Monoclonal Antibodies against Human Flightless-I Protein

Category: Biology and Medicine

Reference Number: 00368

Description

The Flightless-I Protein was originally identified in the vinegar fly Drosophila but it is conserved in most multicellular organisms, including humans. Studies have shown that mutations in this gene result either in abnormal muscle function or in arrested development and embryonic lethality.

The protein sequence indicates that Flightless-I may be a regulator of the cytoskeleton and may have an important role during cell division. Adding to its essential role in early development, the protein is also involved in general cell function and muscle function. Gelsolin, a close relative of Flightless-I, shows differential expression in several tumor cell lines, indicating that this class of actin-regulators may have a pivotal role during neoplastic transformation and the associated morphological changes at the cellular level.

Many diseases and other medical conditions are the result of mutations. Aside from the physical and emotional toll of these problems, the financial costs are significant. For example, cancer, the second leading cause of death in the U.S., totaled an estimated $180.2 billion in health costs for the year 2000. Birth defects, another result of cell mutations, affect more than 150,000 babies born each year and cost approximately $244,000 for each new case.

The Flightless-I monoclonal antibody probes were developed at the University of Hawai’i so that researchers could detect these proteins in a variety of tissues in high throughput screens. Studies based on the Flightless-I Protein may provide inroads to better understand dynamic aspects of cell structure, which may lead to new concepts in the areas of developmental abnormalities and neoplastic transformation. These new antibody probes complement contemporary proteomics approaches and potentially represent powerful new analytical tools for the fight against cancer, birth defects, and other diseases or medical conditions involving changes of cytoskeletal structure and dynamics.

Applications

• Biomedical research, especially cancer, cellular regulation, and muscle development
• Diagnostic purposes in which the level and sequence of this protein are altered by mutation, neoplastic transformation, or infection

Main Advantages

• Only known monoclonal antibodies against the Flightless-I Protein
• Enhance ability to manipulate cell structure and function
• Provide opportunity to create therapeutic antibodies to manipulate and regulate Flightless-I Protein

Inventor(s)

Heinz G. de Couet
University of Hawai’i, Department of Zoology

Contact Information

For licensing information, please contact Gaylene Anderson at gaylenea@hawaii.edu

For all other inquiries, please write to:

Office of Technology Transfer & Economic Development
University of Hawai’i
2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 280
Honolulu, HI 96822