Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein composition
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsBrian G. Fox, Yong Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins and protein compositions that are components of a desaturase complex are provided. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis desaturase complex may include a desaturase and an oxidoreductase. The complex may include the rv3229c and rv3230c gene products of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Vectors for expressing the desaturase and the oxidoreductase can be packaged together, including a label that indicates their use as a complex for analyzing desaturation of fatty acids. In addition, methods for screening target ligands specific for a desaturase complex are also provided.
Claims19
An isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, wherein the protein, when combined with a desaturase, increases desaturation of fatty acids.
An isolated protein composition comprising a desaturase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and an oxidoreductase that has at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, wherein the protein composition desaturates fatty acids.
A method of screening target ligands specific for a desaturase complex, which comprises:
- a) preparing a first mixture containing a desaturase and an oxidoreductase by expressing one or more first genes encoding the desaturase and expressing one or more second genes encoding the oxidoreductase;
- b) contacting the first mixture with a target ligand to form a second mixture;
- c) contacting the second mixture with a fatty acid;
- and
- d) determining the activity of the desaturase in the presence of the target ligand and comparing that activity with the activity of the desaturase in the absence of the target ligand, wherein the change in activity of the desaturase is correlated with binding of the target ligand to the desaturase complex.
A method of screening target ligands specific for a desaturase complex, which comprises:
- a) preparing a mixture containing a desaturase, an oxidoreductase, a fatty acid, and optionally a target ligand;
- and
- b) determining the activity of the desaturase in the presence of the target ligand and comparing that activity with the activity of the desaturase in the absence of the target ligand,
- wherein the change in activity of the desaturase is correlated with binding of the target ligand to the desaturase complex.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.