von Willebrand factor (vWF)—cleaving protease

US7361748B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Juridical Foundation the Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute · JP

Inventors

• Kenji Soejima · Kikuchi, JP
• Noriko Mimura · Kikuchi, JP
• Hiroaki Maeda · Kumamoto, JP
• Chikateru Nozaki · Kumamoto, JP
• Takayoshi Hamamoto · Kumamoto, JP
• Tomohiro Nakagaki · Kumamoto, JP

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 8, 2005
• Grant date: Apr 22, 2008
• Expiry date: Dec 8, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K38/00
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.