Monoclonal and monospecific antibodies which recognize predetermined sequences of human growth factors and receptors will be created. Synthetic peptides coupled to carrier molecules will be used to immunize mice as well as screen hybridomas. Monoclonal antibodies which recognize the synthetic peptide as well as the cognate structure in the intact molecule will then be thoroughly characterized. The ability to recognize the intact molecule under a variety of denaturing and nondenaturing will also be assessed. In addition, the precise location of the antibody binding site will be determined as well as the spatial relationship between hybridomas which bind to the same substrate. The antigens recognized by the monoclonal antibodies will be thoroughly characterized with regard to structure, function, and expression. This information will subsequently be used to gain insight into the mechanism of action at these growth factors as well as the structural relationships between growth factors and receptors and the protein products of oncogenes and proto-oncogenes. These results will then be used to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of selected monoclonal antibodies. Where appropriate, diagnostic kits composed of monoclonal antibodies and synthetic peptides will be designed. In addition, the use of synthetic peptides as vaccines will be explored. (2)
| Niman, H L (1989) Monoclonal antibodies to oncogene products. Prog Clin Biol Res 288:35-52 |
| Brandt-Rauf, P W; Niman, H L (1988) Serum screening for oncogene proteins in workers exposed to PCBs. Br J Ind Med 45:689-93 |
| De Togni, P; Niman, H; Raymond, V et al. (1988) Detection of fos protein during osteogenesis by monoclonal antibodies. Mol Cell Biol 8:2251-6 |
| Niman, H L (1986) Human oncogene-related proteins in urine during pregnancy and neoplasia. Clin Lab Med 6:181-96 |
| Niman, H L; Thompson, A M; Yu, A et al. (1985) Anti-peptide antibodies detect oncogene-related proteins in urine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 82:7924-8 |
