Method for separating sex specific molecules and non-sex specific molecules

• US 5,840,504 A
• Filed: 08/09/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Guelph
• Original Assignee: University of Guelph
• Inventors: Blecher, Stan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenschenk, Frank C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RABIN, EVELYN MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/694,784
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 435/7.21, 530/389.1
• US Class Current: 435/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2039/505 comprising antibodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/00 Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies materials for immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/00 Drugs for genital or sexual disorders for disorders of sex hormones A61P5/24; Contraceptives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/16 Masculine contraceptives
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/705 Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants tumour specific antigens C07K14/4748
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/18 against material from animals or humans
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/28 against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2319/00 Fusion polypeptide
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56966 Animal cells

Abstract

A method for identifying non-sex specific and sex specific molecules associated with animal cell membranes is described. The method involves preparing a cell membrane fraction from adult, fetal, or embryonic animal cells; treating the cell membrane fraction with one or more substances which bind to non-sex specific molecules in the cell membrane fraction to form conjugates between the non-sex specific molecules and the substances; separating the material in the cell membrane fraction which does not bind to the substances to obtain a subfraction containing sex specific molecules; optionally, removing the substances in the conjugates to obtain a subfraction containing non-sex specific molecules; and, isolating the sex specific molecules and optionally non-sex specific molecules in the subfractions. Sex specific and non-sex specific molecules and methods of using the sex specific and non-sex specific molecules for sexing are also described.

Claims

1. A method for separating sex specific molecules and non-sex specific molecules associated with animal plasma membranes, comprising:

(a) treating a plasma membrane fraction from adult, fetal, or embryonic animal cells or tissues, with one or more antibodies which bind to non-sex specific molecules in the cell membrane fraction to form conjugates between the non-sex specific molecules and the antibodies; and

(b) separating the material in the cell membrane fraction which does not bind to the antibodies to obtain a subfraction containing sex specific molecules.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising separating the antibodies from the conjugates to obtain a second subfraction containing non-sex specific molecules and isolating non-sex specific molecules in the second subfraction.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cell membrane fraction is obtained from a cell membrane of bovine cells.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more antibodies and female anti-female antibody and/or male anti-male antibody.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the female anti-female antibody is produced by immunizing female animals of a first animal species with cell membrane fractions obtained from cells or tissues of females of a second animal species.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the male anti-male antibody is produced by immunizing male animals of a first animal species with cell membrane fractions obtained from cells or tissues of males of a second animal species.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises preparing antibodies having specificity against an epitope of the sex specific molecule.