Construction and Application of a Yeast Surface-displayed Human cDNA Library to Identify Post-translational Modification-dependent Protein-Protein Interactions

Phage display and other peptide display technologies

Phage display technology, which is based on the presentation of peptide sequences on the surface of bacteriophage virions, was developed over 30 years ago. Improvements in phage display systems have allowed us to employ this method in numerous fields of biotechnology, as diverse as immunological and biomedical applications, the formation of novel materials and many others. The importance of phage display platforms was recognized by awarding the Nobel Prize in 2018 "for the phage display of peptides and antibodies". In contrast to many review articles concerning specific applications of phage display systems published in recent years, we present an overview of this technology, including a comparison of various display systems, their advantages and disadvantages, and examples of applications in various fields of science, medicine, and the broad sense of biotechnology. Other peptide display technologies, which employ bacterial, yeast and mammalian cells, as well as eukaryotic viruses and cell-free systems, are also discussed. These powerful methods are still being developed and improved; thus, novel sophisticated tools based on phage display and other peptide display systems are constantly emerging, and new opportunities to solve various scientific, medical and technological problems can be expected to become available in the near future.

Quantitative Yeast-Yeast Two Hybrid for the Discovery and Binding Affinity Estimation of Protein-Protein Interactions

Quantifying the binding affinity of protein-protein interactions is important for elucidating connections within biochemical signaling pathways, as well as characterization of binding proteins isolated from combinatorial libraries. We describe a quantitative yeast-yeast two-hybrid (qYY2H) system that not only enables the discovery of specific protein-protein interactions but also efficient, quantitative estimation of their binding affinities (K_D). In qYY2H, the bait and prey proteins are expressed as yeast cell surface fusions using yeast surface display. We developed a semiempirical framework for estimating the K_D of monovalent bait-prey interactions, using measurements of bait-prey yeast-yeast binding, which is mediated by multivalent interactions between yeast-displayed bait and prey. Using qYY2H, we identified interaction partners of SMAD3 and the tandem WW domains of YAP from a cDNA library and characterized their binding affinities. Finally, we showed that qYY2H could also quantitatively evaluate binding interactions mediated by post-translational modifications on the bait protein.

Peptide-based Interaction Proteomics

Protein-protein interactions are often mediated by short linear motifs (SLiMs) that are located in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of proteins. Interactions mediated by SLiMs are notoriously difficult to study, and many functionally relevant interactions likely remain to be uncovered. Recently, pull-downs with synthetic peptides in combination with quantitative mass spectrometry emerged as a powerful screening approach to study protein-protein interactions mediated by SLiMs. Specifically, arrays of synthetic peptides immobilized on cellulose membranes provide a scalable means to identify the interaction partners of many peptides in parallel. In this minireview we briefly highlight the relevance of SLiMs for protein-protein interactions, outline existing screening technologies, discuss unique advantages of peptide-based interaction screens and provide practical suggestions for setting up such peptide-based screens.

Yeast-based assays for detecting protein-protein/drug interactions and their inhibitors

Understanding cellular processes at molecular levels in health and disease requires the knowledge of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). In line with this, identification of PPIs at genome-wide scale is highly valuable to understand how different cellular pathways are interconnected, and it eventually facilitates designing effective drugs against certain PPIs. Furthermore, investigating PPIs at a small laboratory scale for deciphering certain biochemical pathways has been demanded for years. In this regard, yeast two hybrid system (Y2HS) has proven an extremely useful tool to discover novel PPIs, while Y2HS derivatives and novel yeast-based assays are contributing significantly to identification of protein-drug/inhibitor interaction at both large- and small-scale set-ups. These methods have been evolving over time to provide more accurate, reproducible and quantitative results. Here we briefly describe different yeast-based assays for identification of various protein-protein/drug/inhibitor interactions and their specific applications, advantages, shortcomings, and improvements. The broad range of yeast-based assays facilitates application of the most suitable method(s) for each specific need.

Identification of Novel Macropinocytosing Human Antibodies by Phage Display and High-Content Analysis

Internalizing antibodies have great potential for the development of targeted therapeutics. Antibodies that internalize via the macropinocytosis pathway are particularly promising since macropinocytosis is capable of mediating rapid, bulk uptake and is selectively upregulated in many cancers. We hereby describe a method for identifying antibodies that internalize via macropinocytosis by screening phage-displayed single-chain antibody selection outputs with an automated fluorescent microscopy-based high-content analysis platform. Furthermore, this method can be similarly applied to other endocytic pathways if other fluorescent, pathway-specific, soluble markers are available.

Proteome-wide Identification of Novel Ceramide-binding Proteins by Yeast Surface cDNA Display and Deep Sequencing

Although the bioactive sphingolipid ceramide is an important cell signaling molecule, relatively few direct ceramide-interacting proteins are known. We used an approach combining yeast surface cDNA display and deep sequencing technology to identify novel proteins binding directly to ceramide. We identified 234 candidate ceramide-binding protein fragments and validated binding for 20. Most (17) bound selectively to ceramide, although a few (3) bound to other lipids as well. Several novel ceramide-binding domains were discovered, including the EF-hand calcium-binding motif, the heat shock chaperonin-binding motif STI1, the SCP2 sterol-binding domain, and the tetratricopeptide repeat region motif. Interestingly, four of the verified ceramide-binding proteins (HPCA, HPCAL1, NCS1, and VSNL1) and an additional three candidate ceramide-binding proteins (NCALD, HPCAL4, and KCNIP3) belong to the neuronal calcium sensor family of EF hand-containing proteins. We used mutagenesis to map the ceramide-binding site in HPCA and to create a mutant HPCA that does not bind to ceramide. We demonstrated selective binding to ceramide by mammalian cell-produced wild type but not mutant HPCA. Intriguingly, we also identified a fragment from prostaglandin D2synthase that binds preferentially to ceramide 1-phosphate. The wide variety of proteins and domains capable of binding to ceramide suggests that many of the signaling functions of ceramide may be regulated by direct binding to these proteins. Based on the deep sequencing data, we estimate that our yeast surface cDNA display library covers ∼60% of the human proteome and our selection/deep sequencing protocol can identify target-interacting protein fragments that are present at extremely low frequency in the starting library. Thus, the yeast surface cDNA display/deep sequencing approach is a rapid, comprehensive, and flexible method for the analysis of protein-ligand interactions, particularly for the study of non-protein ligands.

Identification of Novel Protein-Ligand Interactions by Exon Microarray Analysis of Yeast Surface Displayed cDNA Library Selection Outputs

Yeast surface display is widely utilized to screen large libraries for proteins or protein fragments with specific binding properties. We have previously constructed and utilized yeast surface displayed human cDNA libraries to identify protein fragments that bind to various target ligands. Conventional approaches employ monoclonal screening and sequencing of polyclonal outputs that have been enriched for binding to a target molecule by several rounds of affinity-based selection. Frequently, a small number of clones will dominate the selection output, making it difficult to comprehensively identify potentially important interactions due to low representation in the selection output. We have developed a novel method to address this problem. By analyzing selection outputs using high-density human exon microarrays, the full potential of selection output diversity can be revealed in one experiment. FACS-based selection using yeast surface displayed human cDNA libraries combined with exon microarray analysis of the selection outputs is a powerful way of rapidly identifying protein fragments with affinity for any soluble ligand that can be fluorescently detected, including small biological molecules and drugs. In this report we present protocols for exon microarray-based analysis of yeast surface display human cDNA library selection outputs.

Combining Phage and Yeast Cell Surface Antibody Display to Identify Novel Cell Type-Selective Internalizing Human Monoclonal Antibodies

Using phage antibody display, large libraries can be generated and screened to identify monoclonal antibodies with affinity for target antigens. However, while library size and diversity is an advantage of the phage display method, there is limited ability to quantitatively enrich for specific binding properties such as affinity. One way of overcoming this limitation is to combine the scale of phage display selections with the flexibility and quantitativeness of FACS-based yeast surface display selections. In this chapter we describe protocols for generating yeast surface antibody display libraries using phage antibody display selection outputs as starting material and FACS-based enrichment of target antigen-binding clones from these libraries. These methods should be widely applicable for the identification of monoclonal antibodies with specific binding properties.

Utilizing Yeast Surface Human Proteome Display Libraries to Identify Small Molecule-Protein Interactions

The identification of proteins that interact with small bioactive molecules is a critical but often difficult and time-consuming step in understanding cellular signaling pathways or molecular mechanisms of drug action. Numerous methods for identifying small molecule-interacting proteins have been developed and utilized, including affinity-based purification followed by mass spectrometry analysis, protein microarrays, phage display, and three-hybrid approaches. Although all these methods have been used successfully, there remains a need for additional techniques for analyzing small molecule-protein interactions. A promising method for identifying small molecule-protein interactions is affinity-based selection of yeast surface-displayed human proteome libraries. Large and diverse libraries displaying human protein fragments on the surface of yeast cells have been constructed and subjected to FACS-based enrichment followed by comprehensive exon microarray-based output analysis to identify protein fragments with affinity for small molecule ligands. In a recent example, a proteome-wide search has been successfully carried out to identify cellular proteins binding to the signaling lipids PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. Known phosphatidylinositide-binding proteins such as pleckstrin homology domains were identified, as well as many novel interactions. Intriguingly, many novel nuclear phosphatidylinositide-binding proteins were discovered. Although the existence of an independent pool of nuclear phosphatidylinositides has been known about for some time, their functions and mechanism of action remain obscure. Thus, the identification and subsequent study of nuclear phosphatidylinositide-binding proteins is expected to bring new insights to this important biological question. Based on the success with phosphatidylinositides, it is expected that the screening of yeast surface-displayed human proteome libraries will be of general use for the discovery of novel small molecule-protein interactions, thus facilitating the study of cellular signaling pathways and mechanisms of drug action or toxicity.

Applications of Yeast Surface Display for Protein Engineering

The method of displaying recombinant proteins on the surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae via genetic fusion to an abundant cell wall protein, a technology known as yeast surface display, or simply, yeast display, has become a valuable protein engineering tool for a broad spectrum of biotechnology and biomedical applications. This review focuses on the use of yeast display for engineering protein affinity, stability, and enzymatic activity. Strategies and examples for each protein engineering goal are discussed. Additional applications of yeast display are also briefly presented, including protein epitope mapping, identification of protein-protein interactions, and uses of displayed proteins in industry and medicine.

Identification of Posttranslational Modification-Dependent Protein Interactions Using Yeast Surface Displayed Human Proteome Libraries

The identification of proteins that interact specifically with posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation is often necessary to understand cellular signaling pathways. Numerous methods for identifying proteins that interact with posttranslational modifications have been utilized, including affinity-based purification and analysis, protein microarrays, phage display, and tethered catalysis. Although these techniques have been used successfully, each has limitations. Recently, yeast surface-displayed human proteome libraries have been utilized to identify protein fragments with affinity for various target molecules, including phosphorylated peptides. When coupled with fluorescently activated cell sorting and high throughput methods for the analysis of selection outputs, yeast surface-displayed human proteome libraries can rapidly and efficiently identify protein fragments with affinity for any soluble ligand that can be fluorescently detected, including posttranslational modifications. In this review we compare the use of yeast surface display libraries to other methods for the identification of interactions between proteins and posttranslational modifications and discuss future applications of the technology.

Protein selection using yeast surface display

Binding proteins are typically isolated from combinatorial libraries of scaffold proteins using one of the many library screening tools available, such as phage display, yeast surface display or mRNA display. A key principle underlying these screening technologies is the establishment of a link between each unique mutant protein and its corresponding genetic code. The mutant proteins binding a desired target species are separated and subsequently identified using the genetic code. In this review, we largely focus on the use of yeast surface display for the isolation of binding proteins from combinatorial libraries. In yeast surface display, the yeast cell links the mutant protein to its coding DNA. Each yeast cell expresses the mutant proteins as fusions to a yeast cell wall protein; the yeast cell also carries plasmid DNA that codes for the mutant protein. Over the years, the yeast surface display platform has emerged as a powerful tool for protein engineering, and has been used in a variety of applications including affinity maturation, epitope mapping and biophysical characterization of proteins. Here we present a broad overview of the yeast surface display system and its applications, and compare it with other contemporary screening platforms. Further, we present detailed protocols for the use of yeast surface display to isolate de novo binding proteins from combinatorial libraries, and subsequent biophysical characterization of binders. These protocols can also be easily modified for affinity maturation of the isolated de novo binders.

Identification and characterization of Ixodes scapularis antigens that elicit tick immunity using yeast surface display

Repeated exposure of rabbits and other animals to ticks results in acquired resistance or immunity to subsequent tick bites and is partially elicited by antibodies directed against tick antigens. In this study we demonstrate the utility of a yeast surface display approach to identify tick salivary antigens that react with tick-immune serum. We constructed an Ixodes scapularis nymphal salivary gland yeast surface display library and screened the library with nymph-immune rabbit sera and identified five salivary antigens. Four of these proteins, designated P8, P19, P23 and P32, had a predicted signal sequence. We generated recombinant (r) P8, P19 and P23 in a Drosophila expression system for functional and immunization studies. rP8 showed anti-complement activity and rP23 demonstrated anti-coagulant activity. Ixodes scapularis feeding was significantly impaired when nymphs were fed on rabbits immunized with a cocktail of rP8, rP19 and rP23, a hall mark of tick-immunity. These studies also suggest that these antigens may serve as potential vaccine candidates to thwart tick feeding.

Identification of protein/target molecule interactions using yeast surface-displayed cDNA libraries

We describe a novel expression cloning method based on screening yeast surface-displayed human cDNA libraries by direct affinity interaction to identify cellular proteins binding to a broad spectrum of target molecules. Being a eukaryote, yeast protein expression pathways are similar to those found in mammalian cells, and therefore, mammalian protein fragments displayed on the yeast cell wall are more likely to be properly folded and functional than proteins displayed using prokaryotic systems. Yeast surface-displayed human cDNA libraries have been successfully used to screen for proteins that bind to posttranslationally modified phosphorylated peptides, small signaling molecule phosphatidylinositides, and monoclonal antibodies. In this article, we describe protocols for using yeast surface-displayed cDNA libraries, coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorting, to select protein fragments with affinity for various target molecules including posttranslationally modified peptides, small signaling molecules, monoclonal phage antibodies, and monoclonal IgG molecules.

Construction of yeast surface-displayed cDNA libraries

Using yeast display, heterologous protein fragments can be efficiently displayed at high copy levels on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall. Yeast display can be used to screen large expressed protein libraries for proteins or protein fragments with specific binding properties. Recently, yeast surface-displayed cDNA libraries have been constructed and used to identify proteins that bind to various target molecules such as peptides, small molecules, and antibodies. Because yeast protein expression pathways are similar to those found in mammalian cells, human protein fragments displayed on the yeast cell wall are likely to be properly folded and functional. Coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorting, yeast surface-displayed cDNA libraries potentially allow the selection of protein fragments or domains with affinity for any soluble molecule that can be fluorescently detected. In this report, we describe protocols for the construction and validation of yeast surface-displayed cDNA libraries using preexisting yeast two-hybrid cDNA libraries as a starting point.

Comprehensive analysis of yeast surface displayed cDNA library selection outputs by exon microarray to identify novel protein-ligand interactions

Phosphatidylinositides are important signaling molecules that interact with a myriad of cellular proteins, many of which remain unidentified. We previously screened a yeast surface displayed human proteome library to identify protein fragments with affinity for the phosphatidylinositides, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate. Much of the diversity in the screened selection outputs was represented by clones present at low frequencies, suggesting that a significant number of additional phosphatidylinositide-binding protein fragments might be present in the selection outputs. In the studies described in this report, we developed a novel cDNA library analysis method and comprehensively analyzed the polyclonal selection outputs from the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate selections using a high-density exon microarray. In addition to the nine previously reported phosphatidylinositide-binding protein fragments, we identified 37 new phosphatidylinositide-binding candidates. Nine of 37 contain known phosphatidylinositide-binding domains, whereas the remaining 28 contain no known phosphatidylinositide-binding domain. We cloned and confirmed phosphatidylinositide binding by fluorescence-activated cell sorting for 17 of these novel candidate protein fragments. Our experiments suggest that phosphatidylinositide binding by these 17 novel protein fragments is dependent on both the inositol phosphate "headgroup" and the lipid "tail." This is in contrast with the PH domain containing fragments we tested, for which the inositol phosphate headgroup was sufficient for binding. The novel PtdIns-binding fragments come from a wide variety of proteins, including splicing factors, transcription factors, a kinase, and a polymerase. Intriguingly, 11 of the phosphatidylinositide-binding protein fragments are from nuclear proteins, including four containing homeobox domains. We found that phosphatidylinositides and double-stranded DNA oligonucleotides derived from homeobox domain target sequences compete for binding to homeobox domain-containing protein fragments, suggesting a possible mechanism for phospholipid-dependent transcriptional regulation. FACS enrichment of target-binding clones in yeast human cDNA display libraries coupled with comprehensive analysis of the selection output by DNA microarray analysis is an effective method for investigating common as well as rare protein interactions. In particular, this method is well suited for the study of small molecule/protein and drug/protein interactions.

Internalizing cancer antibodies from phage libraries selected on tumor cells and yeast-displayed tumor antigens

A number of approaches have been utilized to generate antibodies to cancer cell surface receptors that can be used as potential therapeutics. A number of these therapeutic approaches, including antibody-drug conjugates, immunotoxins, and targeted nucleic acid delivery, require antibodies that not only bind receptor but also undergo internalization into the cell upon binding. We previously reported on the ability to generate cancer cell binding and internalizing antibodies directly from human phage antibody libraries selected for internalization into cancer cell lines. While a number of useful antibodies have been generated using this approach, limitations include the inability to direct the selections to specific antigens and to identify the antigen bound by the antibodies. Here we show that these limitations can be overcome by using yeast-displayed antigens known to be associated with a cell type to select the phage antibody output after several rounds of selection on a mammalian cell line. We used this approach to generate several human phage antibodies to yeast-displayed EphA2 and CD44. The antibodies bound both yeast-displayed and mammalian cell surface antigens, and were endocytosed upon binding to mammalian cells. This approach is generalizable to many mammalian cell surface proteins, results in the generation of functional internalizing antibodies, and does not require antigen expression and purification for antibody generation.

Targeting prostate cancer cells in vivo using a rapidly internalizing novel human single-chain antibody fragment

Human antibodies targeting prostate cancer cell surface epitopes may be useful for imaging and therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the tumor targeting of an internalizing human antibody fragment, a small-size platform, to provide high contrast in a mouse model of human prostate carcinoma.

METHODS

A prostate tumor-targeting single-chain antibody fragment (scFv), UA20, along with a nonbinding control scFv, N3M2, were labeled with (99m)Tc and evaluated for binding and rapid internalization into human prostate tumor cells in vitro and tumor homing in vivo using xenograft models. For the in vitro studies, the labeled UA20 scFv was incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 h with metastatic prostate cancer cells (DU145) to assess the total cellular uptake versus intracellular uptake. For the animal studies, labeled UA20 and N3M2 scFvs were administered to athymic mice implanted subcutaneously with DU145 cells. Mice were imaged with small-animal SPECT/CT with concomitant biodistribution at 1 and 3 h after injection.

RESULTS

The UA20 scFv was labeled in 55%-65% yield and remained stable in phosphate buffer within 24 h. The labeled UA20 scFv was taken up specifically by prostate tumor cells. Internalization was rapid, because incubation at 37 degrees C for less than 1 h resulted in 93% internalization of total cell-associated scFvs. In animal studies, SPECT/CT showed significant tumor uptake as early as 1 h after injection. At 3 h after injection, tumor uptake was 4.4 percentage injected dose per gram (%ID/g), significantly greater than all organs or tissues studied (liver, 2.7 %ID/g; other organs or tissues, <1 %ID/g), except the kidneys (81.4 %ID/g), giving tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle ratios of 12:1 and 70:1, respectively. In contrast, the control antibody exhibited a tumor uptake of only 0.26 %ID/g, similar to that of muscle and fat. Tumor-specific targeting was evidenced by reduced tumor uptake of nearly 70% on administration of a 10-fold excess of unlabeled UA20 scFv. Kidney uptake was nonspecific, consistent with the route of excretion by scFvs.

CONCLUSION

The UA20 scFv showed rapid and specific internalization in prostate tumor cells in vitro and accumulation in prostate tumor xenografts in vivo, demonstrating the potential for future development for prostate cancer imaging and targeted therapy.

Human antibodies targeting cell surface antigens overexpressed by the hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer cells: ICAM-1 is a tumor antigen that mediates prostate cancer cell invasion

Transition from hormone-sensitive to hormone-refractory metastatic tumor types poses a major challenge for prostate cancer treatment. Tumor antigens that are differentially expressed during this transition are likely to play important roles in imparting prostate cancer cells with the ability to grow in a hormone-deprived environment and to metastasize to distal sites such as the bone and thus, are likely targets for therapeutic intervention. To identify those molecules and particularly cell surface antigens that accompany this transition, we studied the changes in cell surface antigenic profiles between a hormone-sensitive prostate cancer line LNCaP and its hormone-refractory derivative C4-2B, using an antibody library-based affinity proteomic approach. We selected a naïve phage antibody display library to identify human single-chain antibodies that bind specifically to C4-2B but not LNCaP. Using mass spectrometry, we identified one of the antibody-targeted antigens as the ICAM-1/CD54/human rhinovirus receptor. Recombinant IgG1 derived from this single-chain antibody binds to a neutralizing epitope of ICAM-1 and blocks C4-2B cell invasion through extracellular matrix in vitro. ICAM-1 is thus differentially expressed during the transition of the hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cell line LNCaP to its hormone-refractory derivative C4-2B, plays an important role in imparting the C4-2B line with the ability to invade, and may therefore be a target for therapeutic intervention.

Identification of MCAM/CD146 as the target antigen of a human monoclonal antibody that recognizes both epithelioid and sarcomatoid types of mesothelioma

The prognosis for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma is generally poor, and currently available treatments are usually ineffective. Therapies that specifically target tumor cells hold much promise for the treatment of cancers that are resistant to current approaches. We have previously selected phage antibody display libraries on mesothelioma cell lines to identify a panel of internalizing human single chain (scFv) antibodies that target mesothelioma-associated, clinically represented cell surface antigens and further exploited the internalizing function of these scFvs to specifically deliver lethal doses of liposome-encapsulated small molecule drugs to both epithelioid and sarcomatous subtypes of mesothelioma cells. Here, we report the identification of MCAM/MUC18/CD146 as the surface antigen bound by one of the mesothelioma-targeting scFvs using a novel cloning strategy based on yeast surface human proteome display. Immunohistochemical analysis of mesothelioma tissue microarrays confirmed that MCAM is widely expressed by both epithelioid and sarcomatous types of mesothelioma tumor cells in situ but not by normal mesothelial cells. In addition, quantum dot-labeled anti-MCAM scFv targets primary meosthelioma cells in tumor fragment spheroids cultured ex vivo. As the first step in evaluating the therapeutic potential of MCAM-targeting antibodies, we performed single-photon emission computed tomography studies using the anti-MCAM scFv and found that it recognizes mesothelioma organotypic xenografts in vivo. The combination of phage antibody library selection on tumor cells and rapid target antigen identification by screening the yeast surface-displayed human proteome could be a powerful method for mapping the targetable tumor cell surface epitope space.

Interactome of ErbB4 unveiled

MacBeath and colleagues (Kaushansky et al., 2008) use a protein array technology to find binding partners of ErbB4 in a genome-wide and quantitative fashion, shedding new light on how ErbB4 initiates cellular signaling events and why ErbB4 is not a potent oncogene.

Targeted drug delivery to mesothelioma cells using functionally selected internalizing human single-chain antibodies

Mesothelioma is a malignancy of the mesothelium and current treatments are generally ineffective. One promising area of anticancer drug development is to explore tumor susceptibility to targeted therapy. To achieve efficient, targeted intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents to mesothelioma cells, we selected a naive human single-chain (scFv) phage antibody display library directly on the surface of live mesothelioma cells to identify internalizing antibodies that target mesothelioma-associated cell surface antigens. We have identified a panel of internalizing scFvs that bind to mesothelioma cell lines derived from both epithelioid (M28) and sarcomatous (VAMT-1) types of this disease. Most importantly, these antibodies stain mesothelioma cells in situ and therefore define a panel of clinically represented tumor antigens. We have further exploited the internalizing function of these scFvs to achieve targeted intracellular drug delivery to mesothelioma cells. We showed that scFv-targeted immunoliposomes were efficiently and specifically taken up by both epithelioid and sarcomatous mesothelioma cells, but not control cells, and immunoliposomes encapsulating the small-molecule drug topotecan caused targeted killing of both types of mesothelioma cells in vitro.

Interrogating Yeast Surface-displayed Human Proteome to Identify Small Molecule-binding Proteins

Identifying proteins that interact with small molecules is often a challenging step in understanding cellular signaling pathways or molecular mechanisms of drug action. In this report, we describe the construction of libraries displaying human protein fragments on the surface of yeast cells and demonstrate the utility of these libraries for the study of small molecule/protein interactions. The libraries were used to select protein fragments with affinity for the phosphatidylinositides phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3). We recovered cDNA inserts encoding pleckstrin homology domains, a phosphotyrosine-binding domain, and a fragment of apolipoprotein H. The pleckstrin homology and phosphotyrosine-binding domains are known phosphatidylinositide-binding domains, demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach. Binding of apolipoprotein H to PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 has not been reported previously and thus represents novel interactions. We expect that this method will be generally applicable to the study of small molecule/protein interactions and may facilitate the study of cellular signaling pathways and mechanisms of drug action or toxicity.

Yeast surface display for protein engineering and characterization

Yeast surface display is being employed to engineer desirable properties into proteins for a broad variety of applications. Labeling with soluble ligands enables rapid and quantitative analysis of yeast-displayed libraries by flow cytometry, while cell-surface selections allow screening of libraries with insoluble or even as-yet-uncharacterized binding targets. In parallel, the utilization of yeast surface display for protein characterization, including in particular the mapping of functional epitopes mediating protein–protein interactions, represents a significant recent advance.