Nova Patents
CA2101774C

Test and model for alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Model systems of Alzheimer's disease comprise a DNA sequence encoding an amy-loid precursor protein (APP) isoform or fragment that has an amino acid substitution. The substituted amino acid may be other than valine at the amino acid position corresponding to amino acid residue position 717 of APP770. Methods of determining genetic predisposi-tion to Alzheimer's disease are also disclosed.

CA2101774C, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 36

Term

Term ended

Expired 21 January 2012, 14.7 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Expired
  5. Today

26 claims: 14 independent, 12 dependent

  1. 1
    CA 02101774 2010-02-25 CLAIMS:1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a codon 717 mutant of human amyloid precursor protein wherein the amino acid at codon 717 as defined in relation to APP770 is selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  2. 3
    A polynucleotide probe capable of specifically hybridizing to an amyloid precursor protein 770 (APP770) allele exhibiting a mutation at codon 717 under hybridization conditions that distinguish between binding of the mutant allele and binding of the probe to a wildtype allele, wherein the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  3. 5
    A cultured human primary or immortalized cell, comprising a nucleic acid segment encoding a codon 717 mutant of human amyloid precursor protein (APP), wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770 and wherein the amino acid at codon 717 is a hydrophobic residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  4. 6
    A diagnostic method for determining an inherited predisposition to Alzheimer's disease in a subject, comprising detecting in the subject the presence of an allele of amyloid precursor protein (APP), wherein said allele has a sequence polymorphism at a position encoded by codon 717 defined in relation to APP770, and wherein the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  5. 11
    A method for genetic analysis of a human subject which comprises detecting the presence or absence of at least one polymorphism at codon 717 of an amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene in the subject, wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770;and wherein the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  6. 13
    A polypeptide free from human proteins, comprising a core sequence:Ile-Ala-Thr-Val-Ile-X-Ile-Thr-Leu- [SEQ ID NO:6] wherein X is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  7. 14
    An isolated polynucleotide, comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a mutant human amyloid precursor protein (APP) allele that cosegregates with a genetic predisposition to early onset familial Alzheimer's disease, wherein the amino acid at codon 717 of the mutant human APP allele is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine and codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770.
  8. 15
    A method of determining a genetic predisposition of a subject to Alzheimer's disease, the method comprising detecting in the subject's DNA the presence of a mutant allele of a gene encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP) that cosegregates with genetic predisposition to early onset familial Alzheimer's disease, wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770, and the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine. CA 02101774 2010-02-25
  9. 17
    Use of a recombinant nucleic acid sequence encoding a mutant human amyloid precursor protein (APP) allele that cosegregates with genetic predisposition to early onset familial Alzheimer's disease to transform a host organism, which transformed organism has a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease, wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770, and the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  10. 18
    Use of a recombinant heterologous gene encoding a mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene that cosegregates with genetic predisposition to early onset familial Alzheimer's disease, which gene upon expression promotes neuropathological characteristics of Alzheimer's disease, to produce a transgenic non human animal with germ cells or somatic cells comprising said gene, wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770, and the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  11. 19
    Use of a transgenic non human animal having a mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene at codon 717 that cosegregates with genetic predisposition to early onset familial Alzheimer's disease in screening for a drug capable of treating Alzheimer's disease, wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770, and the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  12. 20
    Use of a transgenic non human animal having a mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene at codon 717 that cosegregates with genetic predisposition to early onset familial Alzheimer's disease to derive cells transfected with the mutant amyloid precursor protein gene, wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770, and the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.
  13. 21
    An isolated cell comprising a nucleic acid segment encoding a position 717 mutant of human amyloid precursor protein (APP), wherein the cell naturally contains the nucleic acid or the nucleic acid has been introduced by genetic engineering, wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770 and the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine. CA 02101774 2010-02-25
  14. 24
    A method of screening for an agent capable of treating Alzheimer's disease, comprising:contacting a non-human host organism comprising a recombinant polynucleotide including a nucleic acid sequence encoding a mutant human amyloid precursor (APP) protein allele that cosegregates with a genetic predisposition to early onset familial Alzheimer's disease with the agent;and monitoring expression or processing of proteins encoded by the mutant allele, wherein codon 717 is defined in relation to APP770 (SEQ ID NO:3), and the amino acid at codon 717 is a residue selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, glycine, and phenylalanine.