DR. DAI LU, MD
Anesthesiologist Assistant at Citywest Blvd, Houston, TX

6107457, Aug 22, 2000

Feb 16, 1995

8/390353

Ralph B. Arlinghaus - Bellaire TX
Jiaxin Liu - Bellaire TX
Dai Lu - Houston TX

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

C07K 700, C07K 1400

530300

Compositions comprising a mixture of peptides that bind to molecules involved in Bcr-Abl oncoprotein function are disclosed. In addition, expression of functional BCR protein (p160 BCR) or amino terminal fragments thereof (159, 221 and 413 amino terminal residues) by way of retrovirus vectors will oppose the biological function of Bcr-Abl (p160 BCR) or inactivate Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase function or its signal transduction function. Bcr and Abl peptides, either tyrosine phosphorylated or unphosphorylated, that bind to a region near the amino terminus of Bcr to prevent formation of tetramer Bcr-Abl molecules, that bind to the SH2 domain of Grb2, to sites on tyrosine phosphorylated Shc protein, to sites of Crkl, and to an SH2 domain of Ras Gap comprise particular peptide preparations of the invention. The peptides and polypeptides inhibit Bcr-Abl oncoprotein activation, or block the oncogenic signal generated by the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein and, thereby, inhibit growth and induce cell death of leukemia cells expressing the oncoprotein. Methods for processing bone marrow using the peptide and polypeptide compositions of the invention are also provided.