A small molecule which specifically blocks the interaction of Rictor and mTOR was identified utilizing a high-throughput yeast two-hybrid screen and evaluated as a potential inhibitor of mTORC2 activity in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In vitro, CID613034 inhibited mTORC2 kinase activity at submicromolar concentrations and in cellular assays specifically inhibited phosphorylation of mTORC2 sub...

In F1F0-ATP synthase, the subunit b2delta complex comprises the peripheral stator bound to subunit a in F0 and to the alpha3beta3 hexamer of F1. During catalysis, ATP turnover is coupled via an elastic rotary mechanism to proton translocation. Thus, the stator has to withstand the generated rotor torque, which implies tight interactions of the stator and rotor subunits. To quantitatively charac...

We have investigated the application of a modified, heterogeneous, competitive enzyme immunoassay for the continuous measurement of small analytes in a medium stream. The analytical system contains two antibodies that are immobilized on spatially separated areas, one binding the analyte (Ab1) and the other binding the enzyme (Ab2). An analyte-enzyme conjugate serves as signal generator. The ana...

Neuroblastoma treatment with chimeric antidisialoganglioside GD2 Ab ch14.18 showed objective antitumor responses. Production of anti-idiotypic Abs (Ab2) against ch14.18 (Ab1) in some cases was positively correlated with a more favorable prognosis. According to Jerne's network theory, a subset of anti-idiotypic Abs (Ab2beta) carries an "internal image" of the Ag and induces Abs (Ab3) against the...

Human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs) can be easily isolated and their plasticity has been well characterized. Several TGF-β superfamily ligands can direct hASCs towards chondrocytes. However, these ligands are difficult to purify and expensive. We have developed a library of Activin/BMP2 chimeric ligands (AB2 ligands) by systematically mixing their sequence segments and have tested their ch...

The HIV-1 envelope protein harbors several conserved epitopes that are recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies. One of these neutralizing sites, the MPER region of gp41, is targeted by one of the most potent and broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody, 2F5. Different vaccination strategies and a lot of efforts have been undertaken to induce MPER neutralizing antibodies but little success...

A group of highly fluorescent 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives (BH0-BH3), including two fluorene derivatives (AB2 and C01) were synthesized and characterized. The electrochemical, spectroscopic, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) properties of the compounds were determined. Benzothiadiazole derivatives BH1, BH2, and BH3 show reversible oxidation and reduction waves and produce stron...

Since glucose biosensors are one of the most popular and widely used point-of-care testing devices, a novel electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for protein biomarkers has been developed based on a glucose detection strategy. In this study, α-fetoprotein (AFP) was used as the target protein. An electrochemical ELISA system was constructed using anti-AFP antibodies immobiliz...

We have generated and characterized a murine monoclonal anti-idiotype (Id) antibody, designated 11D10, which biologically and antigenically mimics a distinct and specific epitope of the high molecular weight human milk fat globule primarily expressed by human breast and some other tumor cells at high density. This epitope is identified by mAb BrE1, which was used as the immunizing antibody or A...