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PubMed1997

User support for a library-managed online database search service: the BMA Library free MEDLINE service.

This paper discusses user support in the context of a library-managed online database search service. Experience is drawn from the British Medical Association (BMA) Library's Free MEDLINE Service. More than 9,600 BMA members, who are largely unfamiliar with computer communications and database searching, have registered as users of the service. User support has played a significant role in the development of the service and has comprised four main aspects: an information pack, a help desk, online help, and MEDLINE courses. The paper includes an analysis of help desk usage statistics collected from January 1996 through June 1996, and highlights other relevant research. Plans for further service enhancements and their implications in terms of future user support are discussed.

Computer User Training↗
PubMed2005

A practical toolkit for computational steering.

Computational steering refers to the real-time interaction of a scientist with their running simulation code. Despite the many benefits associated with computational steering, its uptake to date has been limited. In this paper we discuss the reasons for this and how the computational steering library and associated tools developed as part of the RealityGrid project aim to tackle them. We describe the functionality of the steering library and the use of Grid services in constructing a generic, dynamic architecture for discovering, steering and connecting visualization software to running simulations. The use of on-line visualization for providing feedback to the scientist is described, including the ways in which it may be enhanced through tools such as Chromium and Access Grid. Finally, we illustrate the flexibility of our approach by describing the functionality that has been added to various simulation codes as part of the RealityGrid project.

Computer Graphics↗
PubMed2005

A computer program for the estimation of protein and nucleic acid sequence diversity in random point mutagenesis libraries.

A computer program for the generation and analysis of in silico random point mutagenesis libraries is described. The program operates by mutagenizing an input nucleic acid sequence according to mutation parameters specified by the user for each sequence position and type of point mutation. The program can mimic almost any type of random mutagenesis library, including those produced via error-prone PCR (ep-PCR), mutator Escherichia coli strains, chemical mutagenesis, and doped or random oligonucleotide synthesis. The program analyzes the generated nucleic acid sequences and/or the associated protein library to produce several estimates of library diversity (number of unique sequences, point mutations, and single point mutants) and the rate of saturation of these diversities during experimental screening or selection of clones. This information allows one to select the optimal screen size for a given mutagenesis library, necessary to efficiently obtain a certain coverage of the sequence-space. The program also reports the abundance of each specific protein mutation at each sequence position, which is useful as a measure of the level and type of mutation bias in the library. Alternatively, one can use the program to evaluate the relative merits of preexisting libraries, or to examine various hypothetical mutation schemes to determine the optimal method for creating a library that serves the screen/selection of interest. Simulated libraries of at least 10(9) sequences are accessible by the numerical algorithm with currently available personal computers; an analytical algorithm is also available which can rapidly calculate a subset of the numerical statistics in libraries of arbitrarily large size. A multi-type double-strand stochastic model of ep-PCR is developed in an appendix to demonstrate the applicability of the algorithm to amplifying mutagenesis procedures. Estimators of DNA polymerase mutation-type-specific error rates are derived using the model. Analyses of an alpha-synuclein ep-PCR library and NNS synthetic oligonucleotide libraries are given as examples.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

Identification of genes that function in the TNF-alpha-mediated apoptotic pathway using randomized hybrid ribozyme libraries.

Now that the sequences of many genomes are available, methods are required for the rapid identification of functional genes. We describe here a simple system for the isolation of genes that function in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-mediated pathway of apoptosis, using RNA helicase-associated ribozyme libraries with randomized substrate-binding arms. Because target-site accessibility considerably limits the effective use of intracellular ribozymes, the effectiveness of a conventional ribozyme library has been low. To overcome this obstacle, we attached to ribozymes an RNA motif (poly(A)-tail) able to interact with endogenous RNA helicase(s) so that the resulting helicase-attached, hybrid ribozymes can more easily attack target sites regardless of their secondary or tertiary structures. When the phenotype of cells changes upon introduction of a ribozyme library, genes responsible for these changes may be identified by sequencing the active ribozyme clones. In the case of TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis, when a ribozyme library was introduced into MCF-7 cells, surviving clones were completely or partially resistant to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. We identified many pro-apoptotic genes and partial sequences of previously uncharacterized genes using this method. Our gene discovery system should be generally applicable to the identification of functional genes in various systems.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1998

Human monoclonal autoantibody fragments from combinatorial antibody libraries directed to the U1snRNP associated U1C protein; epitope mapping, immunolocalization and V-gene usage.

To study the localization and function of the U1snRNP associated U1C protein, so far only human sera from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlap syndrome patients have been used. Here we report for the first time the isolation of human monoclonal anti-UIC autoantibody fragments from IgG derived combinatorial and semi-synthetic human antibody libraries. Two classes of human monoclonal anti-UIC (auto)antibodies were found: specific anti-U1C autoantibodies, recognizing U1C only, and cross-reactive antibodies which also react with U1A and Sm-B/B'proteins. The heavy chains (V(H)genes) of all five antibodies from the semi-synthetic libraries and two of the three U1C-specific patient derived autoantibody fragments are encoded by V(H)3 genes, in which V(H) 3-30 (DP-49) was overrepresented. The heavy chain of the two cross-reactive autoantibodies are derived from the 3-07 (DP-54) gene. Three epitope regions on the U1C protein are targeted by these antibodies. (1) Four U1C specific antibodies recognize an N-terminal region of U1C in which amino acids 30-63 are essential for recognition, (2) two antibodies recognize only the complete U1C protein, and (3) two cross-reactive and one U1C specific antibody recognize the C-terminal domain in which amino acids 98-126 are critical for recognition. The two cross-reactive antibodies (K 11 and K 15) recognize the proline-rich region of the U1C protein (amino acids 98 126) and cross-react with proline-rich regions in Sm-B/B' (amino acids 163-184) and U1A (amino acids 187-204). All 10 antibody fragments are able to immunoprecipitate the native U1snRNP particle. The two cross-reactive antibodies immunoprecipitate the other Sm containing snRNPs as well. Using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy we could show that the major part of the U1C protein is localized within the coiled body structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Identification of peptide sequences that bind the Thomsen-Friedenreich cancer-associated glycoantigen from bacteriophage peptide display libraries.

The goal of this study was to determine if polypeptides that bind specifically to the carcinoma-associated Thomsen-Friedenreich (T) antigen could be isolated from a random peptide bacteriophage display library. T antigen is a carbohydrate antigen that is exposed and immunoreactive on the surfaces of most primary carcinomas and their metastases, while it is masked on normal cells. Tumor-specific surface carbohydrates are often used as markers of cell differentiation and play a role in cell aggregation, which is an important step in the metastatic process. Therefore, peptides that bind and mask T antigen may yield useful carbohydrate-specific probes and provide insight into carbohydrate-mediated tumor-cell aggregation. A 15-amino acid random peptide bacteriophage display library was screened for polypeptides that exhibited high specificity to two glycoproteins which display T antigen on their surfaces. The results suggest that synthetic peptides identified from the bacteriophage display library have high affinities (Kd approximately 1 microM) and specificities for proteins and human tumor cells which present T antigen. Thus, random bacteriophage peptide display libraries may be a rich source of sequences that bind to carbohydrate antigen structures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Discovery of the breast cancer gene BASE using a molecular approach to enrich for genes encoding membrane and secreted proteins.

To identify unknown membrane proteins that could be used as targets for breast and prostate cancer immunotherapies and secreted proteins to be used as diagnostic markers, a cDNA library was generated from membrane-associated polyribosomal RNA derived from four breast cancer cell lines, one normal breast cell line, and a prostate cancer cell line. The membrane-associated polyribosomal cDNA library was subtracted with RNA from normal brain, liver, lung, kidney, and muscle. Of the 15,581 clones sequenced from the subtracted cDNA library, sequences from 10,506 clones map to known genes, but 5,075 sequences, representing 3,181 unique transcripts, are not associated with known genes. As one example, we experimentally investigated expression of a previously uncharacterized breast cancer gene that encodes a secreted protein designated BASE (breast cancer and salivary gland expression). BASE is expressed in many breast cancers but not in essential normal tissues including the five organs used for subtraction. Further analysis of this library should yield additional gene products of use in the diagnosis or treatment of breast or prostate cancer.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1998

Structural characterization and optimization of antibody-selected phage library mimotopes of an antigen associated with autoimmune recurrent thrombosis.

The presence of high titers of anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA's) of autoimmune origin, which are known to bind to plasma beta2-glycoprotein I (aka apolipoprotein H), correlates clinically with autoimmune recurrent thrombosis. Soluble beta2-glycoprotein I binds to solid-phase ACA (immobilized on a surface plasmon resonance chip) with a Kd of 1.4 microM, but if the reactants are reversed and beta2-glycoprotein I is on the solid-phase support, then the Kd is 52 nM. This 27-fold difference in affinity reflects the avidity/entropic advantage obtained for an antibody binding to an antigen that is made multivalent because it is attached to a solid phase. A mimotope of this antigen, selected from a phage display peptide library screen with an ACA, has been shown to bind to solid-phase ACA as a phage, using surface plasmon resonance. This peptide is representative of the motif from 37 peptides obtained in a previously reported phage library screen with this ACA (1). A synthetic version of this peptide, referred to as P4, has the sequence: A1G2P3C4I5L6L7A8R9D10R11C12P13G14, and binds to its selecting antibody with a Kd of 42 nM. NMR data indicate that proline-13 is present in both cis and trans configurations, and that these two geometries dramatically affect the overall tertiary structure of the molecule. The peptide lacking this proline binds severalfold better to the ACA, consistent with at least one of these structures having low affinity for binding ACA. Replacement of the arginine-9 position with a proline decreases binding affinity to ACA 10-fold. Another phage library-selected peptide has a proline in position 9, but also has a leucine in position 5, instead of isoleucine. Since its affinity for ACA is nearly as good as that for peptide P4, the phage library screening must have selected for a non-beta-branched amino acid in this position to compensate for the adverse effects of the arginine-9 to proline-9 substitution. The solution structure of a modified version of the antibody-selected phage peptide P4 with the central proline was determined. This peptide has one turn comprised of Ala-Pro-Asp-Arg, with the proline peptide bond in the cis configuration, and another turn that contains the disulfide and adjacent residues. If the disulfide is replaced by a thioether, and the central proline by an alpha-methyl proline, in an attempt to make the peptide more biologically stable, there is little adverse effect on affinity for ACA. The thioether bond/turn is fairly well defined with a Calpha to Calpha separation of 4.9 +/- 0.8 A. The alpha-methyl proline adopts the trans configuration, and this central Ala-(alpha-methyl-Pro)-Asp-Arg turn adopts a distorted type I turn conformation with a probable i to i+3 hydrogen bond. Modeling studies suggest that the proline peptide bond configuration switched from cis to trans in the presence of the alpha-methyl group on proline because of steric hindrance with the beta-carbon of the preceding residue. Overall, this peptidomimetic molecule is structurally very similar to the peptide with natural amino acids, with an rmsd difference of only 1.37 A, when comparing backbone atoms.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗
PubMed1967

The MLA exchange: a report.

This report on the MLA Exchange presents a history of the Exchange, an outline of its operation, an explanation of why it operates, information on the cost to the Association and its members of acquiring and mailing pieces through the MLA Exchange, and a description of the duties of the Exchange Committee. MLA members are asked to submit suggestions to the Committee for consideration and to abide by the Procedures Manual in submitting lists of duplicates, requesting duplicates, assigning and shipping duplicates, acknowledging receipts, and repaying postage.

Book Collecting↗
PubMed2003

New inhibitors of scrapie-associated prion protein formation in a library of 2000 drugs and natural products.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal, untreatable neurodegenerative diseases associated with the accumulation of a disease-specific form of prion protein (PrP) in the brain. One approach to TSE therapeutics is the inhibition of PrP accumulation. Indeed, many inhibitors of the accumulation of PrP associated with scrapie (PrP(Sc)) in scrapie-infected mouse neuroblastoma cells (ScN(2)a) also have antiscrapie activity in rodents. To expedite the search for potential TSE therapeutic agents, we have developed a high-throughput screening assay for PrP(Sc) inhibitors using ScN(2)a cells in a 96-well format. A library of 2000 drugs and natural products was screened in ScN(2)a cells infected with scrapie strain RML (Chandler) or 22L. Forty compounds were found to have concentrations causing 50% inhibition (IC(50)s) of PrP(Sc) accumulation of <or=10 microM against both strains. Seventeen had IC(50)s of <or=1 microM against both strains. Several classes of compounds were represented in the 17 most potent inhibitors, including naturally occurring polyphenols (e.g., tannic acid and tea extracts), phenothiazines, antihistamines, statins, and antimalarial compounds. These 17 compounds were also evaluated in a solid-phase cell-free hamster PrP conversion assay. Only the polyphenols inhibited the cell-free reaction, and their IC(50)s were near 100 nM. Several of the new PrP(Sc) inhibitors cross the blood-brain barrier and thus have potential to be effective after TSE infection reaches the brain. The fact that many are either approved human drugs or edible natural products should facilitate their use in animal testing and clinical trials.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A genome-wide overexpression screen in yeast for small-molecule target identification.

We describe a multicopy gene suppression screen of drug sensitivity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that facilitates the identification of cellular targets of small molecules. An array of yeast transformants harboring a multicopy yeast genomic library was screened for resistance to growth inhibitors. Comparison of array growth patterns for several such inhibitors allowed the differentiation of general and molecule-specific genetic suppressors. Specific resistance to phenylaminopyrimidine (1), an inhibitor identified from a kinase-directed library, was associated with the overexpression of Pkc1 and a subset of downstream kinases. Components of two other pathways (pheromone response/filamentous growth and Pho85 kinase) that genetically interact with the PKC1 MAPK signaling cascade were also identified. Consistent with the suppression screen, inhibitor 1 bound to Pkc1 in yeast cell lysate and inhibited its activity in vitro. These results demonstrate the utility of this approach for the rapid deconvolution of small-molecule targets.

Drug Evaluation, Preclinical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Monitoring large-scale changes in transcript abundance in drought- and salt-stressed barley.

Responses to drought and salinity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Tokak) were monitored by microarray hybridization of 1463 DNA elements derived from cDNA libraries of 6 and 10 h drought-stressed plants. Functional identities indicated that many cDNAs in these libraries were associated with drought stress. About 38% of the transcripts were novel and functionally unknown. Hybridization experiments were analyzed for drought- and salinity-regulated sequences, with significant changes defined as a deviation from the control exceeding 2.5-fold. Responses of transcripts showed stress-dependent expression patterns and time courses. Nearly 15% of all transcripts were either up- or down-regulated under drought stress, while NaCl led to a change in 5% of the transcripts (24 h, 150 mM NaCl). Transcripts that showed significant up-regulation under drought stress are exemplified by jasmonate-responsive, metallothionein-like, late-embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) and ABA-responsive proteins. Most drastic down-regulation in a category was observed for photosynthesis-related functions. Up-regulation under both drought and salt stress was restricted to ESTs for metallothionein-like and LEA proteins, while increases in ubiquitin-related transcripts characterized salt stress. A number of functionally unknown transcripts from cDNA libraries of drought-stressed plants showed up-regulation by drought but down-regulation by salt stress, documenting how precisely transcript profiles report different growth conditions and environments.

Disasters↗