| abstract |
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided additional LOX-like proteins characterized by their structural homology to LOX, LOXL1 and LOXL2, and containing a copper binding domain and a catalytic domain. Nucleic acid sequences encoding LOXL3 and LOXL4 proteins, antibodies derived threfrom, as well as assays employing these proteins for determining tissue distribution and catalytic activites, are also disclosed. Invention proteins can be employed in a variety of ways, such as, for example, in bioassays, for production of antibodies thereto, in therapeutic compositions containing such proteins and/or antibodies. The present invention also discloses methods and diagnostic systems for determining the levels or activities of proteins (or functional fragments thereof) related to the LOX gene family, methods for producing a transgenic animal model comprising disrupted genes encoding proteins (or fragments thereof) related to LOX gene family, and methods for identifying compound(s) which modulate the activity of proteins (or functional fragments thereof) related to the LOX gene family. The present invention therefore, discloses the gene structure, chromosomal localization, protein domain structure, evolutionary relationship, tissue specific expression and distribution of lysyl oxidase (LOX) and LOX-like proteins including but not limited to LOXL, LOXL2, LOXL3 and LOXL4, that defines a family of proteins present in distinct cellular and tissue locations, each with a related but different function. |