Appeal No. 2000-1779 Application No. 08/473,204 Appeal No. 1999-1377 Application No. 08/264,578 Claim 14 is illustrative of the subject matter on appeal and is reproduced below: 14. A method of assaying a candidate ligand for interaction with a human NR3 protein selected from the group consisting of: NR3-1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; and NR3-2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 with the exception that the serine residue at position 407 is an asparagine residue, which comprises the steps of incubating the candidate ligand under appropriate conditions with a cell having incorporated expressibly therein a heterologous polynucleotide encoding said NR3 protein, or with a membrane preparation derived therefrom, and then determining the extent of binding between the human NR3 protein and the candidate ligand. GROUNDS OF REJECTION82 Claim 21 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which appellants regard as the invention. Particularly, sections b), c) and d) of this claim reference a modified amino acid sequence, wherein amino acids are replaced by amino acids encoded by the nucleotides of a second sequence. Claims 14 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Monyer in view of Puckett, Schofield and Grenningloh. 82 We note the examiner made a new ground of rejection over claim 21 in the Examiner’s Answer. 111Page: Previous 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007