9412502 Georgiou This project is on research to develop new strategies for the production of catalytic antibodies. The strategies are based on the expression of a vast number of different antibodies on the E. coli cell surface followed by screening procedures for selecting the desired molecules from the population. The selection process will make use of the possible binding between the fluorescently labeled conjugate of the transition state analog and the antibody on the cell surface. Cells bound to the transition state analog can then be selected by fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS). In a parallel study, this research will attempt to demonstrate the isolation of catalytic antibodies directly based on the rate of product formation rather than binding to transition state analogs. Catalytic antibodies have a high degree of selectivity and activity, but are currently prohibitively expensive for commercial purposes because of the high cost of isolation and production. Part of this project is on new approaches to lower this cost. ***
