[Screening and identification of human telomerase reverse transcriptase epitopes from random phage display peptide library].
OBJECTIVE
To identify and characterize the epitopes of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT).


METHODS
A random phage displayed dodecapeptide library was screened with anti-hTERT antibody. The selected phage clones were identified by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, anti-hTERT antibody blocking assay and competitive inhibition assay.


RESULTS
After 3 rounds of screening, 13 of 24 randomly selected phage clones were identified as positive clones that could specifically bind to anti-hTERT antibody but not to normal mouse IgG. Amino acid sequences deduced from DNA sequences showed 11 different sequences with high percentage of histone and hydrophilic amino acids.


CONCLUSIONS
Eleven epitopes have been obtained that can effectively mimic hTERT, which will be useful for the research of small-molecule inhibitor targeting at hTERT.
Miao
Pei-hong
PH
Department of Pharmacology, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. miaoph@fimmu.com
Liu
Bei-yi
BY
Zheng
Shan-gen
SG
Pang
Jian-xin
JX
Xu
Jiang-ping
JP
D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D019151:Peptide Library; D019098:Telomerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D019151:Peptide Library; D019098:Telomerase