In directed evolution experiments, a single randomization scheme of an antibody gene does not provide optimal diversity for recognition of all sizes of antigens. In this study, we have expanded the recognition potential of our universal library, termed ScFvP, with a second distinct diversification scheme. In the second library, termed ScFvM, diversity was designed closer to the center of the antigen binding site in the same antibody framework as earlier. Also, the CDR-H3 loop structures were redesigned to be shorter, 5-12 aa and mostly without the canonical salt bridge between Arg106H and Asp116H to increase the flexibility of the loop and to allow more space in the center of the paratope for binding smaller targets. Antibodies were selected from the two libraries against various antigens separately and as a mixture. The origin and characteristics of the retrieved antibodies indicate that complementary diversity results in complementary functionality widening the spectrum of targets amenable for selection.

A quenching resonance energy transfer (QRET) assay for small GTPase nucleotide exchange kinetic monitoring is demonstrated using nanomolar protein concentrations. Small GTPases are central signaling proteins in all eukaryotic cells acting as a "molecular switches" that are active in the GTP-state and inactive in the GDP-state. GTP-loading is highly regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). In several diseases, most prominently cancer, this process in misregulated. The kinetics of the nucleotide exchange reaction reports on the enzymatic activity of the GEF reaction system and is, therefore, of special interest. We determined the nucleotide exchange kinetics using europium-labeled GTP (Eu-GTP) in the QRET assay for small GTPases. After GEF catalyzed GTP-loading of a GTPase, a high time-resolved luminescence signal was found to be associated with GTPase bound Eu-GTP, whereas the non-bound Eu-GTP fraction was quenched by soluble quencher. The association kinetics of the Eu-GTP was measured after GEF addition, whereas the dissociation kinetics could be determined after addition of unlabeled GTP. The resulting association and dissociation rates were in agreement with previously published values for H-Ras(Wt), H-Ras(Q61G), and K-Ras(Wt), respectively. The broader applicability of the QRET assay for small GTPases was demonstrated by determining the kinetics of the Ect2 catalyzed RhoA(Wt) GTP-loading. The QRET assay allows the use of nanomolar protein concentrations, as more than 3-fold signal-to-background ratio was achieved with 50 nM GTPase and GEF proteins. Thus, small GTPase exchange kinetics can be efficiently determined in a HTS compatible 384-well plate format.

Derivatives of 4-[2-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)ethynyl]-2,6,-bis{[N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-amino]methyl}pyridine europium(III) (1) bearing one (6) or two (7) additional iminodiacetate coordinating arms have been synthesized. 6 and 7 were significantly more stable than 1 as evidenced by competition experiments with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA). While the luminescence quantum yield of 1 remained modest, the other two complexes displayed substantial luminescence efficiency. The introduction of a supplementary iminodiacetate arm in 6 brought important improvements to both the stability and the luminescence properties of the Eu complex. In contrast, although 7 is more luminescent than 1, the introduction of a second iminodiacetate coordinating arm brings no further benefit on the photophysical properties. The most promising results were obtained with the nine-dentate chelate 6 and its Eu complex, which was conjugated to biotin and applied within the frame of a bioaffinity immunoassay of human C-reactive protein.

A non-competitive homogeneous, single-label quenching resonance energy transfer (QRET) assay for protein quantification is now presented using lanthanide-chelate labeled nucleic acid aptamers. A labeled ssDNA aptamer binding to a growth factor has been successfully used to provide luminescence signal protection of the lanthanide label. The QRET technology has previously been applied to competitive assay formats, but now for the first time a direct non-competitive assay is presented. The QRET system is based on the protection of the Eu(iii)-chelate from a soluble quencher molecule when the aptamer interacts with a specific target protein. The direct QRET assay is possible as the aptamer structure itself cannot protect the Eu(iii)-label from quenching. The dynamic range for the optimized vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) assay is 0.25-10 nM. A successful quantification of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is also demonstrated using the same QRET assay format with a dynamic range of 0.75-50 nM. These assays evidently show the suitability of the direct QRET technique to simple and efficient detection of large biomolecules. The QRET assay can potentially be applied as a detection platform for any other protein targets with a known aptamer sequence.

The study of biomolecular interactions is at the heart of biomedical research. Fluorescence and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) are potent and versatile tools in studying these interactions. Fluorescent proteins enable genetic encoding which facilitates their use in recombinant protein and in vivo applications. To eliminate the autofluorescence background encountered in applications based on fluorescent proteins, lanthanide labels can be used as donor fluorophores. Their long emission lifetime enables the use of time-gating that significantly improves assay sensitivity. In this work, we have combined the favorable characteristics of a terbium-ion-containing lanthanide-binding peptide (Tb(3+)-LBP) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a FRET-based homogeneous protease activity assay. The used genetically engineered construct had LBP and GFP sequences at adjacent ends of a linker that encoded the recognition sequence for caspase-3. Caspase proteases are central mediators in apoptosis and, consequently, are of great interest in the pharmaceutical industry. The designed fluorogenic protease substrate was applied for the detection of caspase-3 activity. We were able to demonstrate, for the first time, the applicability of a Tb(3+)-LBP-GFP energy-transfer pair in a protease activity assay. The intrinsically fluorescent and genetically encodable components enable easy expression of the construct without the need of cumbersome chemical labeling. By varying the fluorescent protein and the protease specificity of the internal linker sequence, the method can be applied for the detection of a wide variety of proteases.