The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated TANGO
228 nucleic acid molecules, which encode secreted proteins with homology
to the rat MCA-32 protein, isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated
TANGO 240 nucleic acid molecules, which encode secreted proteins with
homology to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis hypothetical protein Rv0712,
and isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated TANGO 243 nucleic acid
molecules, which encode proteins with homology to human PLAP
(phospholipase A2-activating protein). The invention also provides
antisense nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing the
nucleic acid molecules of the invention, host cells into which the
expression vectors have been introduced, and non-human transgenic animals
in which a nucleic acid molecule of the invention has been introduced or
disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated polypeptides,
fusion polypeptides, antigenic peptides and antibodies. Diagnostic,
screening and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention
are also described/disclosed.