Maria Jaimes
LSAMP Scholar
Major: Biochemistry
Mentors: Charles Dann III, Morgan Nyman, Martha Oakley, and Melissa Blunck
Folate receptor beta (FRβ) is over-expressed in activated macrophages in autoimmune diseases and some cancer cells. A high-affinity monoclonal antibody (m909) has the ability to target FRβ positive-cells. Thereforefore, m909 could be developed as a therapeutic target to treat certain autoimmune diseases and FRβ-positive tumors/leukemia. The purpose of this project is to take this m909 antibody and mutate it by changing a part of its DNA sequence in order to create a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the folate receptor beta. To do this, we went through a series of growing the cells from m909 plasmid by transformation. We made our DH5 alpha cells from overnight culture growth and a miniprep protocol. We introduced the mutations into our DNA (site-directed mutagenesis) through a 2-step PCR protocol. The ideal results would conclude in a mutated m909 monoclonal antibody with a high affinity for FRβ specifically (not alpha or gamma). However, the time period given to drive this research has not been enough as many protocols had unsuccessful results that stopped us from moving onto the next step(s).
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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