Title of Invention

MODIFIED CYTOTOXIC PROTEIN.

Abstract TITLE: CYTOTOXIC PROTEIN AND UTILIZATION THEREOF A novel cytotoxic protein (M toxin: mucous layer devastating toxin) of Helicobacter pylori and utilization thereof. Namely, it is intended to provide a cytotoxic protein (M toxin) produced by Helicobacter pylori, its partial peptide, and an antitumor agent comprising the cytotoxic protein. This cytotoxic protein can be obtained by culturing a transformant which has been transformed by a recombinant vector containing a DNA encoding this protein. Also, use of the cytotoxic protein is provided (FIG.) nil
Full Text FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new cytotoxic protein (M toxin, mucous layer
devastating toxin) produced by Helicobacter pylori and the use.
BACKGROUND ART

It has been considered that the human gets many gastritis, gastric ulcer and
gastric cancer by Helicobacter pylori. A distinct direct cytotoxic factor causing
destruction of gastric epithelial cells and irreversible cell death at the beginning

of these diseases has not been specified. A factor changing pH environment "and
immunity reaction in the stomach, a factor adhering to gastric epithelial cells by
Helicobacter pylori, or move properties of bacteria themselves has been indicted
as a factor developing such diseases. However, it has been unclear hitherto that
gastric mucosal destruction triggering gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer
is injured in any process, or what is a direct responsible factor to the gastric
mucosal destruction. The only is that vacuolating toxin having cytotoxicity is
isolated, but it has weak cytotoxic activity and reversible cytotoxic activity. As a
fatal cytotoxic factor of a pathogenic factor, it has not been found in vivo and in
vitro.
Many researchers estimate that Helicobacter pylori, as described in the above,
in the environment stomach in vivo, secretes a direct cytotoxic factor for gastric
mucosal cells. Considering the importance of diseases, all sequences of the gene
is confirmed in 1996. However, in spite of the use of serum, it is impossible to
isolate and identify the presumable toxin due to separation conditions, with
difficult culture conditions and purification conditions and unfixed valuation
systems of the toxin.
Problems to be solved by the invention
One problem is that responsible protein causing gastritis, gastric, gastric ulcer
and gastric cancer by Helicobacter pylori infection is found, a mass production
method of the toxic protein is established, new M toxin is identified, and
diagnosis and screening method is established. Using these methods, it is
desired that responsible toxin of a cytotoxic factor for gastric mucosal cells is
controlled, and preventive and treating agents of gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer
and the like are developed and a method for using the toxin is found.
Disclosure of the Invention
Inventors of this invention have studied earnestly to resolve the above-
mentioned problem, and identified a new toxin that causes irreversible cell
death when Helicobacter pylori is cultured under serum-free conditions that is
similar to environment in the stomach different from usual. It has been found
that this toxin has a toxic power 1000 to 100000 times per unit of above-
mentioned vacuolating toxin, and it causes irreversible cell death for various
warm-blooded animal cells comprising not only gastric epithelial cells but also
immunocytes. The inventors of this invention have repeatedly researched on
these views to attain to the present invention.
Namely, this invention provides the following. (1) A cytotoxic protein
comprising a protein having at least 70 % or more identity for the amino acid
sequence represented by SEQ ID No. 1. (2) A partial peptide of the cytotoxic
protein described in claim 1, characterized in that the protein has the same
cytotoxic activity as that of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID
No. 1. (3) The cytotoxic protein of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the protein is
produced with Helicobacter pylori. (4) The cytotoxin protein of claim 1 or
claim 2 wherein the protein is obtained by culturing a transformant which is
transformed with a recombination vector containing DNA of SEQ ID No. 2
coding the cytotoxin protein of claim 1 or 2. (5) The cytotoxin protein of claim
4 wherein the transformant is deposited by deposition No. FEEM BP-8218 at
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Scienc and Technology (IPOD).
(6) An antitumor agent which contains the cytotoxic protein of claim 1 or 2.
(7) A monoclonal antibody specific against the cytotoxic protein which is
obtained by immunization of the cytotoxLc protein of claim 1 or 2 against a
mammal. (8) The monoclonal antibody of claim 7 which is produced with a
hybridoma clone of deposition No. FERM BP-8222. (9) The monoclonal
antibody of claim 7 which is produced with a hybridoma clone of deposition No.
FERM BP-8223. (10) The monoclonal antibody of claim 7 which is produced
with a hybridoma clone of deposition No. FERM BP-8224. (11) A polyclonal
antibody specific against the cytotoxic protein which is obtained by
immunization of the cytotoxic protein of claim 1 or 2 against a mammal. (12)
A method for detecting and diagnosing the cytotoxic protein of claim 1 or 2
wherein the monoclonal antibody or polyclonal antibody described in any one
of claims 7-11 is used. (13) An agent for preventing and treating gastric
cancer, gastritis and gastric ulcer triggered by the cytotoxic protein of claim 1
or 2, wherein the monoclonal antibody or polyclonal antibody described in any
one of claims 7-11 are used. (14) A method for screening a compound
promoting or inhibiting activity of the protein of claim 1 or 2, wherein cell
multiplication inhibition activity, cytotoxic activity or cell death is judged by
comparison between negative or positive control groups with a warm-blooded
animal cell. (15) A kit for screening a compound or its salt promoting or
inhibiting activity of the protein of claim 1 or 2, wherein the protein of claim 1
or 2 is comprised. (16) A compound or its salt promoting or inhibiting activity
of the protein of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound is obtained by the
screening method of claim 14 or with the kit for screening of claim 15. (17) A
medicine containing a compound or its salt, wherein the compound has
activity inhibiting cytotoxic activity of warm-blooded animal cells with the
protein of claim 1 or 2. (18) A medicine of claim 17, which is an agent for
preventing or treating gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer and a disease
showing that it is caused with M toxin by the screening method of cliam 14 or
with the screening kit of claim 15.
Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 shows an anion exchange chromatography of the sample obtained in
Example 1. a shows activity of M toxin for each fraction and absorbances of
the elute protein. b_ shows SDS-PAGE by silver stain of fraction 16 to fraction
22 in the chromatography of a. C shows bands of protein toxin transferred to
a PVDF membrane by electroblotting. d and e. show morphologic changes of
HeLa cell 24 hours after exposure to the control extract and the cytotoxin
including extract at a concentration of lnM, respectively. Scale bar, 50//m.
Fig. 2 shows cell morphologic change with the gene recombinant toxin
obtained in Example 3. a shows a negative contlol of HeLa cells after 6 hours,
h and c show HeLa cells after 3 hours and after 6 hours of 5 nM addition of
recombinant M toxin, d shows CRL7407(ATCC) normal human gastric cells
of negative control after 6 hours. e and f show CRL7407 cells after 3 hours
and 6 hours of 5nM addition of recombinant M toxin.
Fig. 3 shows sensitivity for M toxin of several kinds of cancer cells in
Example 3. It was determined by a WST method. X axis shows
concentration of M toxin in a substrate, and Y axis shows directly absorbance
of wavelength 415nm or by a relative ratio when the absorbance of a negative
control is estimated as 100%. HLF: rat hepatoma. colon 26: carcinoma of the
mouse colon.
Fig. 4 is as shown in Fig. 3. T24: human cancer of the bladder. OVK18:
human ovarian cancer. KLM-1: human pancreatic cancer. A-549: human
lung cancer. Ca9-22: human cancer of the gum. CRL1500: human cancer of
the breast.
Fig. 5 shows western blotting of monoclonal antibody which is conducted in
Example 8. All dilution magnifications of cultured supernatants of
hybridoma cells are 20 times.
Fig. 6 shows M toxin activity with calcium alginate as an adsorbent in
Example 9. The negative control contains 10mM Iris buffer pH7.7 alone as a
substrate, and the positive control contains a substrate and 10 mM M toxin.
X axis shows each fraction numaber passed through a calcium alginate
column. An average concentration of each fraction is lOnM. and any one of
the fractions shows at least 10 nM or more. When red corpuscles are
destroyed, hemoglobin concentration in the solution is increased. Y axis
shows 415nm absorbance.
Fig. 7 shows, in Example 10, % viability of HeLa cells showing M toxin
inhibition activity by adsorption of activated carbon in Example 10. X axis
shows each elute fraction number of column. M toxin concentrations are
average lOnM and any one of them is at least lOnM or more. Y axis shows %
obtained by dividing the value of the toxicity of each fraction by a positive
control which is measured by a WST method.
Fig. 8 shows as shown in Fig. 7. It shows % viability in HeLa cells of
CM-cellulose and calcium alginate showing M toxin inhibition activity by
adsorption in Example 10.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The protein having the same amino acid sequence or substantially identical
amino acid sequence with the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID
No. 1 of this invention may be a protein originating from bacteria strains of
Helicobacter pylori, for example, NCTC 11637, NCTC 11916, DT 61A, NCTC
11639, R85-13 6P, R85-13-12F, R85-13-11P, T81213-NTB, J99, 4, U2-1, 85D08,
MC903, MC123, Tx30a, 26695, UA1182 and the like, or my be a synthesized
protein.
As substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence
represented by SEQ ID No. 1, amino acid sequences having homology of about
70% or more, preferably about 80 % or more, more preferably about 90% or
more, further more preferably about 95% or more can be exemplified. As a
protein having substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid
sequence represented by SEQ ID No.l, a protein having substantially the
same amino acid sequence and substantially the same activity as that of the
protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID No. 1 can be
exemplified. As substantially the same activity, a cell multiplication
inhibition activity, a cytotoxic activity or an activity causing cell death can be
exemplified. The term of substantially the same means that these activities
have tha same quality, for example, in physiological chemistry or
pharmacology. Accordingly, it is preferred that the activity of cytotoxin and
the like has the same quality, for example, about 0.1-100 times, preferably
about 0.5-10 times, more preferably about 0.5-2 times. The degree of these
activities or quantity factors of molecular weights of proteins may be different.
The activities of a cell multiplication inhibition activity, a cytotoxic activity or
an activity causing cell death can be determined by well-known methods, for
example, by the screening method undermentioned.
As the protein of this invention, the following proteins can be exemplified:
an amino acid sequence deleting 1-150 (preferably 1-50) amino acids in the
amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID No.l; an amino acid sequence
adding 1-100 (preferably 1-30) amino acids in the amino acid sequence
represented by SEQ ID No. 1; an amino acid sequence inserting 1-50
(preferably 1-30) amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ
ID No. 1; an amino acid sequence that 1-50 (preferably 1-30) amino acids in
the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID No. 1 are substituted by the
other amino acids; or a protein containing a combination of these amino acid
sequences, what is called mucin.
When an amino acid sequence is iserted, deleted or substituted as described
in the above, the position of insertion, deletion or substitution is not
specifically limited.
In the protein of this specification, according to a usual practice, the left side
is an N end (an amino end) and the right side is a C end (a carboxyl end). In
the proteins of this invention, which comprises the protein having the amino
acid sequence represented by SEQ ID No.l, the C end is usually a carboxyl
group (-COOH) or a carboxylate (-COO-), but it may be an amid (-CONH2) or
an ester group (-COOR), wherein R is a C1-6 alkyl group of methyl, ethyl, n-
propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and the like, a C3-8 cycloalkyl group of cyclopentyl,
cyclohexyl and the like, a C6-12 aryl group of phenyl, a-naphthyl and the like,
benzyl, phenetyl and the like, a phenyl-C1-2 alkyl group of benzyl, phenetyl
and the like, or a C7-14 aralkyl group of an a-naphthyl-C1-2 alkyl group of a-
naphthylmethyl and the like. When the protein of this invention has a
carboxyl group (or carboxylate) at a position other than the C end, proteins
having an amidic or esterified group are contained in the protein of this
invention. As the ester, the ester of the above-mentioned C end may be used.
In the proteins of this invention, further, there is a protein that the amino
group of an amino acid residue (for example, a methionin residue) at the N
end is protected by a protective group (for example, a C1-6 acyl group of a C1-6
alkanoyl group or the like of a formyl group, acetyl group or the like); a protein
that the glutamic acid residue of the N end produced by incision in vivo is
changed into pyrroglutamic acid group; a protein that the substituent group
on the side chain of an amino acid in the molecular (for example, -OH, -SH, an
amino group, an imidazole group, an indol group, a guanidino group or the
like) is protected by a suitable protective group ( for example, a C1-6 acyl group
or the like of C1-6 alkanoyl group or the like of a formyl group); or a conjugated
protein or the like of so-called glycoproteins that the sugar chain is bound.
As the partial pepti.de of the protein of this invention, it may be a partial
pepti.de of the above-mentioend proteins of this invention, and preferably, it
has similar activitieas for example, a cell multiplication inhibition activity, a
cytotoxic activity or the like) to the proteins of this invention. As an example,
a peptide of an amino acid sequence having at least 20% or more, preferably
50% or more, more preferably 70% or more, further preferably 90% or more,
and most preferably 95% or more in the amino acid sequence of this invention,
and having a cell multiplication inhibition activity, a cytotoxic activity or an
activity causing cell death can be utilized. The partial pepti.de of this
invention may be the following peptides: 1-5 (prederably 1-3) amino acids are
deleted in the amino acid sequence; 1-10 (preferably 1-5 (more preferably 1-3))
amino acids added to the amino acid sequence; 1-5 (preferably 1-3) amino
acids are inserted into the amino acid sequence; or 1-5 (preferably 1-3) amino
acids are substituted by the other amino acids.
Although the partial peptide of this invention has usually a carboxyl group
(-COOH) or carboxylate (-COO-) at the C end, as shown in the above proteins
of this invention, the C end may be amide (-CONH2) or ester (COOR) wherein
R is the same meaning as shown in the above. In the partial peptide of this
invention, further, as shown in the above proteins of this invention, there is a
peptide that the amino group of an amino acid residue (for example, a
methionin residue) at the N end is protected by a protective group; a protein
that the glutamic acid residue of the N end produced by incision in vivo is
changed into pyrroglutamic acid group; a protein that the substituent group
on the side chain of an amino acid in the molecular is protected by a suitable
protective group; or a conjugated protein or the like of so-called glycoproteins
that the sugar chain is bound. The partial peptide of this invention can be
used as an antigen for constructing an antibody, so that a cell multiplication
inhibition activity, a cytotoxic activity or the like is no necessarily required.
As the salt of the protein or partial peptide of this invention, salts of
physiologically allowable acids (for example, inorganic acids or organic acids)
or bases (for example, alkali metal salts) can be used, and preferably
physiologically allowable acid addition salts, can be used. As such salts, for
example, there are salts of inorganic acids (for example, hydrochloric acid,
phosphoric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid), organic acids (for example,
acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid,
tartaric acid, citric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, benzoic acid, methane sulfonic
acid, benzene sulfonic acid). The proteins and the salts of this invention can
be produced by well-known preparation methods of proteins from any kinds of
strains of above-mentioned Helicobacter pylori, or by culturing a transformant
containing DNA that after-mentioned protein is coded. They further can be
produced in accordance with after-mentioned method for syntheizing peptides.
When the proteins are produced from any kinds of strains of Helicobacter
pylori, proteins in bacterial cells are centrifuged off by ultrsonic crushing,
then they are extracted by ammonium sulfate precipitation or the Like, and
the extracted liquid is purified and separated by combined chromatography
such as ion exchange chromatography and hydrophobic chromatography.
In the synthesis of the protein, the partial peptide, salts thereof or amide
thereof of this invention, commertially available resins for synthesizing
proteins can be used. As such resins, the following resins can be exemplified:
chloromethyl resin, hydroxymethyl resin, benzhydrylamine resin,
aminomethyl resin, 4-benzyloxybenzylalcohol resin, 4-methylbenzhydryl-
amine resin, PAM resin, 4-hydroxymethylmethylphenylacetoamidemethyl
resin, polyacrylamide resin, 4-(2",4"-dimethoxyphenylhydroxymethyl)phenoxy
resin, 4-(2",4"-dimethoxyphenyl-Fmoc aminoethyl) phenoxy resin. Using such
resins, an amino acid that a-amino groups and functional groups of side
chains are suitably protected is condensed on the resin to meet to the desired
protein sequence by a well-known condensation method. At the end of
reaction, the protein is cut off from the resin and several protecting groups are
deleted. Then, the desired proteins or amides thereof are obtained by a
method for forming internal disulfide bonds in a high dilution solution.
Concerning the above-mentioned condensation of protected amino acids,
several kinds of activated agents for protein synthesis can be used, and
particularly, carbodiimides can be used. As such carbodiimides, DCC, N,N"-
diisopropylcarbodiimide, N-ethyl-N"-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide
and the like can be used. In activation by these carbodiimides, the protected
amino acid can be directly added to the resin with an additional agent for

controlling racemization (for example, HOBt or HOOBt), or it can be added to
the resin after previous activation of the protected amino acid as a symmetric
acid anhydride or, HOBt ester or HOOBt ester.
As the solvent used in the activation of the protected amino acid or the
condensation with the resin, it can be selected from known solvents usable for
the protein condensation reaction. As such solvent, acid amides such as
N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetoamide and N-methylpyrolidone,
halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride and chloroform,
alcohols such as trifuloroethanol, sulfoxydes such as dimethylsulfoxide,
pyridine, eters such as dioxane and tetrahydrofuran, nitriles such as
acetonitrile and propionitrile, esters such as methyl acetate and ethyl acetate,
and mixtures thereof can be used. The reaction temperature is suitably
selected from the known ranges that can be used in the reaction for forming
protein bonds, and usually, it is suitably selected from -20 oC ~ 50 °C.
Activeted amino acid derivatives are usually used by 1.5-4 times of the mole
equivalent. As a test result of ninhydrin reaction, when the condensation is
insufficient, the condensation reactions can be repeated without the deletion
of the protected groups to conduct sufficient condensation. When sufficient
condensation can not be conducted by the repeated reactions, unreacted
amino acids are acetylated with acetic anhydride or acetyiimidazole, so that
subsequent reactions have no influence.
As the protected groups of amino groups of starting materials, for example,
Z , Boc, t-pentyloxycarbonyl, isobornyloxycarbonyl, 4-methoxybenzyloxy-
carbonyl, Cl-Z, Br-Z, adamantyloxycarbonyl, trifluoroacetyl, phthaloyl, formyl,
2-nitrophenylsulfenyl, diphenylphosphinothioyl, Fmoc and the like can be
used. The carboxyl groups can be protected, for example, by alkyl-
esterification (for example, alkylesteration of straight, branched or cyclic
chains of methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, t-butyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl,
cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl and 2-adamantyl), aralkylesteration (for example,

benzylester, 4-nitrobenzylester, 4-methoxybenzylester, 4-chlorobenzylester,
benzhydrylester), phenacylesteration, benzyloxycarbonylliydxadidation, t-
butoxycarbonylhydradidation, tritylhydradidation and the like. The hydroxyl
group of serine can be prtected, for example, by esterification or etheration. As
the suitable groups of this esterification, for example, lower (C1-6) alkanoyl
groups such as an acetyl group, an acyl group such as a benzoyl group, or
groups derived from carbonate such as a benzyloxycarbonyl group and
ethoxycarbonyl group can be used. As groups suitable to the etheration, a
benzyl group, a tetrahydropyranyl group and a t-butyl group can be
exemplified. As the protected groups of phenolic hydroxyl groups of tyrosine,
for examle, Bzl, C12-Bzl, 2-nitrobenzyl, Br-Z and t-butyl can be used. As the
protected groups of imidazole of histidine, for example, Tos, 4-methoxy-2,3,6-
trimethylbenzenesulfonyl, DNP, benzyloxymethyl, Bum, Boc, Trt and Fmoc
can be used.
As the activated carboxyl groups of starting materials, for example,
corresponding acid anhydrides, azides and activated esters (esters of alcohol
(for example, pentachlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol,
cyanomethylalcohol, paranitrophenol, HONB, N-hydroxysucrimide, N-
hydroxyphthalimide and HOBt)) can be used. As the activated amino groups
of starting materials, for example, corresponding phosphoric amides can be
used. As a method for removing (elimination) of the protected groups, for
example, catalytic reduction in hydrogen stream in the presence of a catalyst
of Pd-black or Pd-charcoal; acid treatment with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride,
methan sulfonic acid, trifluoromethan sulfonic acid, trfluoroacetic acid or their
mixtures; base treatment with diisopropylethylamine, triethylamine,
piperidine, piperadine or the hke; or reduction with sodium in liquid ammonia
can be used. The elimination reaction by using the above acid treatment is
conducted usually at a temperature of— 20°C~40°C. In the acid treatment,
it is efficient to add a cation catching agent such as anisol, phenol, thioanisol,

metacresol, paracresol, dimethylsulfide, 1,4-butandithiol or 1,2-ethandithiol.
The 2,4-dinitrophenyl group used as an imidazole protection group of histidine
is removed by thiophenol treatment. The formyl group used as an indole
protection group of tryptophan is removed by acid treatment in the presence
of the above 1,2-ethanedithiol, 1,4-butanedithiol or the like, and further it can
be removed by alkali treatment with a diluted sodium hydroxide solution,
diluted ammmonia or the like.
The protection of functional groups that should not participate in the
reaction of starting materials and the protected groups, elimination of the
protected groups, activation of the functional group that participate in the
reaction or the like can be suitablly selected from well-known groups and
means. As the other methods for obtaining amides of proteins, for example,
an a -carboxyl group of carboxy end-group amino acid is protected by
amidation, a peptide chair (protein) is elongated to the desired chain length at
the side of the amino chain, a protein that the protected group of the a -amino
group at the N-end of the peptide chain is eliminated and a protein that the
protected group of the carboxyl group at the C-end of the peptide are produced,
and the both peptide are condensed in a mixture solution as described above.
The particular of the condensation reaction is as mentioned in the above.
The protected protein obtained by the condensation is purified, all protected
groups are removed by the above method, and crude protein can be obtained.
The crude protein is purified by using a known purification means, main
fractions are lyophilized and an desired amide of the protein can be obtained.
For obtaining esters of the protein, for example, a. -carboxyl groups of
carboxy-end amino acids are condensed with desired alcohols to obtain amino
acid esters, the esters are treated as shown in amides of the protein, and
desired esters of the protein can be obtained.
The partial peptide or the salts of this invention can be produced by well-
known methods for synthesizing peptides or by cutting the protein of this

invention with a suitable peptidase. As the method for synthesizing the
pepti.de, for example, a solid-phase synthesis mathod or liquid-phase
synthesis method can be used. Namely, a partial peptide able to constitute
the partial peptide of this invention or an amino acid is condensed with the
remaining parts, when the product has a protected group, the protected group
is eliminated, and the desired peptide can be produced.
As well-known condensation methods and the elimination of the protected
groups, for example, the following methods are exemplified. M.Bodanszky and
M.A.Ondetti, Peptide Synthesis, Interscience Publishers, New York (1966);
Schroeder and Luebke, The Peptide, Academic Press, New York (1965); Nobuo
Izumiya et al., Fundament and Experiments of Peptide Synthesis, Maruzen
Co., (1975); Haruaki Yajima and Shunpei Sakaltibara, Biochemical
Experiment Lectures 1, Chemistry of Proteins IV, 205 (1977); Haruaki Yajima
supervised, Continued Development of Medicines, Vol. 14, Peptide Synthesis,
Hirokawa Shoten. After the reaction, further, the partial peptide of this
invention can be purified by usual purification methods, for example, solvent
extraction, distillation, column chromatography, liquid chromatography,
recrystalization and their combination. When the partial peptide is obtained
by the above methods, it can be changed into a suitable salt by a known
method or the similar method. When a salt of the partil peptide is obtained,
it can be changed into a released compound or the other salt by a known
method or the similar method.
As the DNA coding the protein of this invention, any compounds that a base
sequence coding the above-mentioned protein of this invention is contained
can be used. Further, a genome DNA, a genome DNA library, the above-
mentioned cDNA derived from cells and tissues, the above-mentioned cDNA
library derived from cells and tissues, or synthetic DNA can be used. A
vector used in the library can be selected from any one of bacteriophage,
plasmid, cosmid, phagemid and the like. Using a total RNAor mRNA fraction

prepred from the above cells or tissues, it can be directly amplified by Reverse
Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (called as a RT-PCR method
hereinafter) . As the DNA coding the protein of this invention, any one of the
following DNAs can be exemplified: for example, a DNA containing a base
sequence represented by SEQ ID No.2, or a DNA, which has a base sequence
hybridizing with a base sequence represented by SEQ ID No.2 under
highstringent conditions and codes the protein having substantially the same
activity as the protein of this invention (for example, citotoxin activity).
Further embodying, As the DNA coding a protein having the ammo acid
sequence represented by SEQ ID No. 1, the DNA having the base sequence
represented by SEQ ID No. 2 can be used.
As the DNA coding the partial peptide of this invention, any one of DNAs
containing the above base sequence coding the partial peptide of this
invention can be used. Further, a genome DNA, a genome DNA library, the
above-mentioned cDNA derived from cells and tissues, the above-mentioned
cDNA library derived from cells and tissues, or synthetic DNA can be used.
As the DNA coding the partial peptide of this invention, for example, any one
of the following DNAs can be exemplified: for example, a DNA having a partial
sequence of DNA having a base sequence represented by SEQ ID No.2, or a
DNA having a prtial sequence of DNA, which has a base sequence hybridizing
with a base sequence represented by SEQ ID No.2 under highstringent
conditions and codes the protein having substantially the same activity as the
protein of this invention (for example, citotoxin activity).
As cloning methods of the DNA perfectly coding the protein of this invention
or the partial peptide (hereinafter, in the description of the cloning and
expression of the DNA coding these protein and the like, case by case, these
protein and the like is shorten as the protein of this invention) , using a
synthesized DNA primer having the partial base sequence of the protein of
this invention, it is amplifyed by a known PCR method, or the DNA combined

in a suitable vector is selected by hybridization with a DNA fraction or a
synthesized DNA that codes a part or all region of the protein of this invention.
The hybridization method can be conducted by the description of, for example,
Molecular Cloning, 2nd, J. Sambrook et al., Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press
(1989). When a commertially available liblary is used, it can be conducted by
the method described in an attached explanation. In the change of DNA base
sequences, using a known kit such as MutanTM-G (produced by Takara
Shuzou Co.) , MutanTM-K (produced by Takara Shuzou Co.) or the like, a
Gapped duplex method, a Kunkel method, well-known methods or similar
methods can be conducted. The DNA coding a cloned protein can be used as
it is, or by digesting with a restriction enzyme as desired, or by addition of a
linker. The DNA may have ATG, GTG or TTG as a translation initiation
codon at the 5" end side and TAA, TGA or TAG as a translation termination
codon at the 3" end side. The translation initiation codon and the translation
termination codon can be added by using a suitable synthetic DNA adapter.
The expression vector of the protein of this invention can be produced, for
example, by means (i) that an desired DNA is cutt off from the DNA coding the
protein of this invention, and (ii) that the DNA fraction is bonded to the
downstream of the promoter in a suitable expression vector.
As the vector, a plasmid derived from Echerichia coli (such as pBR322,
pBR325, pUC12, pUCl3 or pET30), a plasmid derived from Bacillus subtilis
(such as pUBHO, pTP5 or pC194), a plasmid (such as pSH19, pSH15),
bacteriophage derived from yeast, a bacteriophage such as Aphage, an
animal virus such as a retro virus, a vaccinia virus, a Baculo virus or the like,
pAl-11, pXTl, pRc/CMV, pRc/RSV or pcDNAI/Neo can be used. As the
promoter used in this invention, any promoters suitable for the host used in
the expression of genes can be used. For example, when animal cells are
used as the host, a SR a promoter, SV40 early promoter, HIV • LTR
promoter, CMV promoter or HSV-TK promoter can be exemplified. In these

promoters, the CMV (cytomegalovirus) promoter, SB, a promoter can be
preferably used. When the host is an Echerichia family fungus, a trp
promoter, lac promoter, recA promoter, A. PL promoter, lpp promoter or T7
promoter is preferred. When the host is a Bacillus family fungus, a SPO1
promoter, SPO2 promoter or penP promoter is preferred. When the host is
yeast, a PHO5 promoter, PGK promoter, GAP promoter or ADH promoter is
preferred. When the host is an insect cell, a polyhedrin promoter, P10
promoter or the like preferred.
As the expression vectors other than the above vectors, if desired, vectors
containing an enhancer, a selection marker, SV40 replication origin
(occationally abbreviated as SV40ori hereinafter) or the like can be used. As
the selection marker, for example, a dihydro folic acid reduction enzyme
(occationally abbreviated as dhfr hereinafter) gene (methotrxate (MTX)
resistance), an ampicillin resistance gene (occationally abbreviated as Ampr
hereinafter), a neomycin resistance gene (occationally abbreviated as Neor
hereinafter) G418 resistance and kanamycin resistance gene can be
exemplified. Particularly, when the dhfr gene is used as a selection marker
by using Chinese hamster cells defective a dhfr gene, combinant cells can be
selected by a medium not containing thymidine. If necessary, further, a signal
sequence fitted to the host is added to N end sides of the protein of this
invention. When the host is an Echerichia family fungus, a PhoA signal
sequence, OmpA signal sequence or the like can be used. When the host is a
Bacillus family fungus, an a-amylase signal sequence, a subtilicin signal
sequence or the like can be used. When the host is yeast, an MF a signal
sequence, a SUC2 signal sequence, a SUC2 signal sequence or the like can be
used. When the host is an animal cell, an insulin signal sequence, an a-
interferon siganl sequence, an antibody molecular signal sequence or the like
can be used. Using a vector containing the DNA coding such constructed
protein of this invention, a transformant can be produced.

As the host, for example, an Genus Echerichia, a Genus Bacillus, yeast,
insect cells, insects, animal cells or the like can be used. As an embodiment
of Genus Echerichia, for example, Escherichia coli K12, DHl, DH5a (Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol.60, 160(1968)) , JM103 (Nucleic Acids Research,
Vol.9, 309(1981)) ,JA221 (Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol.120, 517(1978)) ,
HB101 (Journal of Molecular Biology,Vol.41, 459(1969)) ,C600 (Genetics,
Vol.39, 440(1954)) or the like can be used. As Genus Bacillus, for example,
Bacillus subtilis MI114 (Gene, Vol.24, 255(1983), 207-21 (Journal of
Biochemistry, Vol.95, 87(1984)) or the like can be used. As the yeast, for
example, Saccharomyces cerevisiae AH22, AH22R, NA87-11A, DKD-5D, 20B-
12, Schizosaccharomyces pombe NCYC1913, NCYC2036, Pichia pastoris
KM71 or the like can be used.
As the insect cells, for example, when the virus is AcNPV, Spodoptera
frugiperda cell; Sf cells, MGl cells derived from midintestine of Trichoplusia
ni, High Five TM cells derived from the egg of Trichoplusia ni, cells derived
from Mamestra brassicae, cells derived from Estigmena acrea or the like can
be used. When the virus is BmNPV, Bombyx mori N cells; BmN cells or the
like can be used. As the Sf cells, for example, Sf9 cells (ATCC CRL1711) , Sf21
cells (Vaughn, J.L. et al., In Vivo, 13, 213-217(1977)) or the like can be used.
As the insects, for example, larvae of silkworms can be used (Maeda et al,
Nature, Vol. 315, 592(1985)). As the animal cells, for example, monkey cell
COS-7, Vero, Chinese hamster cell CHO (abbreviated as a CHO cell
hereinafter), dhfr gene defective chainese hamstercell CHO (abbreviated as a
CHO(dhfr-) cell hereinafter), mouse L cells, mouse AtT-20, mouse myeloma
cells, rat GH3, human FL cells or the like can be used. Moreover, several
kinds of normal human cells, for example, liver cells, splenocytes, nerve cells,
neuroglia, spleen /3 cells, bone marrow cells, mesangium cells, Langerhans
cells, skin cells, epithelium cells, endothelium, fibroblast, fibrocells, muscle
cells, fat cells, immunological cells (for example, macrophages, T cells, B cells,

natural killer cells, mast cells, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes),
megakaryocytes, synovial cells, cartilages, bone cells, osteoblasts, osteclasts,
mammary grand cells, hepatic cells, interstitial cells, or precursor cells, stem
cells or cancer cells of these cells can be used. For the transformation of
Genus Echerichia, for example, it can be conducted by the method described
in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol.69, 2110(1972), Gene, Vol. 17, 107(1982) or
the like.
For the transformation of Genus Bacillus, for example, it can be conducted
by the method described in Molecular & General Genetics, Vol. 168,
111(1979) or the like. For the transformation of yeast, for example, it can be
conducted by the method described in Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 194, 182
-187(1991), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol.75, 1929(1978) or the like. For
the transformation of insect cells or insects, for example, it can be conducted
by the method described in Bio/Technology, 6, 47-55(1988) or the like.
For the transformation of animal cells, for example, it can be conducted by
the method described in Cell Engineering, separate volume 8, New Cell
engineering Experiment protocol, 263-267(1995), published by Shujunsha,
and Virology, Vol. 52, 456 (1973) . Using the above methods, transformants,
which are transformed with expression vectors containing DNA coding the
protein, can be obtained. When the transformants that the hosts are Genus
Echerichia or Genus Bacillus are cultured, a liquid medium is suitable as the
medium used in the culture. In the medium, carbon sources, nitrogen
sources, inorganic and the like, which are necessary for the growing of the
transformants, are contained. As the carbon sources, for example, glucose,
dexitrin, soluble starch, succrose or the like can be exemplified. As the
nitrogen sources, for example, inorganic or organic materials such as
ammonium salts, nitrates, corn steep liquor, peptone, casein, meat extract,
bean cakes, potato extract and the like can be used. As the inorganic
materials, for example, calcium chloride, monosodium phosphate and

magnesium chloride can be exemplified. Yeast extract, vitamines, growth-
stimulating materials or the like can be added. About pH 5-8 of the medium
is preferrably used.
As the medium for culturing Genus Escherichia, for example, a M9 medium
containing glucose and casamino acid (Miller, Journal of Experiments in
Molecular Genetics, 431-433, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York
1972) is preferred. If necessary, for efficient action of the promoter, for
example, an agent such as 3ß-indolyl acrylic acid can be added. When the
host is Genus Escherichia, the culture is usually concducted at a temperature
of about 15~43oC for about 3 ~24 hours, if necessary, aeration or stirring
can be added. When the host is Bacillus family fungi, the culture is usually
conducted at a temperature of about 30~40°C for about 6 ~24 hous, if
necessary, aeration or stirring can be added.
When the transfomant that the host is yeast is cultured, as the medium, for
example, a Burkholder minimal medium (Bostian, K.L.et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA, Vol.77, 4505(1980)) or a SD medium containing 0.5% casamino acid
(Bitter, G. A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol.81, 5330(1984)) can be
exemplified. About pH 5-8 of the medium is preferrably used. The culture
is usually conducted at a temperature of about 20~35°C for about 24~72
hours, if necessary, aeration or stirring can be added. When the
transformant that the host is an insect cell or an insect is cultured, as the
medium, Grace"s Insect Medium (Grace, T.C.C., Nature, 195,788(1962)) can be
used by suitably adding an addition of immobilized 10% bovine serum or the
like. About pH 6.2-5.4 of the medium is preferrably used. The culture is
usually conducted at a temperature of about 27°C for about 3~5 days, if
necessary, aeration or stirring can be added. When the transformant that
the host is an animal cell, as the medium, for example, a MEM medium
containing about 5~20% fetus bovine serum (Science, Vol.122, 501(1952)),
a D M E M medium (Virology, Vol.8, 396(1959)), an RPMI1640 medium (The

Jounal of the American Medical Association, Vol.199, 519(1967)) , a 199
medium (Proceeding of the Society for the Biological Medicine,
Vol.73,1(1950)) or the like can be used. About pH 6-8 of the medium is
preferrably used. The culture is usually conducted at a temperature of about
30~40°C for about 15~60 hours, if necessary, aeration or stirring can be
added. As descrived in the above, the protein of this invention can be
produced out of the cells of the transformants.
For separation and purification of the protein of theis invention, for example,
the following methods can be suitably used. When the protein of this
invention is extracted from the cultured fungi or cells, after the culture, the
fungi or cells are collected by a well-known method, suspended in a suitable
buffer, and destroyed by ultrasound, lysozyme and/or freze-thawing or the like.
Then, the crude extracted liquid of the protein is obtained by centrifugation or
filtration. A protein denaturant such as urea or guanidine hydrochloride, or
a surface-active agent such as tritonX-100TM can be contained in the buffer.
When the protein is secreted in the medium liquid, after the culture is
finished, the fungi or cells and supernatant are separated by a well-known
method, and the supernatant is collected. Such obtained culture
supernatant or the protein contained in the extracted liquid is purified by a
combination of well-known separation and purification methods. These
well-known separation and purification methods are methods using salting-
out techniques or solubilities by a solvent precipitation method, a dialysis
method, a method using a difference in the molecuar weight such as
ultrafiltration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or the like, a
method using a difference of the charge such as ion exchange chromatography,
a method using a difference of hydrophobic such as hydrophobic
chromatography, a method using specific affinity such as afinity
chromatography, a method using a difference of hydrophobic such as reverse
phase high-speed liquid chromatography, a method using a difference of

isoelectric points such as isoelectrcophoresis can be used.
When such a protein is obtained in the form of free, it can be converted into
a salt by a well-known method or a similar method. On the other hand,
when the protein is obtained in the form of a salt, it can be converted into a
free form or the other salt by a well-known method or a similar method. The
protein produced by a recombinant may be further reacted with a suitable
protein modification enzyme before or after purifying the protein to optionally
modify or partially remove the polypeptide. As the protein modification
enzyme, for example, trypsin, chymotrypsin, arginylendopeptidase, protein
kinase, glycosidase or the like may be used. The activitis of such obtained
protein of this invention or salts thereof may be determined by a bond
experiment with a labeled ligand and enzyme immunoassay using a specific
antibody or the like.
The antibodies for the protein, the partial peptide or the salts of this
invention, may be a polyclonal antibody or monoclonal antibody on condition
that the antibodies can recognize the protein, the partial peptide and the salts.
The antibodies for the protein, the partial peptide or the salts of this invention
(in the following description of antibodies, these protein and the like may be
abbreviated as the protein of this invention) may be produced by using the
protein as the antigen and by a well-known production method of antibodies
or anti-serum.
Production of a monoclonal antibody
(a) Production of cells of monoclonal antibody production: The protein of this
invention is administered to a warm-blodded animal at a position, which can
produce an antibody by the administration, with itself or a carrier or a diluent.
In the administration, to enhance the effect of antibody production, a complete
Freund"s adjuvant or an incomplete Freund"s adjuvant may be administered.
The administration is usually conducted once for each 2 ~ 6 weeks, and
total is 2 ~10 times. The warm-blooded animals are, for example, monkeys,

rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, rats, sheep, goats, chickens and the like,
preferably mice and rats. At the production of cells for producing a
monoclonal antibody, the warm-blooded animal immunized with an antigen,
for example, mice are used. A mouse recognizable an antibody value is
selected from the mice, the spleen or the lymph is collected after 2~5 days of
the final immunization, and the cells of monoclonal antibody production
contained in the spleen or the lymph are fused with myeloma cells of the same
kind or different kind of animals to prepare a hybridoma for producing a
monoclonal antibody. The antibody value in the antiserum may be
determined, for example, by a method that the antiserum is reacted with an
after-mentioned labeled protein, and the activity of the labeled agent bound to
the antibody is measured. The fusion operation may be conducted by a
known method such as a method of Kohler and Milstein (Nature, 256, 495
(1975)). As the fusion promotion agent, for example, polyethylene glycol
(PEG), a Sendai virus or the like, preferably PEG may be used.
As the myeloma, for example, myloma celles of warm-blooded animals such
as NS-1, P3U1, SP2/0, AP-1 and AP-1, preferably P3U1 can be exemplified.
The preferabl ratio of the number of the antibody production cells (spleen
cells) to the number of myeloma cells is around 1:1 ~20:1. PEG (preferably,
PEG1000-PEG6000) is added in the concentration of around 10~80%, and
incubation is conducted at a temperature of 20~40°C, preferably 30~37°C for
1 ~ 10 minutes, and cell fusion is efficiently performed. In screening of a
hybridoma of monoclonal antibody production, several kinds of methods can
be used, for example, there are a method that a supernatant of hyblidoma
culture is added to a solid phase (such as a micro plate) adsorbing a protein
antigen directly or with a carrier, and an anti-immunoglobulin antibody,
which is labeled with a radioactive material or an enzyme yeast, (when the
cells for using in cell fusion is a mouse, an anti-mouse immunoglobulin is
used) or a protein A is added so as to detect the monoclonal antibody bound to

the solid phase; and a method that a supernatant of hyblidoma culture is
added to a solid phase adsorbing an anti-immunoglobulin antibody or a
protein A, a protein labeling a radioactive material or an enzyme yeast is
added, and the monoclonal antibody bound to the solid phase is detected. The
selection of the monoclonal antibody may be conducted by a known method or
a similar method thereof. Usually, it may be conducted by a medium for
animal cells that HAT (hypoxanthine, amino pterin, thymidine) is added. As
the medium for selection and breeding, any medium that the hyblidoma can
breed may be used. As an example, a RPMI 1640 medium containing 1 ~
20%, preferably 10~20% bovine fetus serum, a GIT medium containing 1
~10% bovine fetus serum (produced by Wako Junyaku Kougyou Co.) or a
medium not containing serum for hybridoma culture (SFM-101, Nissui
Seiyaku Co.) may be used. The culture temperature is usually 20~40°C,
preferably about 37°C. The culture time is usually 5 days ~ 3 weeks,
preferably 1 week~ 2 weeks. The culture may be usually conducted in a 5 %
carbon dioxide. The antibody value of the supernatant of hyblidoma culture
can be determined as shown in the above-mentioned method for measuring
the antibody value in the antiserum.
(b) Purification of the monoclonal antibody: The separation and purification of
the monoclonal antibody may be conducted by a known method, for example, a
separation and purification method for immunogloblins (such as a salting-out
method, an alcohol precipitation method, a isoelectric precipitation method,
an electrophoresis method, a adsorption and desorption method with an ion-
exchanger (for example, DEAE), a ultracentrifuge method, a gel filtration
method, or a specific purification method that only an antibody is cllected with
an active absorbant such as an antigen-binding solid phase or protein A or
protein G, and the bond is released to obtain the antibody).
(Production of the polyclonal antibody)
The polyclonal antibody of this invention can be produced by a known

method or a similar method. As an example, using an immunoanigen
(protein antigen) itself or a complex of the immunoantigen and a carrier
protein, it immunizes to a warm-blooded animal by using the same method as
in the above-mentioed method for producing a monoclonal antibody, materials
containing the antibody for the protein of this invention are collected, and the
antibody is separated and purified. As to the complex of an immunoantigen
for immunizing a warm-blooded animal and a carrier protein, the kind of the
carrier protein and a mixture ratio of the carrier to a hap ten are not important,
on condition that the antibody can be efficiently produced for the hap ten
immunized by closslinking with the carrier. For example, the bovine serum
albumin, bovine cyclogloblin, hemocyanin or the like can be used for coupling
with the hapten at a weight ratio of about 0.1~20, preferably about 1~5 to 1
of hapten. In the coupling of the hapten and the carrier, several kinds of
condensation agents such as active ester agents containing glutaraldehyde,
carbodiimide, maleimid active ester, a thiol group and a dithiopyridyl group
can be used. The products from the condensation are administered to the
parts of warm-blooded animals able to produce the antibody, along with itself
or a carrier or a diluent. To enhance the ability of antibody production at the
administration, a complete Freund"s adjuvant or incomplete Freund"s
adjuvant may be administered. The administration is usually conducted
once for every 2 ~ 6 weeks, and total is about 3 ~10 times. The polyclonal
antibody can be collected from blood, ascites, preferably blood of the warm-
blooded animal immunized by the above method. The polyclonal antibody
value in the antiserum is determined by the same method described in the
above determination of the antibody value in the antiserum. The separation
and purification of the polyclonal antibody can be conducted by the same
method of separation and purification of immunogloblin as in that of the
above separation and purification of the monoclonal antibody.
The treating agents containing the protein or the partial peptide of this

invention and the protein of this invention and the like have cancer cytotoxic
activity, so that the agents may be used as agents for extracting disease
tissues (the extract contains all and partial, preferably partial extract), and
particularly, for treating fixed cancer. When the protein of this invention and
the like is used as the above treating and preventing agents, it is used after it
is purified to at least 90%, preferably 95% or more, more preferably 98% or
more, and further preferably 99% or more.
The inhibition activity of cancer cell proliferation of the protein of this
invention or the like can be determined by a known method, or a cytotoxin
activity or an activity causing cell death is determined by known method or a
similar method, preferably by the method described in the after-mentioed
experiments. As the test compounds, for example, peptides, proteins, non-
pepti.de compounds, synthetic compounds, fermentation products, cell extract,
plant extract, animal tissue extract and blood plasma can be exemplified.
These compounds may be new compounds or known compounds.
The compounds or the salts obtained by the screening method or the kit for
screening of this invention are selected from the above test compounds, for
example, peptides, proteins, non-pepti.de compounds, synthetic compounds,
fermentation products, cell extract, plant extract, animal tissue extract and
blood plasma. These compounds have an activity inhibiting the cytotoxic
activity of the protein of this invention or the like or the inhibition activity of
cancer cell proliferation of the protein of this invention or the like. As the
salts of the compounds, the salts similar to the salts of the protein of this
invention can be used.
When the compounds obtained by using the screening method or the kit for
screening are used as the above treating agents, they can be used by usual
means. For example, they are used as tablets, capsules, elixirs,
microcapsules, sterile solutions, suspension or the like. As such obtained
pharmaceutical preparations are safety and have low toxicity, for example,
they may be administered to a human or a warm-blooded animal (such as
mice, rats, rabbits, goats, pigs, cows, horses, birds, cats, dogs, monkeys and
the like). The dosage weights of the compounds or salts thereof are changed
by the action, the disease, the dosage route or the like. Commonly, in
adults (estimated at 60 kg weight), about 0.1~100mg of the compound per
day, preferably about 1.0~50mg, more preferbly about 1.0~20mg can be
administered. In parenteral administration, the dosage of the compounds
that is variable by the object, the disease and the like, usually in adults
(estimated at 60 kg weight), is suitably about 0.01~30mg of the compound
per day, more preferably about 0.1~20mg, further preferably about 0.1~
10mg by intravenous injection. In the other animals, the dosage of the
weight estimated at 60kg can be used.
Screening of the candidate compounds of medicine for diseases: Since the
protein or the like of this invention have a cytotoxic activity, the compounds or
the salts promoting the function (such as a cytotoxic activity) of the protein or
the like of this invention, for example, may be used as agents for treating
cancers. On the other hand, the salts inhibiting the function of the protein or
the like of this invention, for example, may be used as agents for treating and
preventing gastritis and gastric ulcer. Accordingly, the protein or the like of
this invention are effectively used as reagents for screening the compounds or
the salts that promote or inhibit the function of the protein or the like of this
invention.
Namely, this invention provides (1) a screening method characterized in
that the protein or the partial peptide or the salts of this invention are used,
and the method screens the compounds promoting the function (such as a
cytotoxic activity) of the protein or the partial peptide or the salts of this
invention, or the method screens the compounds inhibiting the function (such
as a cytotoxic activity) of the protein or the partial peptide or the salts of this
invention. The compounds promoting the function may be abbriviated as
"promoters" and the compounds inhibiting the function is abbreviated as
"inhibitors" hereinafter.
Moreover, this invention provides (2) a kit for screening promoters or
inhibitors, characterized in that the protein or the prtial peptide or the salts of
this invention are contained. The above kit may be abbreviated as "a kit for
screening of this invention" hereinafter.
In embodiment, for example, in the above (1), it provides a screening i
method of promoters or inhibitors, characterixed in that comparison is
conducted between case (i) and case (ii). The case (i) is that the protein or the
partial peptide or the salts of this invention are contacted with a cell, which is
a normal cell containing a blood cell derived from a tissue of the above warm-
blooded animals (preferably human) or the above-mentioned cancer cell. The
case (ii) is that the protein or the partial peptide or the salts of this invention
are contacted with a cell, which is a normal cell containing a blood cell derived
from a tissue of the above warm-blooded animals (preferably human) or the
above-mentioned cancer cell, and a test compound.
In embodiment, further, in the above (2), it provides a kit for screening
promoters or inhibitors, characterixed in that it contains the protein or the
prtial peptide or the salts of this invention, and a cell that is a normal cell
containing a blood cell derived from a tissue of the above warm-blooded
animals (preferably human) or the above-mentioned cancer cell or the like.
Further, concretely, in the screening method, case (i) and case (ii) are
characterized in that the cytotoxic activities of the protein and the like of this
invention are determined and compared.
The cytotoxic activity, the cell multiplication inhibition activity, and the
activity causing cell death of the protein or the like of this invention can be
determined by a known method or a similar method. However, more
concretely, using established cell lines and the like, further, a substrate
containing the test compound, a negative control which is a substrate not

containing the test compound, and a positive control which is a substrate
containing M toxin, these three or two are used. Comparing the cell numbers
under the conditions satisfyable in statistical significance, inhibition activity
of the cytotoxic activity or the cell multiplication activity, or the specified
sample having the inhibition activity of the cytotoxic activity or the cell
multiplication activity can be detected by existence or absence of the activities
or increase and decrease. The cells used in the detection method are, for
example, normal cells containing a blood cell derived from a tissue of the
above warm-blooded animals (preferably human) or the above-mentioned
cancer cells of several kinds of warm-blooded animals (for example, cancer of
the endometrium, endometrioma, breast cancer, cancer of the stomach,
hepatic carcinoma, spleen cancer, carcinoma of the galbladder, colon cancer,
prostatic cancer, lung cancer, renal cancer, neuroblastoma, cancer of the
urinary bladdar, malignant melanoma, cancer of the tongue, carcinoma of the
gingiva, mouse fibroblast, African green monkey kidney rat liver cancer, and
the like).
As the test compunds, for example, peptides, proteins, non-peptide
compounds, synthetic compounds, fermentation products, cell extracts, plant
extracts, animal tissue extracts and the like can be exemplified. These
compounds may be new compounds or known compounds. For conducting
the above screening method, the protein or the like of this invention is
suspended in buffer suitable to the screening, and the samples of the protein
or the like of this invention are prepared. As the buffer, phosphate buffer of
pH about 4~10 (preferably, pH about 6 ~ 8 ) , Tris-hydrochloride buffer or
the like, which does not inhibit the reaction of the protein or the like of this
invention and the test compounds, may be used.
As concrete screening method, after the screening examination, (1) a
method for directly observing the cell changes under a microscope and
counting the cells with a hemocytometer or the like, (2) a method that the

change of potassium, hemoglobins and the like, which are eluted from cells by
the cell dath, is catched, (3) a method for determining the remaining cells
after the reaction with tetrazolium salts or the like, (4) a method for
determining the remining living cells with a radioactive labelled subsatance,
(5) a method for confirming the cell death by induction of cell apoptosis and
the like can be exemplified. For example, as a compound increasing the
cytotoxic activity of the protein or the like of this invention, a test compound
in which the cytotoxic activity in the above case (ii) compared with the above
case (i) is increased by about 20% or more, more preferably 30 % or more,
further preferably 50% or more, can be selected. On the other hand, as a
compound inhibiting the cytotoxic activity of the protein or the like of this
invention, a test compound in which the cytotoxic activity in the above case
(ii) compared with the above case (i) is inhibited by about 20% or more, more
preferably 30 % or more, further preferably 50% or more, can be selected.
These may be conducted as a method for high throughput screening. In the
following, as method (2), a method for determining hemoglobins by hemolytic
reaction and as method (3), a WST method are respectively used. In the
methods, active carbon, CM cellulose and calcium alginate are selected as
adsorbents which show the anti-M toxin activity.
It is further possible to examine and compare the solutions containing these
anion control, positive control and test compounds with animal models to
confirm the effects of the animal levels of the anti-M toxic materials. In
these cases, many kinds of warm-blooded animals may be used. Particularly,
a mouse, a rat, a dog, and a monkey may be used. As infected models, a
Mongolian gerbil, a mouse and a monkey are effectively used.
When the compounds obtained by the screening method or the kit for
screening of this invention are used as the above treating and preventing
agents, these compounds can be used by usual means. For example, using
the same methods of the pharmaceutical preparations of the protein of the

invention, they are used as tablets, capsules, elixirs, microcapsules, sterile
solutions, suspension or the like. As such obtained preparations are safety
and have low toxicity, for example, they may be administered to a human or a
warm-blooded animal (such as a mouse, a rat, a rabbit, a goat, a pig, a cow, a
horse, a bird, a cat, a dog, a monkey and the like). The dosage weights of the
compounds or salts thereof are changed by the action, the disease, the dosage
route or the like. When the compounds are used for increasing the function
of the protein or the Like of this invention as a tissue regeneration agent after
removing the disease tissues, commonly, in adults (estimated at 60 kg weight),
about 0.1~100mg of the compound per day, preferably about 1.0~50mg, more
preferbly about 1.0~20mg can be orally administered. For the other animals,
the dosage of the weight estimated at 60kg can be used.
Quantification of the protein or the partial peptide or the salts of this
invention:
The antibodies for the protein and the like of this invention (occasionally,
abbreviated as the antibodies of this invention, hereinafter) can specifically
recognize the protein and the like of this invention, so that they can be used
for quantification of the protein and the like of this invention in test liquid,
particularly, quantification by a sandwich immunization technique. Namely,
this invention provides (i) a method for quantifying the protein and the like
of this invention in test liquid, characterized in that the antibody of this
invention and test liquid and the protein and the like of this invention are
conpetitively reacted, the ratios of the labelled protein and the like of this
invention that bind to the antibody are determined, and (ii) a method for
quantifying the protein and the like of this invention in test liquid,
characterized in that the test liquid and the antibody insolubilized on a carrier
and the other labelled antibody of this invention are reacted at the same time
or continuously, and then the activity of the labeling agent on the insolubilized
carrier is determined. In the above quantitative method (ii), preferably, one

antibody is an antibody recognizing the N ends of the protein and the like of
this invention, the other antibody is an antibody reacting with the C ends of
the protein and the like of this invention.
Moreover, using a monoclonal antibody for the protein and the like of this
invention (ocasionally abbreviated as a monoclonal antibody of this invention,
hereinafter), the quantification of the protein and the like of this invention
can be conducted, and further, the detection can be conducted by using tissue
dyeing. As these objects, antibody moleculars themselves may be used, or
F(ab")2, Fab", or Fab fraction of antibody moleculars may be used. The
quantification of the protein and the like of this invention using of this
invention should not be limited. For example, the quantity of the antibody,
antigen or antibody-antigen complex corresponding to the quantity of the
antigen (for example, the quantity of the protein) in the test liquid is
chemically or physically detected, the obtained quantity is determined by a
standard curve that is formed by standard liquid containing the antigen of a
known quantity. As examples, nephelometry, a competition method, an
immunometric method, and a sandwich method are preferably usable.
Considering sensitivity and specificity, the after-mentioned sandwich method
is preferred. As the labelling agents used in a determination method with a
labelled substance, for example, a radioactive isotope, enzyme, fluorescence
substance, luminescent substance and the like are exemplified. As the
radioactive isotope, for example, (125I) (131I), (3H), (14C) may be used.
As the enzyme, stable and high active isotopes, for example, ß-galactosidase,
ß -glucosidase, alkaliphosphatase, peroxidase, a dehydrogenase of malic acid
and the like may be used. As the fluorescence substance, for example,
fluorescamine, fluorescein isothiocyanate and the like may be used. As the
luminescent substance, for example, luminol, luminol derivatives, luciferin,
lucigenin and the like may be used. Moreover, for the bind of an antibody or
an antigen and a labelling agent, a biotin-avidin type may be used.

The insolubilization of an antigen or an antibody may be conducted by
physical adsorption, or the chemical bonding usually used for the
insolubilization of proteins or enzymes. As the carrier, insoluble
polysaccharides such as agarose, dextran and cellulose, synthetic resins such
as polystyrene, polyacrylamide and silicone or glass can be exemplified. In
the sandwich method, the test liquid is reacted with the insolubilized
monoclonal antibody of this invention (primary reaction), then it is reacted
with the other labelled monoclonal antibody of this inevention (secondary
reaction), and the activity of the labelling agent on the insolubilized carrier is
determined to determine the quantity of the protein of this invention in the
test liquid. The primary reaction and the secondary reaction can be changed.
Otherwise these reactions may be conducted at the same time or by sliding
the starting times. The labelling agent and the isolubilizing method may be
treated the same as these reactions. In the immuno assay by using the
sandwich method, it is unnecessary that the antibody used as an antibody for
a solid phase or an antibody for labelling is one kind. A mixture of two or
more kinds of antibodies may be used for improving the determination
sensitivity. In the determination method of the protein and the like of this
invention by using the sandwich method of this invention, the monoclonal
antibodies used in the primary reaction and the secondary reaction preferably
have different parts that the protein and the like of this invention is bound.
Namely, as to the antibodies used in the primary reaction and the secondary
reaction, for example, when the antibody used in the secondary reaction
recognaize the C end of the protein and the like of this invention, the antibody
used in the primary reaction preferably recognize a part except the C end, for
example, the N end.
The monoclonal antibody of this invention may be used in a determination
system except the sandwich method such as a competition method, or an
immunometric method or nephelometry. In the competition method,

antigens and labelled antigens in test liquid are competitively reacted with
antibodies, and then unreacted labelled antibodies (F) and labelled antigens
(B) bound to the antibodies are separated (B/F separation), the labelled
quantity of B or F is determined, and the antigen quantity is quantified. In
the reaction method, soluble antibodies are used as antibodies. In the B/F
separation, a liquid phase method that polyethyleneglycol or the second
antibody for the above antibody is used, and a solid phase method that a solid
phase antibody is used as the first antibody, or a soluble antibody is used as
the first antibody and a solid phase antibody is used as the second antibody
are exemplified. In the immunometric method, the antigens and the solid
phase antigens in the test liquid are competitively reacted with labelled
antibodies of a definite amount and then the solid phase and the liquid pahse
are separated. Otherwise, the antigens in the test liquid and the labelled
antibodies of an excess amount are reacted, the solid phase antibodies are
added to bind the unreacted labelled antibodies to the solid phase, and the
solid phase and the liquid phase are separated. Continuously, the labelled
quantity of any one of the both phases is determined, and the antigen quantity
in the test liquid is determined. In the nephelometry, the quantity of
unsoluble precipitates occured as the result of the antigen-antibody reaction
in the gel or in the solution is determained. When the quantity of antigens in
the test liquid is little and a small amount of precipitates are obtained,
lasernephelometry using laser scattering and the like may be preferably used.
When these immunological determination methods are applied in the
determination method of this invention, special conditions and establishment
of operations are unnecessary. Adding common technical ideas in the fields
to usual conditions and operation methods in each method, the determination
systems of the protein and the like of this invention may be constructed. As
to the details of these common technical means, general books, specialized
books may be referenced. For example, Kan Irie edited, Radioimmuno Assay,

Kodan-sha (1974), Kan Irie edited, Radioimmuno Assay, continued, Kodan-
sha (1979), Eiji Ishikawa et al. edited, Immunoenzymometric Assay, Igaku
Shoin (1978), Eiji Ishikawa et al. edited, Immunoenzymometric Assay, 2nd
edition, Igaku Shoin (1982), Eiji Ishikawa et al. edited, Immunoenzymometric
Assay, 3rd edition, Igaku Shoin (1987), Methods in ENZYMOLOGY, Vol.70,
Immunochemical Techniques (Part A): ibid., Vol.73, Immunochemical
Techniques (Part B), ibid., Vol.74, Immunochemical Techniques (Part C), ibid.,
Vol.84 (Immunochemical Techniques (Part D: Selected Immunoassays), ibid.,
Vol.92 (Immunochemical Techniques (Part E: Monoclonal Antibodies and
General Immunoassay Methods), ibid., Vol.121 (Immunochemical Techniques
(Part I: Hybridoma Technology and Monoclonal Antibodies), all are published
by Academic Press Co. can be referenced. As described above, by using the
antibody of this invention, the protein and the like of this invention can be
sensitively quantified. Moreover, by quantifying the concentrations of the
protein and the like of this invention by using the antibody of this
invention.when the incresed concentrations of the protein and the like of this
invention are detected in patients of Helicobacter pylori infection, patients
have diseases, for example, gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer, valvular
disease, diabetes mellitus, various cancers (such as cancer of the endometrium,
endometrioma, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostatic cancer, lung cancer,
hepatic carcinoma, spleen cancer, carcinoma of the galbladder, renal cancer,
neuroblastoma, cancer of the bladdar, malignant melanoma and the like).
Otherwise, it is possible to diagnose that the possibility of future morbidity is
high. The antibody of this invention can be used for detection of the protein
and the like of this invention in test liquid such as body fluid or tissues. It is
used for formation of the antibody column for using purifying the protein and
the like of this invention, detection of the protein and the like of this invention
in each fraction at the purification, and analysis of the behavior of the protein
and the like of this invention in test cells.

The medicine containing the antibody of this invention, the antibody of this
invention (neutralizing antibody) having an action for neutralizing the
activities of the protein and the like of this invention can be used as medicines
for treating and preventing diseases such as gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric
cancer, valvular disease, diabetes mellitus, various cancers (such as cancer of
the endometrium, endometrioma, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostatic cancer,
lung cancer, renal carcinoma, neuroblastoma, cancer of the bladdar,
malignant melanoma and the like). The humanized antibody of this
invention for the protein and the like of this invention can be used as
medicines for treating and preventing diseases such as gastritis, gastric ulcer,
gastric cancer, valvular disease, diabetes mellitus, various cancers (such as
cancer of the endometrium, endometrioma, breast cancer, colon cancer,
prostatic cancer, lung cancer, renal carcinoma, neuroblastoma, cancer of the
bladdar, malignant melanoma and the like). The humanized antibody can be
formed with reference to the methods described in Nat Biotechnol, 14, 845-851
(1996), Nat Genet. 15, 146-156 (1997) and PNAS, 97(2), 722-727 (2000). In
the following, these neutralizing antibody and humanized antibody of this
invention are abbreviated as the antibody of this invention.
The above treating and preventing agents containing the antibody of this
inventioncan can be orally or parenterally administered as liquid as it is or a
medicine composition of a suitable dosage form to human or mammalia (such
as a mouse, a rabbit, a goat, a pig, a cow, a cat, a dog, a monkey and the like).
The dosage of the agents is changed by the object, the disease, the condition of
illness, the dosage route or the like. When the agents are used for treating or
preventing a tumor of the endometrium, a dose of the antibody of this
invention is usually 0.01~20mg/kg weight, preferably 0.1~10mg//kg
weight, more preferably 0.1~5mg/kg weight about 1-5 times per day,
preferably about 1-3 times per day. It is conveniant to administer the agent
by an intravenous injection. A dosage in the other parenteral or oral

administration also may be according to the above dosage. When the
condition of illness is very severe, the dosage may be increased in proportion
to the condition. The antibody of this invention can be administered as it is
or as a suitable medical composition. The medical composition used in the
administration contains a pharmacologically allowable carrier for the above
antibody or the salt, a diluent or an excipient. Such a composition may be
provided as a dosage form suitable for oral or parenteral administration.
Namely, for example, as the composition for oral administration, the dosage
form is solid or liquid, concretely a tablet (containing a sugar-coated tablet
and a film coated tablet), a pill, a granule, powder, a capsule (containing a soft
capsule), syrup, emulsion, suspension or the like. Such a composition is
prepared by a known method, and it may contain the carrier usually used, a
diluent or an excipient. For example, as the carrier for the tablet and the
excipient, lactose, starch, sucrose, magnesium stearate and the like can be
used.
After-mentioned sequence numbers of the sequence listing show the
following sequence.
SEQ ID No.1: it shows an amino acid sequence deribed from Helicobacter
pylori 60190 (M toxin).
SEQ ID No.2: it shows a base sequence of DNA that codes derived from
Helicobacter pylori60190 protein (M toxin) of this invention having the amino
acid sequence represented by SEQ ID No.l.
SEQ ID No.3: it shows a base sequence of the primer (synthetic) DNA used
in Example 3.
SEQ ID No.4: it shows a base sequence of the primer (synthetic) DNA used
in Example 3.
The transformant, Escherichia coli M toxin/pET30EK/LIC/DH5 a
obtained in after-mentioned Example 3 has been deposited by deposit No.
FERM BP-8218 on 17 October 2002 at National Institute of Advanced

Industrial Scienc and Technology (TPOD). Moreover, the hybridoma clone
No. 4 obtained in after-mentioned Example 4 has been deposited by deposit
No. FERM BP-8222 as BALB-c / P 3 U 1/004-1G 9 on 23 October 2002 at
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Scienc and Technology (IPOD).
Further, the hybridoma clone No.10 has been deposited by deposit No. FERM
BP-8223 as BALB-c/P 3U 1/101-1 C 10 on 23 October 2002 at National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Scienc and Technology (IPOD). The
hybridoma clone No. 116 has been deposited by deposit No. FERM BP-8224 as
B ALB-c/P 3 U1/116-5 D 7 on 23 October 2002 at National Institute of
Advanced Industrial Scienc and Technology (IPOD).
Examples
This invention will be understood more readily in reference to the following
examples. However, these examples are intended to illustrate this invention
and are not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention. The gene
manipulation using E.coli was according to the method described in Molecular
Cloning.
Example 1: A method for purifying and extracting the toxin of this invention
from Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori can. be obtained by a separated strain which has already
established (for example, from American Type Culture Collection) or by
culturing a strain separated from clinical test samples. In this example, a
separated strain of Helicobacter pylori 60190 was used. Using an agar
medium that 5% bovine serum (produced by Sigma Co.) was added to a Brain
Heart Infusion agar medium (poduced by Difco Co.), this separated strain was
subcultured in 2-5 passages for about 1-2 weeks at a temperature of 37°C and
a humidity of 90% or more under microaerobic conditions (CO25-10%). It
was confirmed under a microscope that the cells were not died or not in a
colloi form but grown satisfactorily. The cells were transferred to Brain
Heart Infusion agar culture (produced by Difco Co.) plate containing not

serum but 5% 2,6-di-O-methyl-ß-cyclodextrin. After the culture and grown
conditions were confirmed under the same conditions as described in the
above, the cells were transferred to cultures containing 2,6-di-O-methyl-ß-
cyclodextrin with gradual stepwise decreases, i.e., 2%, 1% and 0.5% of the
concentration.
In a liquid culture of Brain Heart Infusion containing 0.5% 2,6-di-O-methyl-
ß -cyclodextrin, the cells were cultured at a temperature of 37 °C under
microaerobic conditions for about 16 hours, while agitated with a rotary
shaker at 100-120rpm. Pelletal bacteria cells were collected in by
centrifugation at 10000 Xg for 20 minutes. These were suspended in 10mM
Tris-HCl pH7.7 buffer (abbreviated as buffer A, hereinafter. The pH is fully
6.1 or more, because the pH of aimed protein is pI 6.08.) and sonicated. After
storing overnight at a temperature of — 80OC, the cells were sonicated again
and centrifuged at 100000 X g for 60 minutes. Only the most upper layer of
separated three layers was extracted.
The extract liquid was crudely purified with a 70% solution of ammonium
sulfat. The resulting extract was purified by ion exchange chromatography
with anion exchange resin of beads having relatively big particle diameters
(DEAE Sephacel of Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB). The buffer A was
used as equilibrium buffer, and a mixture of the buffer A and a solution of
0.3M NaCl salt was used as eluate. Using the buffer A and the eluate, the
cells were extracted by concentration gradient. A suitable quantity of each
fraction was added dropwise on wells that HeLa cells were seeded, and cell
viability was evaluated in each well. The evaluation was conducted by using
WST assay using Cell Counting kits (DOJIN Laboratories). Comparing with
a control, fractions showing significantly less viability and fractions having
relatively coinciding increase curves of the protein were evaluated along with
the results of electrophoresis to use as sample fractions for the next
purification process.

Hydrophobic chromatography (Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B, Amersham
Pharmacia Biotech AB) that has a different separation system from that of the
next time was selected. Equilibrium buffer containing 1M ammonium
sulfate in 10mM phosphate buffer was used. Elution buffer containing 40%
ethylene glycol in 10mM phosphate buffer was used. After the cells were
extracted by concentration gradient, each sample was evaluated by the same
method as described in the above.
The samples extracted by the above process were extracted again by anion
exchange chromatography with beads having relatively small particle
diameters (RESOURCE Q of Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB). The buffer
A was used as equilibrium buffer, and a mixture of the buffer A and a solution
of 1M NaCl salt was used as elution buffer. Using the chromatography, a
single band of protein of about 41000 of a molecular weight was finally
obtained. The kind and order of these chromatographys may be changed and
may be further added.
After the resulting signal band was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue,
it was transcripted on a nitrocellulose membrane or (polyvinylidene
difluoride) membrane with a blotting apparatus and analyzed with an amino
acid sequencer. As the results, as described in the above, the amino acid
sequences of N ends of gene locus HP 103 7 of a registered database
(Helicobacter pylori 22695) matched with 95% (19 bases in 20 bases). (Fig. 1)
Example 2: Amino acid sequences and DNA sequences by a gene
technological production method
In this example, a separation strain of Helicobacter pylori 60190 was used.
As described in the above, all gene analyses of Helicobacter pylori 22695 of
different strains were already done. Homologous gene locus can be
estimated by the search for the database of TIGR (The Institute for Genomic
Research). It was found that gene locus HP 1037 of Helicobacter pylori 22695
coded the homologous protein.

From the results, the cloning of the protein of this invention was performed.
Namely, Helicobacter pylori 60190 was used as a template, firstly,
conveniently plural groups of suitable primers based on gene locus HP1037
and gene locus HP 1036 of the upstream and gene locus HP 1038 of the
downstream were formed (at 5" site and 3" site) to perform sequening. DNA
polymerase having proofreading function was used. Each group of primers
was constituted so as to contain sufficient mutual primer parts, and plural
sequencings from 5" site and 3" site were performed. The resulting DNA
sequences were shown in SEQ ID No. 2 of the sequence listing. The amino
acid sequences were shown in SEQ ID No.1.
Example 3
Expression experiment of the toxic protein by gene recombination
E.coli was used in the expression experiment. Vector pET-30EK/LIC
(producted by Novagen Co.) and E.coli BL21 (DE3) for expression were used.
The sense primer was SEQ ID No.3 inserting GACGACGACAAG at 5" site of
the sense chain to the code of the toxic protein derived from Helicobacter
pylori 60190 that was cloned in Example 2. The antisense primer was SEQ ID
No.4 inserting GAGGAGAAGCCCGGTTA at 5" site. Inserting genes were
formed by a PCR method by using the above primers. The inserted genes were
prepared in the presence of 25mM dATP and 100mM DTT with T4 DNA
polymerase to fit for LIC site of the vector and warmed in the presence of
25mM EDTA. The formed recombinant was again sequenced to confirm that
was identical with SEQ ID No. 1. It was further transformed into E.coli
BL21 (DE3) for expression, and cultured in a LB medium contining 30µg/ml
of kanamycin.
Shake culture was conducted to obtain about 0.4 of OD600 at a temperature
of 37°C at 250rpm. Isopropyl-beta-thiogalactoside was added to obtain the
final concentration of 1mM, and further the mixture was shaked for 2 hours.
Since the fused protein formed an inclusion body, E.coli was collected with

centrifugation, and the inclusion body of the protein was obtained with a
BugBuster reagent and Benzonase Nuclease (both are available from Novagen
Co.) . The protein was separated by an electrophoresis method of sodium
dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE), and the corresponding single
band was confirmed by silver stain. The protein was then refolded and
compared with the control with a WST reagent (Dojin Chemical Laboratories
Ltd. Cell Counting Kit) by using HeLa cells and the other warm-blooded
animal cells. As the results, significant differences of survival were
evaluated, and it was found that the expression protein had equal activities to
those of purified protein. It was found that the expression protein had the
same activities to the normal human gastric cells as HeLa cells of cervical
cancer cells. (Fig.2). It was also found that not only to the other human
tissues, but also to manmalian cells the protein had broad activities. (Fig. 3,
Fig.4).
Example 4
Forming of monoclonal anti-M toxic antibody:
Expression M toxin 240 µg, which had been refolded, was subcutaneously
administered two times at several positions of BALB/C mouse. After 4 days
of final immunization, the mouse spleen was excised and press filtered with
stainless meshes, and suspended on Eagle"s modified minimum essential
medium (MEM) to obtain a suspended solution of spleen cells. As the cells
used for cell fusion, Myeloma cells P3-X63. Ag 8. U1 (P3U1) derived from
BALB/C mouse was used as the cells used in the cell fusion. (Current topics in
microbiology and immunology, 81, 1(1978)}O The cell fusion was conducted in
accordance with the origin method CNature, 256, 495 (1975)3 . Namely, spleen
cells and P3U1 were washed respectively with MEM not containing serum
three times and mixed at 6.6 : 1 of a ratio of spleen cells and P3U1 numbers.
Cells were precipitated by centifugation at 750 X g for 15 minutes. All of the
supernatant was removed, and the precipitate was unfastened, 0.3 ml of 45%

polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 (Productedby Wako Junyaku Co.) was added,
and the mixture was permitted to stand in a warm water tank of 37°C for 7
minutes to perform the fusion. After the fusion, MEM in limited amounts
was added to the cells, and MEM of total 15 ml was added. The mixture was
centrifuged at 750 x g for 15 minutes and the supernatant was removed. The
cell precipitate was suspended in GIT medium (producted by Wako Junyaku
Co.) (GIT-10% FCS) containing 10% bovine fetal serum to obtain P3U1 of 2 X
105per 1 ml, and seeded into 24-well multi dishes (producted by Iwaki Co.) at
1 ml per well in 168 wells. After seeding, the cells were incubated in 5%
carbon dioxide incubator at a temperature of 37°C. After 24 hours, GIT—
10%FCS medium (HAT medium) containing HAT (hypoxanthin 1X10-4M,
aminopterin 4 X 10-7M and thymidine 1.6 X 10-3M) was added at 1 ml per well
to initiate HAT selective cultivation. After 4 and 7 days, lml of the old liquid
was discurded and the HAT selective cultivation was continued by adding 1
ml of the HAT medium. Multiplication of hybridoma was found after 9 days
of the cell fusion, and the supernatant was collected. The antibody value on
the supernatant was determined by the following method. Namely, the
culture supernatant 100µ1 and HRP-labelled M toxin 100µl, which is diluted
to 200-fold with buffer C, were added into each well of microplates binding
anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody, and reacted overnight at a temperature
of 4°C. After the plates were washed with PBS, to make microplates binding
anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody, firstly, a 0.1M carbonate buffer solution,
pH9.6 containing goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody (IgG fraction,
producted by DAKO Co.) 100µg/ml was pipetted into 96-well microplates at
100µl per plate, and is permitted to stand for 24 hours at a temperature of
4°C. Then, the plates were washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS,
pH7.4) , 25% Brock Ace (trademark, producted by Yukijirushi Milk Products
Co.) and PBS, pH7.2 containing 0.1% NaN3 were pipetted at each 300µl to
block excess binding parts of the well and treated for at least 24 hours at a

temperature of 4°C. To each well of the above microplates binding anti-
mouse immunoglobulin antibody, mouse anti-serum 100 µl, which is diluted
with buffer EC [0.02M phospahte buffer, pH7.0 containing 0.2%BSA, 0.4 M
NaCl, 0.4% Brock Ace, 0.05 % CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethyl-
ammonio]-l-propanesulfonate), 2mM EDTA and 0.1%NaN3], was added and
reacted for 16 hours at a temperature of 4°C. Then, the plates were washed
with PBS, pH7.4, and HRP-labelled refolding toxin protein 100µl was added
and reacted for 7 hours at room temperature. The above refolding toxin
protein was prepared in the above Example 3 by diluting to 100-fold with
buffer C [0.02M phosphate buffer, pH7.0, containing 1%BSA, 0.4 M NaCl and
2mM EDTA]. The plates were then washed with PBS, pH7.4, a TMB
microwell peroxidase substitute system (KIRKEGAARD & PERRY LAB.
available from Funakoshi Yakuhin) 100µl was added, and reacted at room
temperature for 10 minutes to determine the enzyme activity on the solid
phase. After the reaction was stopped by adding 1M phosphoric acid 100 µl,
the absorbance at 450nm was determined with a plate reader (MTP-120,
producted by Corona Co.). According these methods, the enzyme activity on
the solid phase was determined. As the results, 18 wells that the antibody
value is found were selected from 123 wells, and the hybridomas were frozen
and stored. Hybridomas of 6 wells, No.4, No.53, No.61, No.76, No.101 and
No. 116 were cloned by dilution method. In the cloning, thymocytes of
BALB/C mouse as feeder cells were added at 5 x 105 per well After the
cloning, the antibody value of the supernatant was determined by the same
method. Positive clones were No.4, No.101 and No. 116. These clones were
as antibody-producing hybridomas of expression M toxin.
Example 5
Determination of a class and a subclass of monoclonal antibodies:
By the method described in Example 4, anti-rabbit IgG-binding micro plates
were formed. Namely, 0.1M carbonate buffer containing goat anti-

pH9.6 was pipetted into 96-well microplates at 100 µl per well and left at a
temperature of 4OC for 24 hours. The plates were then washed with
phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH7.4), 25% Block Ace (trademark,
producted by Yukijirushi Milk Products Co.) and PBS, pH7.2 containing 0.1%
NaN3 were pipetted at each 300µl to block excess binding parts of the well
and treated for at least 24 hours at a temperature of 4°C. To the anti-rabbit
IgG antibody-binding microplates, buffer EC 50 µ1 and subtype specific
antibody 100µl containing in an iso-type typing kit producted by Bio-Rad
Laboratories were added to react for one day at a temperature of 4°C. After
the plates were washed with PBS, pH7.4, the culture supernatant of the
hybridomas described above was added and reacted for one day at a
temperature of 4°C. The plates was washed with PBS, pH7.4, and HRP-
labelled refolding toxin protein 100 µl which was prepared in the above
Example 3 by diluting to 100-fold with buffer C [0.02M phosphate buffer,
pH7.0, containing 1%BSA, 0.4 M NaCl and 2mM EDTA], was added and
reacted for 6 hours at room temperature. The plates were washed with PBS,
pH7.4, and the enzyme activity on the solid phase was determined by the
method described in Example 4. As the results, the subclasses of the
monoclonal antibody porduced by these hybridomas were No.4 (IgGl), No. 101
(IgG2b) and No.116 (IgG2a).
Example 6
A method for producing mouse ascites fluid of hybridoms:
Hybridomas, No.4, No.101 and No. 116 were mouse ascites. Mineral oil
0.5ml was parentherally administered to mice, previously. To the mice
(BALB/C, female), the above s were parentheraUy sdministered at 1-3 X106
cells/mouse, and the ascites containing the antibody were collected after 6-20
days. The monoclonal antibody was purified from the obtained ascites with a
protein-A column. Namely, the ascites about 25ml were diluted with the
same volume of binding buffer (3.5M NaCl, 1.5M glycin containing 0.05%

NaN3, pH9.0), the solution was precipitate to a recombinant protein-A-agalose
(Repligen Co.) column that was previously equilibrated with binding buffer,
the specific antibody was eluted with elution buffer (0.1M citric acid buffer,
pH3.0 containing 0.05% NaN;). The elution liquid was dialyzed with PBS,
pH7.4 at a temperature of 4°C for 2 days, and filtered for removing bacilli
with a filter of 0.22 µl m (producted by Millipore Co.) or stored at a
temperature of—80°C.
Example 7 Preparation of polyclonal antibody M toxin
Cytotoxic protein M toxin of this invention 4.1 mg was mixed with Freund3 s
complete adjuvant and the mixture was subcutaneously immunized to a rabbit.
After one week, the same amount of the M toxin was mixed with Freund" s
incomplete adjuvant and the mixture was further subcutaneously immunized to
the rabbit. After the immunization, collected blood was centrifuged to remove
hemocyte components, and anti-serum was obtained.
Example 8
Analysis of M toxin by Western Blotting:
SDS-Sample Buffer containing 2-mercaptoethanol was added to the
supernatant obtained in Example 3, the mixture was electrophoresed with
Peptide-PAGE (TEFCO) and electrically transferred to a PVDFmemmbrane
(Amersham). Each antibody (2 µg/ml) obtained in Example 4 and Example 6
was used as primary antibody. HRP (Horseradish peroxidase) -labelled-anti-
rabbit and anti-mouse IgG antibodies (2000-fold dilution; Dako) was used as
secondary antibody. The coloration was performed with an ECL Western
Blot Detection System (Amersham). As the results, it was confirmed that each
primary antibody recognized the expression protein. (Fig.5).
Example 9
Active carbon (0.2~0.1mm of diameter), CM cellulose and calcium alginate,
each 0.5ml, were charged in three colums. After equilibrating with Tris
buffer 10mM, pH7.7, 0.5ml of M toxin 400nM having refolded activity was

added into each column, and these column was plugged and allowed to stand
for 60 minutes at a temperature of 25°C. Meanwhile, Tris buffer alone and
Tris buffer containing the same M toxin were allowed to stand under the same
conditions. All columns were then opened, each 100 µ 1 dropping from
columns was separated, further, each Tris-buffer 0.5ml was added to each
column, and each 100 µl was collected. Whole blood of normal adults was
centrifuged 2-3 times at 800 X g for 10 minutes until the supernatant became
transpalent. The precipitated erythrocytes 10µ1 added to 10mM Tris buffer
990 µl 1 was used as a positive control. Similarly, the precipitated
erythrocytes 10 µl added to 0.9% salt 10mM Tris buffer was used as a
negative control. Samples were collected from the above columns.
Erythrocytes of 1 volume per 100 volume of the sample were added to the
samples. The controls and the samples were compared by the eluted
hemoglobin relative concentration with a multiple plate reader (Biorad) by
measuring as an absorbance of 415nm. (Fig. 6).
Example 10
The ratios that HeLa cells (human cancer cells of the uterine cervix) were
exposed to the fractions from each columns of Examole 9 and the viability
were determined by a WST method using a tetrazolium salt. HeLa cells were
cultured in 96-well plates for 24 hours at a ratio of 10000 cells per well. A
negative control of culture liquid only, each sample liquid, and a positive
control of 20nM of the toxin protein were respectively added to each well, and
thsese were cultured for 12 hoursat at a temperature of 37°C. Using a Cell
Counting Kit (DOJIN LABOEATORIES Ltd. Co.) , the ratios of cell viability
detected by a WST method were measured as an absorbance of 415nm
wavelength. (Fig. 7, Fig. 8).
Industrial Applicability
The protein and the partial pepti.de of this invention and the like can be
used, for example, as treating agents of cancers. The antibody of this
47
invention can be used to identify the protein of this invention in the blood,
tissues, urine and excrements collected from test patients and to confirm the
Helicobacter pylori infection. It is further used for quantification of the
protein of this invention. The protein of this invention can be used as a
screening agent of the compounds increasing or inhibiting the activities of the
protein of this invention.
48
Sequence Listing
Hiroyuki OHNO
Cytotoxic Protein
200212050
4
1
357
PRT
Helicobacter pylori
1
Met Lys Gly Leu Glu Arg Glu Ser His Phe Thr Leu Asp Glu Asn Ala
1 5 10 15
Met Phe Phe Glu Cys Ala Tyr Ser Cys Asp Asn Ala Leu Phe Leu Gln
20 25 30
Leu Glu Asp Arg Ser Phe Phe Ile Thr Asp Ser Arg Tyr Thr Gln Glu
35 40 45
Ala Lys Glu Ser Ile Gln Pro Lys Asn Gly Val Leu Ala Glu Val Ile
50 55 60
Glu Ser Ser Asp Leu Val Gln Ser Thr He Asp Leu Ile Ala Lys His
65 70 75 80
Ser Val Lys Lys Leu Phe Phe Asp Pro Asn Gln Val Asn Leu Gln Thr
85 90 95
Tyr Lys Arg Leu Asp Ser Ala Ile Gly Asn Lys Val He Leu Glu Gly
100 105 110
Val Pro Ser Tyr His Arg Gln Lys Arg Ile Ile Lys Asn Asn His Glu
115 120 125
Ile Gln Leu Leu Lys Lys Ser Gln Ala Leu Asn Val Glu Ala Phe Glu
130 135 140
Asn Phe Ala Glu Tyr Val Lys Lys Ile Phe Asp Glu Lys Glu Ser Leu

145 150 155 160
Ser Glu Arg Tyr Leu Gln His Lys Val Lys Asp Phe Leu Thr Lys Glu
165 170 175
Gly. Val Tyr Asp Leu Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Leu Ala Leu Asn Ala Asn
180 185 190
Ala Ser Lys Pro His Ala Leu Pro Ser Ala Lys Asp Phe Leu Lys Ala
195 200 205
Glu His Ser Ile Leu Leu Asp Met Gly Ile Lys Tyr Glu Arg Tyr Cys
210 215 220
Ser Asp Arg Thr Arg Thr Ala Phe Phe Asp Pro Lys Asp Phe Val Phe
225 230 235 240
Lys Arg Glu Gln Ser Phe Lys Asp Lys Glu Ser Gln Lys He Tyr Asp
245 250 255
Ile Val Lys Glu Ala Gln Glu Lys Ala Ile Ser Gly Ile Arg Ala Gly
260 265 270
Met Thr Gly Lys Glu Ala Asp Ser Leu Ala Arg Gly Val Ile Ser Asp
275 280 285
Tyr Gly Tyr Gly Gln Tyr Phe Thr His Ser Thr Gly His Gly Ile Gly
290 295 300
Leu Asp Ile His Glu Leu Pro Tyr He Ser Ser Arg Ser Glu Thr He Leu
305 310 315 320
Glu Glu Gly Met Val Phe Ser Val Glu Pro Gly Ile Tyr He Pro Gly
325 330 335
Phe Phe Gly Val Arg Ile Glu Asp Leu Val Val Ile Lys Asn Ser Arg
340 345 350
Ala Glu Leu Leu
355
2
1071
DNA
Helicobacter pylori
2
atgaaaggat tagaaagaga atcgcatttc acgcttgatg aaaacgcgat gttttttgag 60
tgtgcttata gttgcgataa tgctttgttt ttgcaattag aggatcgctc gttttttatc 120
actgattctc gctacactca agaagctaaa gaaagcattc agcctaaaaa tggcgtttta 180
gcggaagtga tagaatccag cgatttagtc caaagcacga ttgatttgat cgcaaaacac 240
tcggttaaaa agctcttttt tgatcccaat caagtgaatt tgcaaaccta caagcgtttg 300
gattcggcga ttgggaataa ggttatttta gagggcgtgc ctagttacca ccgccaaaaa 360
cgcatcatta aaaacaatca tgagatccaa ctcctcaaaa aatctcaagc gttgaatgtt 420
gaagcttttg aaaattttgc cgagtatgtg aaaaagattt ttgatgaaaa agagtccttg 480
agcgagcggt atttgcagca taaggttaag gactttttga ctaaagaggg ggtttatgat 540
ctgagctttg agcctatttt agccttgaat gcgaacgcga gcaaacccca tgctttgcct 600
agtgcgaagg attttttaaa agcggagcat agcattcttt tggatatggg gatcaaatac 660
gaacgctatt gctcggatag gactcgcacg gctttttttg accctaaaga ttttgtcttc 720
aaaagagagc agagtttcaa ggataaagag agtcaaaaga tttatgacat tgtgaaagaa 780
gcgcaagaaa aggctatttc aggtattaga gcgggcatga ccggtaaaga agcggacagc 840
ttggctaggg gagtgattag cgattatggt tatgggcaat atttcactca cagcactgga 900
catggcattg gcttagacat tcatgagctt ccttatattt catcgcgcag tgaaaccatt 960
ttagaagagg gcatggtgtt ttctgtagag cctgggattt atatccctgg attttttggg 1020
gtgcgcattg aagatttagt ggtgatcaaa aattctaggg ctgagctttt g 1071
3
32
DNA
Helicobacter pylori
3
gacgacgaca agatgaaagg attagaaaga ga 32
51
4
37
DNA
Helicobacter pylori
4
gaggagaagc ccggttacaa aagctcagcc ctagaat 37
52
We claim:
1. A modified cytotoxic protein encompassing protein having more than 70% to less
than 100% of amino acid sequence represented by sequence ID No. 1.
2. A partial peptide of the cytotoxic protein described in claim 1, characterized in that
the protein has the same cytotoxic activity as that of the amino acid sequence
represented by Sequence ID No. 1.
3. The cytotoxic protein of claims 1 or 2 wherein the protein is produced with
Helicobacter Pylori.
4. The cytotoxic protein of claims 1 or 2 wherein the protein is obtained by culturing a
transformant which is transformed with a recombination vector containing DNA of
Sequence ID. No. 2 portion coding the cytotoxic protein of claims 1 or 2.
5. The cytotoxic protein of claim 4 wherein the transformant is deposited by deposition
No. FERM BP-8218 at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology (IPOD).
6. An anti-tumor agent which contains the cytotoxic protein as claims 1 or 2.
7. A monoclonal antibody specific against the cytotoxic protein which is obtained by
immunization of the cytotoxic protein of claims 1 or 2 against a mammal.
8. The monoclonal antibody of claim 7 which is produced with a hybridoma clone of
deposition No. FERM BP-8222.
9. The monoclonal antibody of claim 7 which is produced with a hybridoma clone of
deposition No. FERM BP-8223.
10. The monoclonal antibody of claim 7 which is produced with a hybridoma clone of
deposition No. FERM BP-8224.

11. A polyclonal antibody specific against the cytotoxic protein which is obtained by
immunization of the cytotoxic protein of claims 1 or 2 against a mammal.
12. A method for detecting the cytotoxic protein of claim 1 or 2 wherein the monoclonal
antibody or polyclonal antibody described in any One of claims 7-11 is used.
13. An agent for preventing and treating gastric cancer, gastritis, gastric ulcer, triggered by
the cytotoxic protein of claim 1 or 2, comprising the monoclonal antibody or polyclonal
antibody described in anyone of claims 7 to 11.
14. A method for screening a compound promoting or inhibiting activity of the protein of
claim 1 or 2, wherein cell multiplication inhibition activity, cytotoxic activity or cell death
is judged by comparison between negative or positive control groups with a warm-
blooded animal cell.
15. A kit for screening a compound or its salt promoting or inhibiting activity of the protein
of claim 1 or 2, wherein the protein of claim 1 or 2 is comprised.
This invention relates to a new cytotoxic protein (M toxin, mucous layer
devastating toxin) produced by Helicobacter pylori and the use.
This invention provides a cytotoxic protein (M toxin) produced by
Helicobacter pylori, a partial peptide, and an antitumor agent containing the
cytotoxic protein. The protein is obtained by culturing a transformant which
is transformed with a recombination vector containing DNA coding the
cytotoxin protein. This invention provides further the use of the protein.

Documents:

895-kolnp-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-assignment.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-claims.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-form 18.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-form 2.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-form 3.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-form 5.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-form 6.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-letter patent.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-pa.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-sequence listing.pdf

895-kolnp-2004-granted-specification.pdf


Patent Number 218678
Indian Patent Application Number 00895/KOLNP/2004
PG Journal Number 15/2008
Publication Date 11-Apr-2008
Grant Date 09-Apr-2008
Date of Filing 28-Jun-2004
Name of Patentee FOURIER INC.,
Applicant Address 1-12-10-204 FUKUEI, ICHIKAWA-SHI, CHIBA 272 0137, JAPAN.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 OHNO HIROYUKI 1-12-10-204 FUKUEI, ICHIKAWA-SHI, CHIBA 272 0137, JAPAN.
2 SAISHO HIROMITSU 4-23-15, NISHISHINJUKU, SHINJUKU-KU, CHIBA-SHI, CHIBA 2666-0002, JAPAN.
3 TANZAWA HIDEKI
PCT International Classification Number C07K14/195
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP02/12752
PCT International Filing date 2002-12-05
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2001-371210 2001-12-05 Japan