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Biomedical subjects

P Pavlik

Publications and source records attributed to P Pavlik.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Eliminating helper phage from phage display.

Phage display technology involves the display of proteins or peptides, as coat protein fusions, on the surface of a phage or phagemid particles. Using standard technology, helper phage are essential for the replication and assembly of phagemid particles, during library production and biopanning. We have eliminated the need to add helper phage by using 'bacterial packaging cell lines' that provide the same functions. These cell lines contain M13-based helper plasmids that express phage packaging proteins which assemble phagemid particles as efficiently as helper phage, but without helper phage contamination. This results in genetically pure phagemid particle preparations. Furthermore, by using constructs differing in the form of gene 3 that they contain, we have shown that the display, from a single library, can be modulated between monovalent (phagemid-like) and multivalent display (phage-like) without any further engineering. These packaging cells eliminate the use of helper phage from phagemid-based selection protocols; reducing the amount of technical preparation, facilitating automation, optimizing selections by matching display levels to diversity, and effectively using the packaged phagemid particles as means to transfer genetic information at an efficiency approaching 100%.

Bacteria↗

Mass spectral analysis of a protein complex using single-chain antibodies selected on a peptide target: applications to functional genomics.

Genome projects are identifying an ever-increasing number of genes, accelerating the need for reagents to study the expression of these genes and elucidate the function and cellular location of the gene products. Our goal was to develop a strategy to allow human single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies to be used for these endeavors. A library containing 7x10(9) individual variants was displayed by bacteriophage and selected against a biotinylated peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 15 amino acid residues of Ku86, one component of a heterodimer involved in double-stranded DNA break repair. Four unique scFv antibodies were recovered that not only recognized the selected peptide, but also the intact protein. Three of the scFv antibodies were expressed in soluble form and recognized Ku86 by Western analysis. The affinity of one of the scFv antibodies for Ku86 was 16 nM as measured by BIAcore analysis. scFv immunoprecipitation of Ku86 also isolated the other component of the heterodimer, Ku70, as determined by Western analysis and mass spectrometry. These results demonstrate the utility of scFv antibodies as invaluable reagents for functional genomics.

Antibodies↗

Functional blockade of tyrosine kinase A in the rat basal forebrain by a novel antagonistic anti-receptor monoclonal antibody.

We have exploited a new monoclonal antibody against the tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor to block the NGF-TrkA interaction in the rat basal forebrain. The monoclonal antibody MNAC13 is a potent antagonist that prevents the binding of NGF to TrkA in a variety of systems. This antibody was used to study the maintenance of the cholinergic phenotype in the rat basal forebrain in vivo, by the implant of antibody-secreting cells. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) are greatly affected by the antibody treatment, both in terms of cell number and of cell soma size. When antibody-secreting cells are implanted at postnatal day 2 (P2), the effects observed at P8 are as severe as those obtained with anti-NGF antibodies and, interestingly, are observed also if anti-TrkA cells are implanted at P8, when anti-NGF antibodies, delivered by the same route, are no longer effective (). The effects induced by anti-TrkA, as those induced by anti-NGF, are reversible, but the time required for recovery and the critical period in the sensitivity of BFCNs to the functional inactivation of TrkA is twice as long than that observed when NGF is intercepted. These results demonstrate that BFCNs are more sensitive to the block of TrkA activation than they are to the block of NGF. The cloning of MNAC13 variable regions and their assembly into a functional polypeptide of reduced size (single chain Fv fragment) will allow its use in gene transfer applications.

3T3 Cells↗

Reexamination of the high mobility group-1 protein for self-association and characterization of hydrodynamic properties.

Previous studies of the 25 kDa high mobility group-1 (HMG-1) protein have generated conflicting results regarding whether HMG-1 exists as a monomer or is capable of oligomerizing to (functional) tetramers. To resolve this question, sedimentation velocity analysis yielded a s20,w value of 2.59S, which is consistent with a monomeric protein. Equilibrium sedimentation data were obtained for three HMG-1 concentrations at two rotor speeds. The six sets of data were fit to both an ideal single component and monomer-dimer equilibrium model, with essentially identical fits produced for both models, with the latter indicating a low extent (7%) of dimerization. Reaction of HMG-1 with glutaraldehyde produced a small population of oligomers consistent with a low level of dimers. This supported the monomer-dimer equilibrium model. Surprisingly, gel permeation chromatography yielded an apparent molecular mass of approx. 55 kDa for both HMG-1 and HMG-2. This finding is considered anomalous and presumably due to the high negative charge density in the C terminus of HMG-1. The sedimentation data also permit one to model HMG-1 as a hydrated prolate ellipsoid with a major axis/minor axis ratio of 2. 79. The collective evidence from the sedimentation and chemical cross-linking studies strongly supports a moderately asymmetric monomer in solution and unequivocally eliminates the possibility of a highly extended shape for HMG-1 or the existence of any extensive oligomerization.

Animals↗

A C-terminal region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor ADR1 plays an important role in the regulation of peroxisome proliferation by fatty acids.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcriptional activator ADR1, which controls ADH2 gene expression, was shown to be involved in the regulation of peroxisome proliferation. To study the mode of action of ADR1, we compared strains carrying the adr1-1 mutation, high or low copy numbers of the ADR1 gene, the constitutive allele ADR1-5c, and 3'-deletions of ADR1. High ADR1 gene dosage increased the transcription of genes encoding peroxisomal proteins as compared to one copy of the ADR1 gene. Furthermore, overexpression of ADR1 under ethanol growth conditions induced the proliferation of peroxisomal structures. The organelles were observed to be localized in clusters, a typical feature of peroxisomes induced by oleic acid. In contrast, the ADR1-5c allele, which induces ADH2 expression to a level comparable to that of high ADR1 gene dosage was found to have only a small effect. An analysis of functional domains of the ADR1 protein revealed that the N-terminal 220 amino acids of ADR1 were sufficient for wild-type levels of transcription of the FOX2, FOX3, and PAS1 genes, but the entire ADR1 protein was required for complete induction of the CTA1 gene and for growth oleic acid medium. Our data suggest that a functional domain of the ADR1 protein localized between residues 643 and 1323 is required for the induction of peroxisomal structures and for the utilization of oleic acid.

ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activitie↗

The glycerol kinase (GUT1) gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: cloning and characterization.

The GUT1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encoding glycerol kinase, was cloned and sequenced. The cloned genomic DNA fragment contains an open reading frame potentially coding for a protein of 709 amino acids with homology to bacterial glycerol kinases (40.8% identity over 502 amino acids, and 42.1% identity over 496 amino acids, in comparison to the smaller E. coli and B. subtilis enzymes). Disruption of GUT1 showed that the gene is required for growth on glycerol, but not on glucose or ethanol media. No glycerol kinase activity was detected in the disruption mutant. According to enzyme activity and transcript analysis, synthesis of glycerol kinase is repressed by glucose, and derepression is ADR1-dependent.

Amino Acid Sequence↗