SBIR-STTR Award

Engineering a Phosphotyrosyl-Trna Synthetase
Award last edited on: 4/1/19

Sponsored Program
STTR
Awarding Agency
NIH : NIGMS
Total Award Amount
$220,323
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
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Principal Investigator
Michael P Weiner

Company Information

AxioMx Inc

688 East Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
   (203) 208-1918
   info@axiomxinc.com
   www.axiomxinc.com

Research Institution

Coppin State University

Phase I

Contract Number: 1R41GM113301-01
Start Date: 2/1/15    Completed: 10/31/15
Phase I year
2015
Phase I Amount
$220,323
Although tyrosine phosphorylation is an important controlling element in cell signaling, no tRNA suppressor for phosphotyrosine (pTyr) incorporation has yet been made. We propose to use directed molecular evolution of several aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) to identify mutations that enable binding of pTyr to the aaRS. Specifically, ATP molecules will be attached to beads, which will then be incubated with free pTyr and a phage-display library of a mutated aaRS. If a mutant aaRS can catalyze the formation of pTyr-AMP, which is the intermediate for the generation of charged tRNA, it will bind to the beads and can be enriched. The mutated aaRSs will be used in in vitro translation to incorporate the pTyr into the protein structure of an assayable gene (for example � galactosidase). Mass Spectrometry and a set of already existing anti-pTyr specific antibodies will be used to validate incorporation of the pTyr in the assayable protein. Phase I is focused on in vitro incorporation.

Public Health Relevance Statement:


Public Health Relevance:
The ability to generate tyrosyl-phosphorylated proteins will have significant utility in studying the role of phosphoproteins that are involved in cell signalin, inflammation, cancer and other diseases. Conventional approaches toward making phosphorylated proteins require kinases, which are promiscuous and often lead to phosphorylation at multiple undesirable residues. Successful completion of this proposal will be the first method to allow site-specific incorporation of phosphotyrosine in a protein.

Project Terms:
Amber; Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases; Antibodies; Binding (Molecular Function); Biological Models; Catalytic Domain; Cells; Charge; Coupled; design; directed evolution; Directed Molecular Evolution; Disease; Engineering; Escherichia coli; Galactosidase; Generations; Genes; Genetic Transcription; human FRSB protein; In Vitro; Incubated; Indium; Inflammation; Lead; Length; Libraries; Malignant Neoplasms; Mass Spectrum Analysis; Methods; Modeling; mutant; Mutate; Mutation; Phage Display; Phase; Phosphoproteins; Phosphorylation; Phosphotransferases; Phosphotyrosine; Property; protein structure; Proteins; Protocols documentation; public health relevance; Reagent; Role; Signal Transduction; Site; Solutions; System; Terminator Codon; Testing; Transfer RNA; Transfer RNA Aminoacylation; Translations; Tyrosine; Tyrosine Phosphorylation; vecto

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
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Phase II Amount
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