| abstract |
The present invention provides nucleic acids, Dpl peptides, and assays using Dpl nucleic acids and peptides that encode Doppel (“Dpl”) proteins. In a related aspect, the invention features expression vectors and host cells comprising nucleic acids encoding human Dpl polypeptides. In addition, the present invention provides an antibody that specifically binds to a human Dpl polypeptide, a method for producing a human Dpl polypeptide, a method for identifying a cell expressing Dpl, a Dpl gene for altering cellular action and prion infectivity in culture or in vivo, and Methods of using Dpl polypeptides, and identification of individuals at risk for prion disorders by detecting changes in Dpl coding and regulatory sequences and Dpl expression levels. |