Pioneering Work On Biological Imaging of Proteomics Goes Online

Summary

The Office of Science (SC) funded research on noninvasive imaging of protein-protein interactions in living animals is now online at PNAS Online (www.pnas.org). Although a variety of methods have been used to investigate protein interactions in vitro and in cultured cells, none can analyze these interactions in intact, living animals. The technology developed through SC support involves engineering of a new positron emission tomography (PET) and green fluorescent fusion reporter gene for direct readout by imaging of cancer proteins with micro PET. Imaging protein-binding partners in vivo will enable functional proteomics in whole animals and provide a tool for screening compounds targeted to cancer causing proteins in living animals. Protein-protein interactions control transcription, cell division, and cell proliferation as well as mediate signal transduction, oncogenic transformation, and regulation of cell death. The team of investigators is headed by Dr. David Piwnica-Worms of Washington University, St. Louis.