Praise Okete
LSAMP Scholar
Major: Biochemistry
Mentors: Charles Dann III, Morgan Nyman, Martha Oakley, and Melissa Blunck
Folate receptor β beta is a receptor binding folate that mediates the unidirectional transport of folates into the cell. Folate receptor β is limited mostly to the placenta and some hematopoietic cells of the myelogenous linage. Previous studies have shown that there is a correlation in the high level expression of folate receptor βand some cancers (such as leukemia) which makes it a promising target for drug therapies that could help control the growth of these malignant tissues. In order to improve possible drug treatments for these cancers and autoimmune diseases with folate receptor β, we aim to produce a monoclonal antibody that has a higher affinity for folate receptor β than any of the other folate receptor isomers. To achieve this goal, site directed mutagenesis is used to create different mutations in m909 DNA plasmids which would be used to make monoclonal antibodies with several mutations. The mutations on these antibodies are tested to see if there is an increase or decrease in binding of folate receptor β than any of the other folate receptor isomers (α, γ or δ). In this study, we have encountered some obstacles in the creation of the mutations on the monoclonal antibodies, however, we continue to explore some of the possible errors in order to achieve this mutations and then test for their binding affinity. The success of this research would help in drug therapies that could help patients with blood cancers as well as patients that are suffering from certain autoimmune diseases associated with folate receptor β.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. IN LSAMP is supported by NSF Award Number: HRD-1618408, 2016-2022.
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