Appeal No. 2003-2017 Page 3
Application No. 09/802,116
proteins (KIPs), including but not limited to KIP 1, KIP 2, and variants thereof.
Like KIPs, the described protein also shares structural similarity with the
phosphatase component . . . of calcineurin B. As such, the novel polynucleotides
encode a new kinase interacting protein.” Page 2.
The specification also discloses that
[k]inases mediate phosphorylation of a wide variety of proteins and
compounds in the cell. In conjunction with phosphatases, kinases
are involved in a wide range of regulatory pathways and processes.
Given the physiological importance of kinases, they and proteins
with which they interact have been subject to intense scrutiny and
are proven drug targets.
Page 1. The specification does not indicate what role kinase-interacting proteins
play in any physiological process, but it does speculate that “[g]iven the strong
homology to KIPs, the described NHP may mediate DNA repair.” Page 15.
The specification also suggests a number of potential uses for the
claimed polynucleotides that do not depend on the function of the encoded
protein. For example, the specification discloses that “knock-out” mice can be
made that do not express the disclosed gene; “[w]hen the unique NHP
sequences described in SEQ ID NOS:1-2 are ‘knocked-out’ they provide a
method of identifying phenotypic expression of the particular gene as well as a
method of assigning function to previously unknown genes.” Page 2. The
specification also discloses that “the unique NHP sequences described in SEQ
ID NOS:1-2 are useful for identification of coding sequence and the mapping [of]
a unique polynucleotide to a particular chromosome.” Id.
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007