Monoclonal Antobody BR64 for the Identification of BRCA1

Inventors:    Frank Rauscher, David Jensen

Tech ID:    RF02RR

Description: Analysis of the underlying genetic component of breast cancer localized the heritable component of this disease to a gene, the breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1), located on chromosome 17 (at q21). As expected, the BRCA1 gene is mutated in the majority of heritable breast cancers and the mutations within the coding region occur throughout the gene with little apparent clustering. The majority of these mutations lead to shortened BRCA1 gene products, thus describing the need for a marker of the amino-terminus of the protein. Wistar scientists have isolated antibodies secreted by hybridomas derived from the immunization of mice with purified polypeptide representing a 100-amino acid segment of the amino terminus of the BRCA1 gene product. Hybridomas with restricted reactivities were selected, subcloned and the secreted antibodies have been tested for anti-BRCA1 reactivity in a variety of assays. The antibody demonstrates an extreme specificity to the BRCA1 gene product by immunoprecipitation analysis. The Wistar-developed antibody described herein provides an excellent tool for the identification of both the full-length and mutated (shortened) forms of BRCA1.

Origin: Monoclonal antibody BR64 is secreted by a hybridoma derived from mice immunized with a purified polypeptide (isolated after overexpression in E.Coli) representing a 100-amino acid segment of the amino terminus of the BRCA1 gene product.

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Application: BR64 can be used in immunoprecipitation, Western analyses, and immunoflourescence.

Contact:

Meryle J. Melnicoff, Ph.D.
Director, Business Development The Wistar Institute
Phone: (215) 898-0049
melnicoff@wistar.org