Development and characterization of a panel of monoclonal antibodies against the catalytic domain of the human fes proto-oncogene product

Abstract

In developing monoclonal antibodies (Moabs) against the humanfes proto-oncogene product, recombinant DNA technology was used to target reactivity of the Moabs towards the catalytic domain of it. Therefore, sequences of humanfes exons 15–19 encoding amino acid residues 612 to 822 which harbor the catalytic domain except the presumed ATP-binding region, were fused in phase to the bacterialtrp E gene which encodes anthranilate synthase. After partial purification of it, the bacterially produced hybrid product of thistrp E-δfes fusion gene was used as immunogen. A series of twelve mouse Moabs was obtained which recognized the human p92^fes protein and the viral oncogene product p85^gag-fes encoded by the Snyder-Theilen strain of feline sarcoma virus. Reactivity appeared to be directed towards the catalytic domain of the humanfes proto-oncogene product. This was demonstrated by in vitro transcription and translation experiments using humanfes coding sequences from exons 16–19. Upon testing their functional activity in divers immunological techniques, the whole panel of Moabs appeared to be useful in immunoprecipitation, Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Immunocytochemical analysis indicated that p85^gag-fes is predominantly a cytoplasmic protein.