epilepsy. SLC26A8 is also expressed in testis, and thus is implicated in spermatocyte development and/or function (Example 4). SLC26A8 physically interacts with the RhoGTPase MgcracGAP (Toure et al., 2001 ), which is important for cell division (Jantsch-Plunger et al., 2000; Hirose et al., 2001). MgcracGAP normally interacts with the mitotic spindle to facilitate cytokinesis. SLC26A8 is proposed to disrupt this interaction, thereby precluding complete cytokinesis during meiotic divisions in spermatocytes (Toure et al., 2001 ). See also Lohi et al. (2002) J Biol Chem 7:electronic publication. SLC26A1 1 -Related Disorders. SLC26A 11 is a positional candidate for the autosomal dominant deafness locus DFNA20, which causes dominant, nonsyndromic, progressive hearing loss in multiple generations (Morell et al., 2000). DFNA20 has been mapped to chromosome 17q25, and the present invention discloses that SLC26A 11 lies within this region. SLC26A11 is also a positional candidate for familial Moyamoya disease, in which the circle of Willis spontaneously occludes (Yamauchi et al., 2000). A characteristic feature of Moyamoya disease is an abnormal vascular network at the base of the brain, suggesting a primary abnormality of angiogenesis. Linkage analysis has localized the disease gene within a 9-cM region of chromosome 17q25. The present invention discloses that SLC26A11 is included within this chromosomal region. Defects in SLC26A11 could produce abnormalities in heparan sulphate-dependent developmental events (Rosenberg et al., 1997; Perrimon & Bernfield, 2000) that could in turn lead to the vascular abnormalities observed in Moyamoya patients.
X. Compositions and Therapeutic Methods
In accordance with the methods of the present invention, a composition that is administered to alter anion transport activity in a subject comprises: (a) an effective amount of a SLC26 modulator; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A SLC26 modulator can comprise any one of the types of test substances described herein above. A SLC26 modulator can also comprise a pH modifier.
The present invention also provides methods for modulating anion transport activity in a subject via administration of a gene therapy construct comprising an SLC26 polypeptide. Such a construct can be prepared as described herein above, further comprising a carrier suitable for administration to a subject.
XA pH Modifiers
In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for modulating SLC26 anion transport by administering a modulator of a SLC26 polypeptide to the subject, wherein the modulator comprises a pH modifier.
The term "pH modifier" refers to any substance that can be used to regulate the pH of an in situ environment. An effective amount of a pH modifier comprises an amount sufficient to alter a pH to a level sufficient for activation of a SLC26 polypeptide. An effective amount of a pH modifier effective to achieve the desired in vivo pH modification will depend on the acidity or basicity (pKa or pKb) of the compound used, the pH of the carrier (e.g., a polymer composition) used when in vivo, and the in vivo environment's physiologic pH. Representative pH modifiers include acidic compounds or anhydrous precursors thereof, or chemically protected acids. For example, a pH modifier can comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of: amino acids; carboxylic acids and salts thereof; di-acids and salts thereof; poly-acids and salts thereof; esters that are easily hydrolyzable in vivo; lactones that are easily hydrolyzable in vivo; organic carbonates; enolic compounds; acidic phenols; polyphenolic compounds; aromatic alcohols; ammonium compounds or salts thereof; boron-containing compounds; sulfonic acids and salts thereof; sulfinic acids and salts thereof; phosphorus-containing compounds; acid halides; chloroformates; acid gases; acid anhydrides; inorganic acids and salts thereof; and polymers having functional groups of at least one of the preceding members. A pH modifier of this invention can also comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of: glycine; alanine; proline; lysine; glutaric acid; D- galacturonic acid; succinic acid; lactic acid; glycolic acid; poly(acrylic acid); sodium acetate; diglycolic anhydride; succinic anhydride; citraconic anhydride; maleic anhydride; lactide; diethyl oxalate; Meldrum's acid; diethyl carbonate; dipropyl carbonate; diethyl pyrocarbonate; diallyl pyrocarbonate; di-tert-butyl dicarbonate; ascorbic acid; catechin; ammonium chloride; D- glucosamine hydrochloride; 4-hydroxy-ephedrine hydrochloride; boric acid; nitric acid; hydrochloric acid; sulfuric acid; ethanesulfonic acid; and p- toluenesulfonic acid; 2-aminoethylphosphoric acid; methylphosphonic acid; dimethylphosphinic acid; methyl chloroformate; sulfur dioxide; and carbon dioxide.
A pH modifier can be prepared in a microcapsule, such that the pH modifier diffuses through the microcapsule or is released by bioerosion of the microcapsule. The microcapsule may be formulated so that the pH modifier is released from the microcapsule continuously over a period of time. Microencapsulation of the pH modifier can be achieved by many known microencapsulation techniques, as described further herein below under the heading "Carriers." X.B. Carriers
Any suitable carrier that facilitates preparation and/or administration of a SLC26 modulator can be used. The carrier can be a viral vector or a non- viral vector. Suitable viral vectors include adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), retroviruses, pseudotyped retroviruses, herpes viruses, vaccinia viruses, Semiliki forest virus, and baculoviruses.
Suitable non-viral vectors that can be used to deliver a SLC26 polypeptide or a SLC26 modulator include but are not limited to a plasmid, a nanosphere (Manome et al., 1994; Saltzman & Fung, 1997), a peptide (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,127,339 and 5,574,172), a glycosaminoglycan (U.S. Patent No. 6,106,866), a fatty acid (U.S. Patent No. 5,994,392), a fatty emulsion (U.S. Patent No. 5,651 ,991), a lipid or lipid derivative (U.S. Patent No. 5,786,387), collagen (U.S. Patent No. 5,922,356), a polysaccharide or derivative thereof (U.S. Patent No. 5,688,931), a nanosuspension (U.S. Patent No. 5,858,410), a polymeric micelle or conjugate (Goldman et al., 1997) and U.S. Patent Nos. 4,551 ,482, 5,714,166, 5,510,103, 5,490,840, and 5,855,900), and a polysome (U.S. Patent No. 5,922,545).
Where appropriate, two or more types of carriers can be used together. For example, a plasmid vector can be used in conjunction with liposomes.
A carrier can be selected to effect sustained bioavailability of a SLC26 modulator to a site in need of treatment. The term "sustained bioavailability" encompasses factors including but not limited to prolonged release of a SLC26 modulator from a carrier, metabolic stability of a SLC26 modulator, systemic transport of a composition comprising a SLC26 modulator, and effective dose of a SLC26 modulator. Representative compositions for sustained bioavailability can include but are not limited to polymer matrices, including swelling and biodegradable polymer matrices, (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,335,035; 6,312,713; 6,296,842; 6,287,587; 6,267,981 ; 6,262,127; and 6,221 ,958), polymer-coated microparticles (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,120,787 and 6,090,925) a polyokoil suspension (U.S. Patent No. 6,245,740), porous particles (U.S. Patent No. 6,238,705), latex/wax coated granules (U.S. Patent No. 6,238,704), chitosan microcapsules, and microsphere emulsions (U.S. Patent No. 6,190,700).
Microcapsules. Microencapsulation can be carried out by dissolving a coating polymer in a volatile solvent, e.g., methylene chloride, to a polymer concentration of about 6% by weight; adding a pH modifying compound (selected to be acidic or basic according to the pH level to be achieved in situ) in particulate form to the coating polymer/solvent solution under agitation, to yield a pH modifier concentration of 2% to 10% by weight; adding the resulting polymer dispersion to a methylene chloride solution containing a phase inducer, such as silicone oil, under agitation; allowing the mixture to equilibrate for about 20 minutes; further adding the mixture slowly to a non-solvent, such as heptane, under rapid agitation; allowing the more volatile solvent to evaporate under agitation; removing the agitator; separating the solids from the silicone oil and heptane; and washing and drying the microcapsules. The size of the microcapsules will range from about 0.001 to about 1000 microns. See e.g., U.S. Patent No. 6,061 ,581.
A microencapsulating coating polymer is preferably biodegradable and/or can permit diffusion of the encapsulated modulator (e.g., a pH modifier). A microencapsulating coating also preferably has low inherent moisture content. Biodegradation preferably occurs at rates greater than or similar to the rate of degradation of the base polymer.
Examples of coating materials that can be used to microencapsulate a SLC26 modulator, for example a pH modifier, include but are not limited to polyesters, such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, copolymers of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, poly-β- hydroxybutyrate, copolymers of D-caprolactone and D-valerolactone, copolymers of D-caprolactone and DL-dilactide, and polyester hydrogels; polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyamides; gelatin; albumin; proteins; collagen; poly(orthoesters); poly(anhydrides); poly(alkyl-2-cyanoacrylates); poly(dihydropyrans); poly(acetals); poly(phosphazenes); poly(urethanes); poly(dioxinones); cellulose; and starches.
Viral Gene Therapy Vectors. Viral vectors of the invention are preferably disabled, e.g. replication-deficient. That is, they lack one or more functional genes required for their replication, which prevents their uncontrolled replication in vivo and avoids undesirable side effects of viral infection. Preferably, all of the viral genome is removed except for the minimum genomic elements required to package the viral genome incorporating the therapeutic gene into the viral coat or capsid. For example, it is desirable to delete all the viral genome except: (a) the Long Terminal Repeats (LTRs) or Invented Terminal Repeats (ITRs); and (b) a packaging signal. In the case of adenoviruses, deletions are typically made in the E1 region and optionally in one or more of the E2, E3 and/or E4 regions. Other viral vectors can be similarly deleted of genes required for replication. Deletion of sequences can be achieved by a recombinant approach, for example, involving digestion with appropriate restriction enzymes, followed by re-ligation. Replication-competent self-limiting or self- destructing viral vectors can also be used.
Nucleic acid constructs of the invention can be incorporated into viral genomes by any suitable approach known in the art. Typically, such incorporation is performed by ligating the construct into an appropriate restriction site in the genome of the virus. Viral genomes can then be packaged into viral coats or capsids using any suitable procedure. In particular, any suitable packaging cell line can be used to generate viral vectors of the invention. These packaging lines complement the replication- deficient viral genomes of the invention, as they include, for example by incorporation into their genomes, the genes that have been deleted from the replication-deficient genome. Thus, the use of packaging lines allows viral vectors of the invention to be generated in culture.
Suitable packaging lines for retroviruses include derivatives of PA317 cells, ψ-2 cells, CRE cells, CRIP cells, E-86-GP cells, and 293GP cells. Line 293 cells are preferred for use with adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses.
Plasmid Gene Therapy Vectors. A SLC26 modulator or SLC26 polypeptide can also be encoded by a plasmid. Advantages of a plasmid carrier include low toxicity and easy large-scale production. A polymer- coated plasmid can be delivered using electroporation as described by Fewell et al. (2001 ) Mol Ther 3:574-583. Alternatively, a plasmid can be combined with an additional carrier, for example a cationic polyamine, a dendrimer, or a lipid, that facilitates delivery. See e.g., Baher et al. (1999) Anticancer Res 19:2917-2924; Maruyama-Tabata et al. (2000) Gene Ther 7:53-60; and Tarn et al. (2000) Gene Ther 7: 1867-1874. Liposomes. A composition of the invention can also be delivered using a liposome. Liposomes can be prepared by any of a variety of techniques that are known in the art. See e.g., — (1997). Current Protocols in Human Genetics on CD-ROM. John Wiley & Sons, New York; Lasic & Martin (1995) STEALTH® Liposomes. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America; Janoff (1999) Liposomes: Rational Design. M. Dekker, New York; Gregoriadis (1993) Liposome Technology. 2nd ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America; Betageri et al. (1993) Liposome Drug Delivery Systems. Technomic Pub., Lancaster; Pennsylvania, United States of America.; and U.S. Patent Nos. 4,235,871 ; 4,551 ,482; 6,197,333; and 6,132,766. Temperature-sensitive liposomes can also be used, for example THERMOSOMES™ as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,200,598. Entrapment of a SLC26 modulator or a SLC26 polypeptide within liposomes of the present invention can be carried out using any conventional method in the art. In preparing liposome compositions, stabilizers such as antioxidants and other additives can be used. Other lipid carriers can also be used in accordance with the claimed invention, such as lipid microparticles, micelles, lipid suspensions, and lipid emulsions. See e.g., Labat-Moleur et al. (1996) Gene Therapy 3:1010-1017; and U.S. Patent Nos. 5,01 1 ,634; 6,056,938; 6,217,886; 5,948,767; and 6,210,707. X.C. Targeting Ligands
As desired, a composition of the invention can include one or more ligands having affinity for a specific cellular marker to thereby enhance delivery of a SLC26 modulator or a SLC26 polypeptide to a site in need of treatment in a subject. Ligands include antibodies, cell surface markers, peptides, and the like, which act to home the therapeutic composition to particular cells.
The terms "targeting" and "homing", as used herein to describe the in vivo activity of a ligand following administration to a subject, each refer to the preferential movement and/or accumulation of a ligand in a target tissue (e.g., a tumor) as compared with a control tissue. The term "target tissue" as used herein refers to an intended site for accumulation of a ligand following administration to a subject. For example, the methods of the present invention employ a target tissue comprising a tumor. The term "control tissue" as used herein refers to a site suspected to substantially lack binding and/or accumulation of an administered ligand.
The terms "selective targeting" of "selective homing" as used herein each refer to a preferential localization of a ligand that results in an amount of ligand in a target tissue that is about 2-fold greater than an amount of ligand in a control tissue, more preferably an amount that is about 5-fold or greater, and most preferably an amount that is about 10-fold or greater. The terms "selective targeting" and "selective homing" also refer to binding or accumulation of a ligand in a target tissue concomitant with an absence of targeting to a control tissue, preferably the absence of targeting to all control tissues. The terms "targeting ligand" and "targeting molecule" as used herein each refer to a ligand that displays targeting activity. Preferably, a targeting ligand displays selective targeting. Representative targeting ligands include peptides and antibodies.
The term "peptide" encompasses any of a variety of forms of peptide derivatives, that include amides, conjugates with proteins, cyclized peptides, polymerized peptides, conservatively substituted variants, analogs, fragments, peptoids, chemically modified peptides, and peptide mimetics. Representative peptide ligands that show tumor-binding activity include, for example, those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,180,084 and 6,296,832. The term "antibody" indicates an immunoglobulin protein, or functional portion thereof, including a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a hybrid antibody, a single chain antibody (e.g., a single chain antibody represented in a phage library), a mutagenized antibody, a humanized antibody, and antibody fragments that comprise an antigen binding site (e.g., Fab and Fv antibody fragments). See U.S. Patent Nos. 5,1 11 ,867; 5,632,991 ; 5,849,877; 5,948,647; 6,054,561 and PCT International Publication No. WO 98/10795.
Antibodies, peptides, or other ligands can be coupled to drugs (e.g., a SLC26 modulator or a gene therapy construct comprising a SLC26 polypeptide) or drug carriers using methods known in the art, including but not limited to carbodiimide conjugation, esterification, sodium periodate oxidation followed by reductive alkylation, and glutaraldehyde crosslinking. See e.g., Bauminger & Wilchek (1980) Methods Enzymol 70:151 -159; Goldman et al. (1997) Cancer Res 57:1447-1451 ; Kirpotin et al. (1997) Biochemistry 36:66-75; (1997). Current Protocols in Human
Genetics on CD-ROM. John Wiley & Sons, New York; Neri et al. (1997) Nat Biotechnol 15:1271-1275; Park et al. (1997) Cancer Lett λ 18:153-160; and Pasqualini et al. (1997) Nat Biotechnol 15:542-546; U.S. Patent No. 6,071 ,890; and European Patent No. 0 439 095. Alternatively, pseudotyping of a retrovirus can be used to target a virus towards a particular cell (Marin et al., 1997).
X.D. Formulation
Suitable formulations for administration of a composition of the invention to a subject include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which can contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, bactericidal antibiotics and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the bodily fluids of the intended recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which can include suspending agents and thickening agents. The formulations can be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealed ampoules and vials, and can be stored in a frozen or freeze- dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of sterile liquid carrier, for example water for injections, immediately prior to use. Some preferred ingredients are sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), for example in the range of 0.1 to 10 mg/ml, preferably about 2.0 mg/ml; and/or mannitol or another sugar, for example in the range of 10 to 100 mg/ml, preferably about 30 mg/ml; phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and any other formulation agents conventional in the art.
The therapeutic regimens and compositions of the invention can be used with additional adjuvants or biological response modifiers including, but not limited to, the cytokines interferon alpha (IFN-α), interferon gamma (IFN- γ), interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or other cytokine affecting immune cells.
X.E. Dose and Administration
A composition of the present invention can be administered to a subject systemically, parenterally, or orally. The term "parenteral" as used herein includes intravenous injection, intra-muscular injection, intra-arterial injection, and infusion techniques. For delivery of compositions to pulmonary pathways, compositions can be administered as an aerosol or coarse spray. A delivery method is selected based on considerations such as the type of the type of carrier or vector, therapeutic efficacy of the composition, and the condition to be treated.
Preferably, an effective amount of a composition of the invention is administered to a subject. For example, an "effective amount" is an amount of a composition sufficient to modulate SLC26 anion transport activity. Actual dosage levels of active ingredients in a therapeutic composition of the invention can be varied so as to administer an amount of the composition that is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular subject. The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the therapeutic composition, formulation, the route of administration, combination with other drugs or treatments, the disease or disorder to be treated, and the physical condition and prior medical history of the subject being treated. Determination and adjustment of an effective amount or dose, as well as evaluation of when and how to make such adjustments, are known to those of ordinary skill in the art of medicine. For local administration of viral vectors, previous clinical studies have demonstrated that up to 1013 pfu (plaque forming units) of virus can be injected with minimal toxicity. In human patients, 1 X 109 - 1 X 1013 pfu are routinely used. See Habib et al. (1999) Hum Gene Ther 10:2019-2034. To determine an appropriate dose within this range, preliminary treatments can begin with 1 X 109 pfu, and the dose level can be escalated in the absence of dose-limiting toxicity. Toxicity can be assessed using criteria set forth by the National Cancer Institute and is reasonably defined as any grade 4 toxicity or any grade 3 toxicity persisting more than 1 week. Dose is also modified to maximize the desired modulation of anion transporter activity.
For soluble formulations of a composition of the present invention, conventional methods of extrapolating human dosage are based on doses administered to a murine animal model can be carried out using the conversion factor for converting the mouse dosage to human dosage: Dose Human per kg=Dose Mouse per kgx12 (Freireich et al., 1966). Drug doses are also given in milligrams per square meter of body surface area because this method rather than body weight achieves a good correlation to certain metabolic and excretionary functions. Moreover, body surface area can be used as a common denominator for drug dosage in adults and children as well as in different animal species as described by Freireich et al. (1966) Cancer Chemother Rep 50:219-244. Briefly, to express a mg/kg dose in any given species as the equivalent mg/m2 dose, the dose is multiplied by the appropriate km factor. In adult humans, 100 mg/kg is equivalent to 100 mg/kgx37 kg/m2 =3700 mg/m2. For additional guidance regarding dose, see Berkow et al. (1997) The
Merck Manual of Medical Information. Home ed. Merck Research Laboratories, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, United States of America; Goodman et al. (1996) Goodman & Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 9th ed. McGraw-Hill Health Professions Division, New York; Ebadi (1998) CRC Desk Reference of Clinical Pharmacology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America; Katzung (2001 ) Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 8th ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill Medical Pub. Division, New York; Remington et al. (1975) Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. 15th ed. Mack Pub. Co., Easton, Pennsylvania; Speight et al. (1997) Avery's Drug Treatment: A Guide to the Properties. Choice. Therapeutic Use and Economic Value of Drugs in Disease Management. 4th ed. Adis International, Auckland/ Philadelphia, United States of America; Duch et al. (1998) Toxicol Lett 100-101 :255-263.
Examples The following Examples have been included to illustrate modes of the invention. Certain aspects of the following Examples are described in terms of techniques and procedures found or contemplated by the present co- inventors to work well in the practice of the invention. These Examples illustrate standard laboratory practices of the co-inventors. In light of the present disclosure and the general level of skill in the art, those of skill will appreciate that the following Examples are intended to be exemplary only and that numerous changes, modifications, and alterations can be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.
Example 1 Cloning of Mouse and Human SLC26A8 Human SLC26A8 exons were initially identified in draft sequences of the BAC clone RP1 1 -48209 and the PAC clone PAC-179N16. The first SLC26A8 coding exon was predicted using GENSCAN (Burge & Karlin, 1997; Burge & Karlin, 1998; available at http://bioweb.pasteur.fr/seqanal/interfaces/genscan.html). However, annotation programs and homology to other SLC26 proteins were not useful in identifying the 3' coding exons and the stop codon. Candidates for the 3'- UTR were identified by analyzing genomic contigs, in which a cluster of ESTs a few kilobases 3' of the central coding exons was recognized. One such EST, I.M.A.G.E. clone 51308, was sequenced in entirety, and found to contain the 3' end of the coding sequence with the complete 3' UTR. The entire open reading frame was then cloned by RT-PCR from reverse transcribed human brain RNA (Clontech of Palo Alto, California, United States of America), using a sense primer within coding exon 1 (SEQ ID NO:20) and an anti-sense primer within the 3'-UTR (SEQ ID NO:21). LA TAG™ DNA polymerase (TaKaRa of Verivers, Belgium) was used for PCR amplification according to the following conditions: 30 cycles of denaturation at 98°C for 30 seconds and amplification/extension at 68°C for 6 minutes. Amplified PCR products were subcloned into the pCR2.1 vector (Invitrogen Corporation of Carlsbad, California, United States of America) and sequenced. A 500,000 base pair contig containing the entire mouse SLC26A8 gene was identified by performing a BLASTn search of mouse genomic sequences (Celera of Rockville, Maryland) using human SLC26A8 cDNA as a query sequence. The Mouse Genome Database (MGD, available at http://www.informatics.jax.org/mgihome/) was used as a resource for the analysis of murine genomic contigs. A 3294 base pair cDNA encompassing the entire open mouse SLC26A8 reading frame was then cloned from reverse-transcribed mouse testis RNA, using LA TAQU DNA polymerase (TaKaRa of Verivers, Belgium) with a sense primer (SEQ ID NO:22) and an anti-sense primer (SEQ ID NO:23), as described above for human SLC26A8.
Analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences was performed using VECTOR NTI® 6.0 software (InforMax, Inc. of Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America), GRAIL® software (Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States of America) (Roberts, 1991 ; Xu et al., 1994; Uberbacher et al., 1996; available at http://compbio.ornl.gOv/Grail-1.3), Phosphobase (Kreegipuu et al., 1999; available at (http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/databases/PhosphoBase/), TESS (Schug & Overton, 1997; available at http://www.cbil.upenn.edu/cgi-bin/tess). Matinspector (Quandt et al., 1995; available from Genomatix Software GmbH of Munich Germany and at http://transfac.gbf.de/cgi- bin/amtSearch/matsearch.pl), Prosite (Bucher & Bairoch, 1994; Hofmann et al., 1999; availalbe at http://www.expasy.ch/prosite/), Scansite (Songyang et al., 1993; Songyang et al., 1997; Yaffe et al., 1997; available at (http://cansite.bidmc.harvard.edu/cantley85.html) and PFAM (Bateman et al., 2000, available at http://www.sanger.ac.uk Software/Pfam/) . The mouse and human SLC26A8 proteins are 984 and 970 amino acids in length, respectively, and the proteins are 74% identical. The analysis of large genomic contigs containing the mouse and human genes revealed that the surrounding chromosomes have a conserved organization. Both SLC26A8 genes are flanked at the 5' ends by the MAPK-13 and MAPK14 genes and at the 3' end by the SRPK1 and colipase genes (Hu et al., 1999; Wang et al., 1999). Moreover, the genomic structure of the two SLC26A8 genes is conserved, with a total of 19 coding exons spanning about 80 kb of genomic DNA. The two SLC26A8 genes are thus clearly orthologous. The predicted SLC26A8 proteins are much longer than any of the other SLC26 exchangers. Most of this increased length is due to a large insertion within the predicted STAS domain and to a C-terminus that extends about 174 amino acids beyond that of the closest homologue. This C- terminal extension in particular is rich in glutamate, aspartate, proline, serine, and threonine. A predicted type 3 PDZ (nNOS) interaction motif was identified at the extreme C-terminal end of human SLC26A8 using Scansite (Songyang et al., 1993; Songyang et al., 1997; Yaffe et al., 1997; available at http://cansite.bidmc.harvard.edu/cantley85.html). However, this domain does not appear to be conserved in mouse SLC26A8. Example 2
Cloning of Mouse and Human SLC26A 11 A 3' mouse SLC26A 11 EST (I.M.A.G.E. clone 1245824) was identified by performing a BLASTn search of the EST database. The clone was sequenced in its entirety. This sequence did not initially identify genomic contigs in either HTGS (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/HTGS/) or the Cetera databases (Rockville, Maryland, United States of America). However, sequential BLASTn and tBLASTn searches of mouse, human, and "other" ESTs were successful in extracting a rough contig from several species, encompassing the entire SLC26A 11 open reading frame. The Mouse Genome Database (MGD, available at http://www.informatics.jax.org/mgihome/) was used as a resource for the analysis of murine genomic contigs. This effort identified END04D09, a mouse EST from the extreme 5' of the mouse SLC26A 11 cDNA that showed significant homology to the predicted amino-terminus of Drosophila SLC26 proteins. The mouse open reading frame was cloned by RT-PCR from mouse brain and kidney, using LA TAQ™ DNA polymerase (TaKaRa of Verivers, Belgium) and primers (SEQ ID NOs:24-25) according to the following PCR conditions: 30 cycles of denaturation at 98°C for 30 seconds and amplification/extension at 68°C for 6 minutes. A partial human cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR from human brain and kidney, using LA TAQ™ DNA polymerase (TaKaRa of Verivers, Belgium) and primers (SEQ ID NOs:26-27). The remaining 5' end of human SLC26A 11 was then identified by sequencing a human 5' EST, I.M.A.G.E. clone 3913300. Analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences was performed as described in Example 1. The full-length mouse and human SLC26A 11 cDNAs predict proteins of 593 and 606 residues in length, respectively, and are substantially shorter than other SLC26 proteins. Mouse and human SLC26A1 1 are about 80% identical. SLC26A 11 appears to be a particularly ancient member of the mammalian SLC26 gene family, in that SLC26A11 is more homologous to SLC26 proteins in Drosophila, C. elegans, and S. cerevisiae than it is to the mammalian SLC26 proteins. For example, mouse SLC26A1 1 is 37% identical to the predicted CG5002 and CG7912 Drosophila proteins. The Drosophila SLC26 proteins and the SLC26A1 1 proteins share two short insertions within the hydrophobic central region. The corresponding sequences, PHPEMPLAVKFSRG (SEQ ID NO:29; residues 208-221 of mouse SLC26A1 1 ) and EMVQDMGAGLAV (SEQ ID NO:30; residues 284-295 of mouse SLC26A11 ), are not conserved in the Drosophila proteins are also absent from other mammalian SLC26A1 1 paralogs. The C-termini of the SLC26A1 1 proteins are significantly shorter than the other mammalian orthologs and lack an expanded STAS domain observed in SLC26A8.
Example 3 Genomic Localization of Human SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 Based on the known localization of physically linked genes and sequence tagged sites (STS), the human SLC26A8 gene was localized at the centromeric end of the HLA complex on chromosome 6p21.3. Genomic localization of human STS markers was performed using the LDB (Location Database, available at http://cedar.genetics.soton.ac.uk/public_html/). The mouse ortholog is flanked on a 500 kb contig (Celera of
Rockville, Maryland, United States of America) by the murine MAPK13, SRPK1, and colipase genes, which have been localized near the murine MHC complex on chromosome 17, at about 15 cM (Hu et al., 1999; Wang et al., 1999). The mouse and human SLC26A 11 genes are both arranged head- to-head with the gene encoding sulphamidase, the disease gene for Sanfilippo A syndrome (Scott et al., 1995). The human sulphamidase gene is on chromosome 17q25, as are several STS markers in genomic contigs encompassing human SLC26A 1 1. Mouse sulphamidase is on the syntenic region of murine chromosome 1 1 , at about 75 cM (Costanzi et al., 2000). Genomic contigs that included SLC26A 11 also included neuronal pentraxin, which had been previously localized to this region of mouse chromosome 1 1 and human chromosome 17 (Omeis et al., 1996).
The distance between the transcription start sites of mouse SLC26A1 1 and sulphamidase was estimated from the positions of the most 5' ESTs to be only 34 base pairs (Figure 2). Thus, the mouse SLC26A 11 and sulphamidase genes likely share a bi-directional promoter (SEQ ID NO:28). The intergenic also contains a CpG island, consistent with the widespread expression of the two genes.
Example 4 Northern Blot Analysis of SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 Expression
RNA was extracted from C57BL/6J mice and human cell lines using guanidine isothiocyanate and cesium chloride. The Panc-1 and Calu-3 cell lines were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC of Manassas, Virginia, United States of America) and grown in DMEM with 10% FBS. Calu-3 is a model for pulmonary submucosal gland serous epithelial cells (Lee et al., 1998), and Panc-1 is a model for pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (Elgavish & Meezan, 1992). Total RNA (10 μg/lane) was size-fractionated by electrophoresis (5% formaldehyde, 1 % agarose), and transferred to a nylon membrane (Stratagene of La Jolla, California, United States of America). Amplified fragments of mouse SLC26A8, mouse SLC26A 11, and GAPDH were labeled with 32P by the random priming method (DecaPrime kit for randomly-prime labeling, available from Ambion, Inc. of Austin, Texas, United States of America). The blots were sequentially hybridized and stripped according to standard methods known in the art. Northern blots prepared using 2 μg/lane of human poly-A+ RNA were purchased from Clontech of Palo Alto, California, United States of America, and were hybridized to S-.C26-specific probes and to a human β- actin probe.
Hybridization of all blots was performed overnight at 42°C in 4X SSCP/40% formamide/4X Denhart's solution/0.5% SDS/200 μg salmon sperm DNA. Membranes were washed twice for 10 minutes at room temperature in 2X SSCP/0.1 %SDS, and twice for 1 hour at 65°C in 0.1 X SSCP/0.1 % SDS.
Human SLC26A8 transcripts were expressed in a restricted pattern, with a 3.3 kb transcript detected in brain and mouse testis. SLC26A8 transcripts were also amplified by RT-PCR from mouse brain and human testis. A 3.0 kb mouse SLC26A 11 transcript was detected in all tissues probed and thus appeared to be ubiquitously expressed.
Example 5 Expression of SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 in Xenopus laevis Oocytes Full-length mouse SLC26A8 and SLC26A 11 cDNAs were cloned into the Xenopus expression vector pGEMHE (Liman et al., 1992). SLC26A6 and SLC26A2 constructs were also prepared for use as controls in transport assays (Example 6). Expression constructs were linearized, and cRNA was transcribed in vitro using T7 RNA polymerase and a MMESSAGE MMACHINE® transcription kit (Ambion, Inc. of Austin, Texas, United States of America). Defolliculated oocytes were injected with 25 nl to 50 nl of water or with a solution containing cRNA at a concentration of 0.5 μg/μl (12.5 ng to 25 ng per oocyte) using a Nanoliter-2000 injector (WPI Instruments of Sarasota, Florida, United States of America). Oocytes were incubated at 17°C in 50% Leibovitz's L-15 media supplemented with penicillin/streptomycin (1000 units/ml) and glutamine for 2-3 days for uptake assays. Example 6
Anion Transport Assays For sulphate uptake assays, oocytes are pre-incubated for 20 minutes in chloride-free uptake medium (100mM NMDG gluconate, 2mM potassium gluconate, 1 mM calcium gluconate, 1 mM magnesium gluconate, 10mM HEPES-Tris, pH 6.0 or pH 7.5 as indicated), followed by a 60-minute period for uptake in the same medium supplemented with 1 mM K2 35S04 (40 μCi/ml). The cells are then washed three times in uptake buffer with 5mM cold K2S04 to remove tracer activity in the extracellular fluid. The oocytes are dissolved individually in 10% SDS, and tracer activity is determined by scintillation counting. Uptake of chloride, formate, and oxalate is assayed using the same chloride-free uptake solutions, substituting 8.3mM 36CI, 500μM [14C]oxalate, or 50μM [14C]formate for labeled sulphate. Each uptake experiment preferably includes 12-18 oocytes in each experimental group, and results are reported as means ± SEM.
For sulphate exchange and cis-inhibition experiments, the concentration of NMDG-gluconate in the uptake solution is adjusted to maintain isotonic osmolality (-210 mOsm/Kg), which can be confirmed experimentally using a FISKE® osmometer (Fiske Associates, Inc. of Bethel,
Connecticut, United States of America).
SLC26A8-\n]ec\ed oocytes showed Cl" uptake (Figure 3). Since the concentration of Cl" in Xenopus oocytes is about 30mM (Romero et al.,
2000), a significant component of the measured uptakes represented CI"-CI" exchange at the concentration used in the extracellular uptake medium
(8mM for Cl").
Example 7 Electrogenic Transport Assays
For electrophysiological measurements, oocytes are studied 3 days to 1 1 days following injection of SLC26 expression constructs. C02/HCθ3-free ND96 medium contains 96mM NaCI, 2mM KCI, 1 mM MgCI , 1.8mM CaCI2, and 5mM HEPES (pH 7.5 and 195-200mOsm). For C02/HC03-equilibrated solutions, 33mM NaHC03 replaces 33mM NaCI. In "0-Na+" solutions, choline replaces Na+. In "0-CI"" solutions, gluconate replaces Cl". All solutions are titrated to pH 7.5, and are continuously bubbled with C02- balanced 02 to maintain pC02 and pH. Ion selective microelectrodes are prepared, calibrated, and employed as described by Romero et al. (1998) Am J Physiol 274:F425-432 and by Romero et al. (2000) J Biol Chem 275:24552-24559. pH electrodes preferably have slopes of at least -56 mV/decade change.
Example 8 Drosophila SLC26 Gene Family Figure 4 is a phylogenetic tree of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family.
Sequence-verified paralogs are denoted by Slc26d-, genes determined by genomic annotation are denoted by CG-. A total of seven full-length cDNAs have been identified, and six full-length sequences are disclosed herein as SEQ ID NOs:31 -42.
Figure 5 depicts chloride uptakes in Xenopus oocytes injected with water or singly with cRNA encoding four members of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family, with extracellular pH set at 7.4 (open bars) or 6.0 (filled bars).
Only in Slc26d7005 oocytes is Cl* uptake significantly increased over that of water-injected controls.
Figure 6 depicts chloride uptakes in Xenopus oocytes injected with water or singly with cRNA encoding four members of the Drosophila SLC26 gene family, human SLC26A1 1 , mouse Slc26a8, and Drosophila CG8177 (an anion exchanger from the SLC4 gene family without significant homology to the SLC26 proteins), with extracellular pH set at 6.0. With the exception of CG21877 there is only a modest increase in Cl" uptake in some of the oocytes expressing injected cRNA.
Figure 7 depicts sulphate uptake in oocytes expressing several Drosophila SLC26 exchangers, human SLC26A1 1 , mouse Slc26a8, mouse Slc26a6 (right graph), or Drosophila CG8177. Uptakes in oocytes expressing the novel cDNAs are not as robust as those seen in Slc26a6 oocytes, yet are significantly greater than in water controls, particularly in SLC26A1 1 and Slc26d5002 cells.
Figure 8 depicts DIDS sensitivity of sulphate uptake in oocytes expressing selected Drosophila SLC26 paralogs or murine Slc26a6. Control cells are denoted by open bars, closed bars reflect oocytes exposed to 1 mM DIDS during the uptake period.
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Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1 . An isolated SLC26A8 polypeptide.
2. The isolated SLC26A8 polypeptide of claim 1 , further comprising: (a) a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4;
(b) a polypeptide substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or 4;
(c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; or
(d) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.
3. The isolated SLC26A8 polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the SLC26A8 polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3;
(c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide; and
(d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
4. A system for recombinant expression of a SLC26A8 polypeptide, the system comprising:
(a) a SLC26A8 polypeptide; and (b) a host cell comprising the SLC26A8 polypeptide.
5. An isolated SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule.
6. The isolated SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule of claim 5, further comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a SLC26A8 polypeptide.
7. The isolated SLC26A8 nucleic acid of claim 5, further comprising:
(a) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; or
(b) a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.
8. The isolated SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule of claim 5, further comprising a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3;
(c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
9. A method for detecting a SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule, the method comprising:
(a) procuring a biological sample having nucleic acid material;
(b) hybridizing the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under stringent hybridization conditions to the biological sample of (a), thereby forming a duplex structure between the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 and a nucleic acid within the biological sample; and (c) detecting the duplex structure of (b), whereby a SLC26A8 nucleic acid molecule is detected.
10. A method for producing an antibody that specifically recognizes a SLC26A8 polypeptide, the method comprising:
(a) recombinantly or synthetically producing a SLC26A8 polypeptide;
(b) formulating the polypeptide of (a) whereby it is an effective immunogen;
(c) administering to an animal the formulation of (b) to generate an immune response in the animal comprising production of antibodies, wherein antibodies are present in the blood serum of the animal; and (d) collecting the blood serum from the animal of (c) comprising antibodies that specifically recognize a SLC26A8 polypeptide.
1 1. The method of claim 10, wherein the SLC26A8 polypeptide comprises:
(a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; (b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3;
(c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; or
(d) a polypeptide substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or 4.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the SLC26A8 polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid segment selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a functional
SLC26A8 polypeptide; and
(d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
13. An antibody produced by the method of claim 10.
14. A method for detecting a level of a SLC26A8 polypeptide, the method comprising
(a) obtaining a biological sample having peptidic material;
(b) detecting a SLC26A8 polypeptide in the biological sample of (a) by immunochemical reaction with the antibody of claim 13, whereby an amount of SLC26A8 polypeptide in a sample is determined.
15. A method for identifying a modulator of a SLC26A8 polypeptide, the method comprising:
(a) providing a recombinant expression system whereby a SLC26A8 polypeptide is expressed in a host cell; (b) providing a test substance to the system of (a);
(c) assaying a level or quality of SLC26A8 function in the presence of the test substance;
(d) comparing the level or quality of SLC26A8 function in the presence of the test substance with a control level or quality of SLC26A8 function; and (e) identifying a test substance as an anion transport modulator by determining a level or quality of SLC26A8 function in the presence of the test substance as significantly changed when compared to a control level or quality of SLC26A8 function.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the SLC26A8 polypeptide comprises:
(a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3;
(b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3; (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID
NO:2 or 4; or (d) a polypeptide substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or 4.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the SLC26A8 polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid segment selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3;
(c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a functional SLC26A8 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the host cell comprises a mammalian cell.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mammalian cell comprises a human cell.
20. An anion transporter modulator identified by the method of claim 15.
21. A method for modulating anion transport activity in a subject, the method comprising:
(a) preparing a composition comprising a modulator identified according to the method of claim 15, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
(b) administering an effective dose of the composition to a subject, whereby anion transport activity is altered in the subject.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the subject is a mammal.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the subject is a human.
24. A method for identifying an anion exchanger modulator, the method comprising:
(a) exposing a SLC26A8 polypeptide to one or more test substances;
(b) assaying binding of a test substance to the isolated SLC26A8 polypeptide; and
(c) selecting a candidate substance that demonstrates specific binding to the SLC26A8 polypeptide.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the SLC26A8 polypeptide comprises: (a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3;
(b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3;
(c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; or (d) a polypeptide substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or 4.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein the SLC26A8 polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid segment selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3;
(c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a functional SLC26A8 polypeptide; and
(d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A8 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
27. The method of claim 24, wherein the host cell comprises a mammalian cell.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the mammalian cell comprises a human cell.
29. An anion transporter modulator identified by the method of claim 24.
30. A method for modulating anion transport activity in a subject, the method comprising:
(a) preparing a composition comprising a modulator identified according to the method of claim 24, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
(b) administering an effective dose of the composition to a subject, whereby anion transport activity is altered in the subject.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the subject is a mammal.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the subject is a human.
33. An isolated SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
34. The isolated SLC26A1 1 polypeptide of claim 33, further comprising: (a) a polypeptide of one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40; (b) a polypeptide substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40;
(c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of one of SEQ ID Os:5, 7 and 39; or
(d) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39.
35. The isolated SLC26A11 polypeptide of claim 33, wherein the SLC26A1 1 polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39;
(c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a SLC26A11 polypeptide; and
(d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A11 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
36. A system for recombinant expression of a SLC26A11 polypeptide, the system comprising: (a) a SLC26A11 polypeptide; and
(b) a host cell comprising the SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
37. An isolated SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule.
38. The isolated SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule of claim 37, further comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
39. The isolated SLC26A 11 nucleic acid of claim 37, further comprising:
(a) a nucleotide sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39; or
(b) a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39.
40. The isolated SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule of claim 37, further comprising a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39;
(c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a
SLC26A11 polypeptide; and
(d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A11 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
41. A method for detecting a SLC26A 11 nucleic acid molecule, the method comprising: (a) procuring a biological sample having nucleic acid material;
(b) hybridizing the nucleic acid molecule of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39 under stringent hybridization conditions to the biological sample of (a), thereby forming a duplex structure between the nucleic acid of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39 and a nucleic acid within the biological sample; and (c) detecting the duplex structure of (b), whereby a SLC26A1 1 nucleic acid molecule is detected.
42. A method for producing an antibody that specifically recognizes a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide, the method comprising:
(a) recombinantly or synthetically producing a SLC26A11 polypeptide;
(b) formulating the polypeptide of (a) whereby it is an effective immunogen;
(c) administering to an animal the formulation of (b) to generate an immune response in the animal comprising production of antibodies, wherein antibodies are present in the blood serum of the animal; and
(d) collecting the blood serum from the animal of (c) comprising antibodies that specifically recognize a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the SLC26A1 1 polypeptide comprises:
(a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39;
(b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39; (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of one of
SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40; or (d) a polypeptide substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40.
44. The method of claim 42, wherein the SLC26A1 1 polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid segment selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a functional SLC26A1 1 polypeptide; and
(d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
45. An antibody produced by the method of claim 42.
46. A method for detecting a level of a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide, the method comprising (a) obtaining a biological sample having peptidic material;
(b) detecting a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide in the biological sample of
(a) by immunochemical reaction with the antibody of claim 45, whereby an amount of SLC26A1 1 polypeptide in a sample is determined.
47. A method for identifying a modulator of a SLC26A11 polypeptide, the method comprising:
(a) providing a recombinant expression system whereby a SLC26A1 1 polypeptide is expressed in a host cell;
(b) providing a test substance to the system of (a); (c) assaying a level or quality of SLC26A1 1 function in the presence of the test substance; (d) comparing the level or quality of SLC26A1 1 function in the presence of the test substance with a control level or quality of SLC26A11 function; and
(e) identifying a test substance as an anion transport modulator by determining a level or quality of SLC26A1 1 function in the presence of the test substance as significantly changed when compared to a control level or quality of SLC26A1 1 function.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the SLC26A1 1 polypeptide comprises: (a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of one of SEQ ID
NOs:5, 7 and 39;
(b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39;
(c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40; or
(d) a polypeptide substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40.
49. The method of claim 47, wherein the SLC26A1 1 polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid segment selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a functional SLC26A1 1 polypeptide; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A11 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
50. The method of claim 47, wherein the host cell comprises a mammalian cell.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the mammalian cell comprises a human cell.
52. An anion transporter modulator identified by the method of claim 47.
53. A method for modulating anion transport activity in a subject, the method comprising:
(a) preparing a composition comprising a modulator identified according to the method of claim 47, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
(b) administering an effective dose of the composition to a subject, whereby anion transport activity is altered in the subject.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein the subject is a mammal.
55. The method of claim 54, wherein the subject is a human.
56. A method for identifying an anion exchanger modulator, the method comprising:
(a) exposing a SLC26A11 polypeptide to one or more test substances; (b) assaying binding of a test substance to the isolated SLC26A1 1 polypeptide; and
(c) selecting a candidate substance that demonstrates specific binding to the SLC26A11 polypeptide.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the SLC26A1 1 polypeptide comprises: (a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39;
(b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39; (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of one of
SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40; or (d) a polypeptide substantially identical to one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40.
58. The method of claim 56, wherein the SLC26A1 1 polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid segment selected from the group consisting of:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of one of SEQ ID NOs:6, 8 and 40;
(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39;
(c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs:5, 7 and 39 under wash stringency conditions represented by a wash solution having less than about 200 mM salt concentration and a wash temperature of greater than about 45°C, and which encodes a functional SLC26A1 1 polypeptide; and
(d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule differing by at least one functionally equivalent codon from the isolated nucleic acid molecule of one of (a), (b), and (c) above in nucleic acid sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes a SLC26A11 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid of one of (a), (b), and (c) above.
59. The method of claim 56, wherein the host cell comprises a mammalian cell.
60. The method of claim 59, wherein the mammalian cell comprises a human cell.
61. An anion transporter modulator identified by the method of claim 56.
62. A method for modulating anion transport activity in a subject, the method comprising:
(a) preparing a composition comprising a modulator identified according to the method of claim 56, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
(b) administering an effective dose of the composition to a subject, whereby anion transport activity is altered in the subject.
63. The method of claim 62, wherein the subject is a mammal.
64. The method of claim 63, wherein the subject is a human.
65. An isolated SLC26A 11 promoter region comprising:
(a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:28; or
(b) a nucleic acid molecule substantially identical to SEQ ID NO:28.
66. The isolated SLC26A 11 promoter region of claim 65, comprising a 20 base pair nucleotide sequence identical to a contiguous 20 base pair nucleotide portion of SEQ ID NO:28.
67. A chimeric gene comprising the isolated promoter region of claim 65 operatively linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence.
68. A vector comprising the chimeric gene of claim 67.
69. A host cell comprising the chimeric gene of claim 67.
70. A method for identifying a substance that regulates SLC26A 11 expression, the method comprising:
(a) establishing a gene expression system comprising the chimeric gene of claim 67, wherein the heterologous nucleotide sequence is a reporter gene, and components required for gene transcription and translation, whereby the reporter gene is expressed, and a level of reporter gene expression is assayable; (b) assaying a baseline level of reporter gene expression using the gene expression system of (a) in the absence of a candidate substance;
(c) exposing the gene expression system of (a) to a plurality of candidate substances;
(d) assaying a level of reporter gene expression using the gene expression system of (a) in the presence of a candidate substance of (c); and
(e) selecting a candidate substance whose presence results in an altered level of reporter gene expression when compared to the baseline level.
71. An anion transporter modulator identified by the method of claim 70.
72. A method for modulating anion transport activity in a subject, the method comprising:
(a) preparing a composition comprising a modulator identified according to the method of claim 70, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
(b) administering an effective dose of the composition to a subject, whereby anion transport activity is altered in the subject.
73. The method of claim 72, wherein the subject is a mammal.
74. The method of claim 73, wherein the subject is a human.
75. A method of crystallizing a SLC26 polypeptide, the method comprising:
(a) purifying a SLC26 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a SLC26A11 polypeptide and a SLC26A8 polypeptide; and (b) crystallizing the purified polypeptide.
76. The method of claim 75, wherein the SLC26 polypeptide is expressed in a heterologous cell.
77. The method of claim 75, wherein the SLC26 polypeptide is a Drosophila paralog.
78. The method of claim 77, wherein the Drosophila paralog is Slc26d5002.
PCT/US2003/006367 2002-02-28 2003-02-28 Cloning and characterization of slc26a8 and slc26a11 anion exchangers WO2003072756A2 (en)

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Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001064878A2 (en) * 2000-02-29 2001-09-07 Lexicon Genetics Incorporated Human transporter proteins and polynucleotides encoding the same

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001064878A2 (en) * 2000-02-29 2001-09-07 Lexicon Genetics Incorporated Human transporter proteins and polynucleotides encoding the same

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Title
DATABASE GENBANK 02 November 2001 Database accession no. AAL26868 *
MOUNT ET AL.: 'The SLC26 Gene Family of Multifunctional anion exchangers.' EUR. J. PHYSIOL. vol. 447, 2004, pages 710 - 721 *

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