Proteome Sciences results in big news CJD + Stroke tests

Here is another recently published patent application (18 December 2003). Another useful tool for the toolkit? I presume this might be quite important since one of the major problems with 2D gels and other techniques is the separation and detection of insoluble (in aqueous mediums) or partially insoluble peptides and proteins.


PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION

(11) WO 03/104813 (13) A2
(21) PCT/GB03/02451
(22) 06 June 2003 (06.06.2003)
(25) ENG (26) ENG
(31) PCT/GB02/02601 (32) 07 June 2002 (07.06.2002) GB
(31) PCT/GB02/02778 (32) 07 June 2002 (07.06.2002) GB
(31) 02257095.6 (32) 14 October 2002 (14.10.2002) EP
(43) 18 December 2003 (18.12.2003)
(51)7 G01N 33/68
(54)

CHARACTERISING POLYPEPTIDES
(71) XZILLION GMBH & CO. KG Industriepark Hochst, Building G865, D-65926 Frankfurt am Main; (DE). [DE/DE].(for all designated States except US) PROTEOME SCIENCES PLC Coveham House, Downside Bridge Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3EP; (GB). [GB/GB].

Abstract

Provided is a method of solubilising a polypeptide, which polypeptide is insoluble or sparingly soluble in an aqueous medium, which method comprises either: (a) contacting the polypeptide with a sequence specific cleavage agent in a non-aqueous medium, to produce a product which is soluble in an aqueous medium; or (b) contacting the polypeptide with a dicarboxylic anhydride to modify one or more amino groups in the polypeptide, to produce a product which is soluble in an aqueous medium. Also provided is a relational database comprising: (a) a table of parent polypeptide sequences; and (b) a table of peptides, which peptides are expected products of putative reactions of polypeptides from the table of polypeptides; wherein each of the parent polypeptide sequences is relatable by the database to one or more peptides from the table of peptides