Claims
- 1. A method for evaluating cells in relation to their neoplastic state by determining the presence of a family of target enzymes having a common catalytic activity and having a common functionality in proximity to an active site associated with said common catalytic activity, said method comprising:
combining the protein components of said cells with at least one affinity based probe characterized by preferentially binding to an active site of a family of enzymes and comprising a detectable entity, a reactive functionality for bonding to a protein functionality in spatial proximity to said active site, and a linker, each probe characterized by comprising the same reactive functionality group specific for said target enzymes, whereby said probes react with any target enzymes present in said cell; and determining the presence of the conjugate of each of said target enzymes with said probes by means of said detectable entity to obtain a profile of said target enzymes in said cell as said evaluation.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said profile is compared to profiles obtained with other cells.
- 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said enzymes are serine/threonine hydrolases and said reactive functionality and recognition element comprise a fluorophosphonyl group.
- 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said linker is an alkylene, oxyalkylene or poly(oxyalkylene) linker.
- 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining comprises:
protease digestion of said conjugate to produce fragments; and mass spectrometric analysis of at least one of said fragments.
- 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation is as to invasiveness, aggressiveness, hormone response or origin.
- 7. A method for evaluating cells in relation to their neoplastic state by determining the presence of a family of target serine/threonine hydrolases having a common functionality in proximity to an active site associated with a common catalytic activity, said method comprising:
combining the protein components of said cells with at least one affinity based probe characterized by: preferentially binding to an active site of said family of hydrolases, comprising a detectable entity consisting of a ligand or fluorescer, a fluorophosphonyl group, and a linker, whereby said probes react with any target hydrolases present in said cell; and determining the presence of the conjugate of each of said target hydrolases with said probes by means of said detectable entity to obtain a profile of said target hydrolases in said cell as said evaluation.
- 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said profile is compared to profiles obtained with other cells.
- 9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said linker is an alkylene, oxyalkylene or poly(oxyalkylene) linker.
- 10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said determining comprises:
protease digestion of said conjugate to produce fragments; and mass spectrometric analysis of at least one of said fragments.
- 11. A method according to claim 7, wherein said probe comprises a fluorescer and each of said conjugates is characterized by electrophoresis.
- 12. A method according to claim 7, wherein said target hydrolases comprise at least one of complement component 1s, PAF acetyl hydrolase isoform 1b, beta-subunit, FAAH, PPT-2, butyrylcholinesterase, p25, cathepsin A, PS_PL1, uPA, esterase D, KIAA 1363, PAF-AH 2, p26, fatty acid synthase, APH, DPP8, lysophospholipase 1, alpha/beta hydrolase, peroxisomal long-chain acyl CoA thioesterase or angiotensinase C.
- 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said cells are melanoma cells.
- 14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said cells are breast epithelial cells.
- 15. A method for evaluating cells in relation to their neoplastic state by determining the presence of at least three of a family of target enzymes having a common catalytic activity and having a common functionality in proximity to an active site associated with said common catalytic activity, said method comprising:
identifying the presence in said cells as compared to a control cell of at least three members of the group consisting of complement component 1s, PAF acetyl hydrolase isoform 1b, beta-subunit, FAAH, PPT-2, butyrylcholinesterase, p25, cathepsin A, PS_PL1, active uPA, esterase D, KIAA 1363, PAF-AH 2, p26, fatty acid synthase, APH, DPP8, lysophospholipase 1, alpha/beta hydrolase, peroxisomal long-chain acyl CoA thioesterase and angiotensinase C, wherein at least one of said three is FAAH, active uPA or KIAA 1363 whereby said neoplastic state is evaluated.
- 16. A composition comprising purified KIAA1363 characterized by being a serine/threonine hydrolase, present in melanoma and breast cancer cells, and comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.
- 17. A cluster analysis obtained from the method of evaluation according to claim 1.
- 18. A cluster analysis obtained from the method of evaluation according to claim 7.
- 19. An electrophoretic gel obtained by separating the conjugates obtained according to the method of claim 1.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Serial No. 60/334,426, filed Nov. 29, 2001, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
[0002] This invention was made in part with government support under grants from the NCI of the NIH, the California Breast Cancer Research Program, ActivX Biosciences and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology. The government may have certain rights in this invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60334426 |
Nov 2001 |
US |