<p>Following the completion of the human genome sequence, post-genomic efforts have shifted the focus towards the analysis of the encoded proteome. Several different systematic proteomics approaches have emerged, for instance, antibody-based proteomics initiatives, where antibodies are used to functionally explore the human proteome. One such effort is HPR (the Swedish Human Proteome Resource), where affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies are generated and subsequently used for protein expression and localization studies in normal and diseased tissues. The antibodies are directed towards protein fragments, PrESTs (Protein Epitope Signature Tags), which are selected based on criteria favourable in subsequent laboratory procedures.</p><p>This thesis describes the development of novel software (Bishop) to facilitate the selection of proper protein fragments, as well as ensuring a high-throughput processing of selected target proteins. The majority of proteins were successfully processed by this approach, however, the design strategy resulted in a number ofnfall-outs. These proteins comprised alternative splice variants, as well as proteins exhibiting high sequence similarities to other human proteins. Alternative strategies were developed for processing of these proteins. The strategy for handling of alternative splice variants included the development of additional software and was validated by comparing the immunohistochemical staining patterns obtained with antibodies generated towards the same target protein. Processing of high sequence similarity proteins was enabled by assembling human proteins into clusters according to their pairwise sequence identities. Each cluster was represented by a single PrEST located in the region of the highest sequence similarity among all cluster members, thereby representing the entire cluster. This strategy was validated by identification of all proteins within a cluster using antibodies directed to such cluster specific PrESTs using Western blot analysis. In addition, the PrEST design success rates for more than 4,000 genes were evaluated.</p><p>Several genomes other than human have been finished, currently more than 300 genomes are fully sequenced. Following the release of the tree model organism black cottonwood (<i>Populus trichocarpa</i>), a bioinformatic analysis identified unknown cellulose synthases (CesAs), and revealed a total of 18 CesA family members. These genes are thought to have arisen from several rounds of genome duplication. This number is significantly higher than previous studies performed in other plant genomes, which comprise only ten CesA family members in those genomes. Moreover, identification of corresponding orthologous ESTs belonging to the closely related hybrid aspen (<i>P</i>. <i>tremula x tremuloides</i>) for two pairs of CesAs suggest that they are actively transcribed. This indicates that a number of paralogs have preserved their functionalities following extensive genome duplication events in the tree’s evolutionary history.</p>

Thesis--Universitat Leipzig, 2000.

Thesis (MTech (Biomedical Technology))--Peninsula Technikon, 2003. / Word processed copy. Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-108).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: Dept. of Pharmaceutics. Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Bibliography: leaves 289-311.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-187).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-69).

Würzburg, Universität, Thesis (doctoral), 2001.

Proteomics is a fast growing field and there has been a tremendous increase of knowledge the last two decades. Mass spectrometry is the most used method for analysis of complex protein samples. It can be used both in large scale discovery studies as well as in targeted quantitative studies. In parallel with the fast improvements of mass spectrometry-based proteomics there has been a fast growth of affinity-based methods. A common challenge is the large dynamic range of protein concentrations in biological samples. No method can today cover the whole dynamic range. If affinity and mass spectrometry-based proteomics could be used in better combination, this would be partly solved. The challenge for affinity-based proteomics is the poor specificity that has been seen for many of the commercially available antibodies. In mass spectrometry, the challenges are sensitivity and sample throughput. In this thesis, large scale approaches for validation of antibodies and other binders are presented. Protein microarrays were used in four validation studies and one was based on mass spectrometry. It is shown that protein microarrays can be valuable tools to check the specificity of antibodies produced in a large scale production. Mass spectrometry was shown to give similar results as Western blot and Immunohistochemistry regarding specificity, but did also provide useful information about which other proteins that were bound to the antibody. Mass spectrometry has many applications and in this thesis two methods contributing with new knowledge in animal proteomics are presented. A combination of high affinity depletion, SDS PAGE and mass spectrometry revealed 983 proteins in dog cerebrospinal fluid, of which 801 were marked as uncharacterized in UniProt. A targeted quantitative study of cat serum based on parallel reaction monitoring showed that mass spectrometry can be an applicable method instead of ELISA in animal proteomic studies. Mass spectrometry is a generic method and has the advantage of shorter and less expensive development costs for specific assays that are not hampered by cross-reactivity. Mass spectrometry supported by affinity based applications will be an attractive tool for further improvements in the proteomic field.

Not available