Single domain affinity proteins for the detection of the genome organizer protein SATB1

• Affibody molecules and VHH antibody fragments are two classes of affinity proteins, both characterized by a small size and a single subunit domain structure. Here, we report the selection and characterization of affinity proteins from both classes against the special AT rich sequence binding protein SATB1, a suggested marker protein for aggressive and metastasizing breast cancer. The selected VHH antibody fragments originate from a nonimmune phage display library, while affibody molecules were selected from a library constructed in vitro and displayed on ribosomes. It was observed that selected molecules recognizing one of three conserved DNA-binding domains of SATB1, also recognized its close homologue SATB2 while several of the selected molecules from both classes binding to other regions selectively recognized SATB1. Two of these SATB1 selective molecules, VHH clone 2D2 and affibody molecule clone ZSATB1:2, performed well in differentimmunotechnology applications including ELISA, WB, IF and pull-out experiments and gave a selective staining of endogenous SATB1 in Jurkat T cells. These molecules may thus become useful tools, either alone or in combination, for the selective detection of SATB1 in breast tumor specimens. Due to their small size in comparison to immunoglobulins, such single domain binding proteins may be suitable for high resolution microscopy techniques such as Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy, where the resolution may get constrained by the size of the affinity reagent.

Keyword

affibody molecule

VHH antibody fragment

phage display

ribosome display

SATB1

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)