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Brigitte Angres

Publications and source records attributed to Brigitte Angres.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Cell adhesion profiling using extracellular matrix protein microarrays.

We have developed a microarray-based system for cell adhesion profiling of large panels of cell-adhesive proteins to increase the throughput of in vitro cell adhesion assays, which are currently primarily performed in multiwell plates. Miniaturizing cell adhesion assays to an array format required the development of protocols for the reproducible microspotting of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein solutions and for the handling of cell suspensions during the assay. We generated ECM protein microarrays with high reproducibility in microspot protein content using nitrocellulose-coated glass microslides, combined with piezoelectric microspotting of protein solutions. Protocols were developed that allowed us to use 5000 cells or fewer on an array of 4 x 4 mm consisting of 64 microspots. Using this microarray system, we identified differences of adhesive properties of three cell lines to 14 different ECM proteins. Furthermore, the sensitivity and accuracy of the assays were increased using microarrays with ranges of ECM protein amounts. This microarray system will be particularly useful for extensive comparative cell adhesion profiling studies when only low amounts of adhesive substrate and cells, such as stem cells or cells from biopsies, are available.

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Serologically defined colon cancer antigen 3 is necessary for the presentation of TNF receptor 1 on cell surface.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces apoptosis in sensitive cells in culture when used in combination with inhibitors of transcription or translation. We applied the genetic suppressor element (GSE) methodology to search for the genetic elements protecting NIH3T3 cells from TNF-stimulated death. Ten putative GSEs were isolated from TNF-resistant cells, one of which (GSE0-1) corresponded to the cDNA sequence known as the mouse homolog of human serologically defined colon cancer antigen 3 (SDCCAG3). SDCCAG3 protein contains the region similar to the coiled-coil domain of the myosin tail. The same domain is present in the proteins related to the organelles/proteins trafficking, such as kinesin, Golgin-160, and dynein. We proposed that the SDCCAG3 function might be related to protein trafficking and secretion. The expression of the coiledcoil domain as the dominant negative mutant form of SDCCAG3 made the NIH3T3 and HeLa cells resistant to TNF-specific apoptosis. The presentation of TNFR1 at the surface of these cells was reduced, which affected the sensitivity of the cells to the TNF treatment. We recently showed that the inhibition of protein trafficking and secretion depleted the unstable TNFR1 from plasma membrane. The inhibition of SDCCAG3 activity by its dominant negative mutant suppressed the protein trafficking and secretion, and decreased TNFR1 presentation on the cell surface. Based on these results, we presume that SDCCAG3 is important for protein trafficking and presentation of TNFR1 on the cell surface. Therefore, SDCCAG3 can be viewed as a potential target for modulation of TNF response.

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Cell microarrays.

In the postgenomic era, DNA and protein arrays are increasing the speed at which knowledge is gathered on gene expression in cells and tissues. At the same time, researchers realize that a miniaturized and parallelized analysis of whole cells may equally expedite the acquisition of data describing cellular properties and function. Researchers are starting to explore means of generating and using cell microarrays to investigate cells at higher throughput. In this initial phase of exploration, cell microarrays are being developed for various cellular analyses including the effects of gene expression, cellular reactions to the biomolecular environment, and profiling of cell surface molecules. This article will provide an overview of different types of eukaryotic cell microarrays described to date, how they are generated, and their fields of application.

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Analysis of DsRed Mutants. Space around the fluorophore accelerates fluorescence development.

Earlier mutagenesis of the red fluorescent protein drFP583, also called DsRed, resulted in a mutant named Fluorescent Timer (Terskikh, A., Fradkov, A., Ermakova, G., Zaraisky, A., Tan, P., Kajava, A. V., Zhao, X., Lukyanov, S., Matz, M., Kim, S., Weissman, I., and Siebert, P. (2000) Science 290, 1585--1588). Further mutagenesis generated variants with novel and improved fluorescent properties. The mutant called AG4 exhibits only green fluorescence. The mutant, called E5up (V105A), shows complete fluorophore maturation, eventually eliminating residual green fluorescence present in DsRed. Finally, the mutant, called E57 (V105A, I161T, S197A), matures faster than DsRed as demonstrated in vitro with purified protein and in vivo with recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli and Xenopus leavis. Comparative analysis of the mutants in the context of the crystal structure of DsRed suggests that mutants with free space around the fluorophore mature faster and more completely.

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