Abstract:
Myelin basic
protein (MBP) promotes growth of myelin sheath throughout the nervous system by
binding to the lipids on the myelin membrane (Boggs, 2006). However when a
malignant cell is formed, the abnormal cell inhibits the transmission of
electric signals across synapses (Kaur et al., 2008). MBP has the ability to
distinguish the difference between a normal and malignant Schwann cell due to
deletions within the MBP gene sequence (Kaur et al., 2008).
Figure 1 Myelin Basic Protein: Computer
model of the protein. Human myelin basic protein by binding it to a leukocyte
antigen (Smith et al., 1998).
Aim 1: Select for the protein
A
multi-layered process will be involved in the selection for MBP. Aptamers, used
as RNA protein markers in this case, will be selected for myelin basic protein.
Aptamers bind to proteins with high specificity and affinity to the specific
protein target. This is because aptamers are about one-tenth the size of an
antibody (Boggs, 2006). This provides a set of tools that aid in area of
therapeutic diagnostics in medicine. MBP itself is not a large protein (only
18.5 kDa); thus using an aptamer, which is even smaller, will increase chances
of binding to the protein (Saxe et al., 1985). By selecting for MBP, the gene
sequence of the protein can be verified before further development of an
aptamer to distinguish between a normal and malignant cell. If successful,
further tests can be conducted to see if the aptamer can deliver a drug or
select against a mutate MBP. The first step is to find an aptamer that binds to
this specific protein.
The target can
be ordered from US Biologicals at $327.00 per milligram and $2.40 per round
(400pmol).
References:
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I (2008).
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Yin Zhang,
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Research Proposal:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iiFltUcxxQ39oUpegZl-CNKEM1p1RdXQlP2_njopEnA/edit?usp=sharing
1st Progress Report:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By_LVGU6rig_aTc4b2I4aG5GWmc/edit?usp=sharing
