NCI selects Integral Molecular to map epitopes for monoclonal antibodies

Oct 1 2009

Integral Molecular, Inc. has been selected by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to map epitopes for monoclonal antibodies directed against cancer biomarkers. Protein targets of interest to the Clinical Cancer Proteomics community will be analyzed using Shotgun Mutagenesis Mapping technology to identify amino acids that are essential for antibody binding, allowing the discovery and characterization of cancer-specific biomarkers. The $150,000 contract will be fully funded by the NCI.

During the first phase of this project, Integral Molecular will epitope map antibodies generated against claudin membrane proteins involved in several types of cancer. “We are thrilled that Integral Molecular has been selected to map epitopes that will expand our understanding of cancer biomarkers,” said Principal Investigator Cheryl Paes. “The application of Shotgun Mutagenesis Mapping technology to protein targets that are important in oncology will enable the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies aimed at specific disease states.”

Shotgun Mutagenesis is a novel strategy for mapping antibody epitopes by rapidly evaluating the effects of point mutations across an entire target protein. Using a patented high-throughput expression method, thousands of point mutations are concurrently evaluated for functional protein activity. Shotgun Mutagenesis Mapping identifies both linear and conformational epitopes on target proteins expressed in eukaryotic cells and in their native conformation. This approach is well suited to cancer biomarkers, many of which are complex membrane proteins that are resistant to direct structural analysis.

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