Donald R Hunt

US Patent:

20060073517, Apr 6, 2006

Filed:

Mar 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/548747

Inventors:

C Allis - New York NY, US
Yanming Wang - University Park PA, US
Donald Hunt - Charlottesville VA, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/53
C07H 21/04
C12P 21/06
C12N 5/06
C07K 16/40

US Classification:

435007100, 435069100, 435320100, 435326000, 530388260, 536023530

Abstract:

The present invention relates to the generation of antibodies that bind to specific modifications of the amino terminus of histone H3 and the carboxy terminus of the H2A and H2B peptides. More particularly, the present invention is directed to the generation of a set of antibodies that recognize various post-translational modifications of histone proteins that function as switches for regulating transcription and mitosis. Compositions comprising these antibodies are used as diagnostic and screening tools.

US Patent:

20080153112, Jun 26, 2008

Filed:

May 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/557273

Inventors:

Teresa P. DiLorenzo - Bayside NY, US
Anne M. Evans - Chapel Hill NC, US
Donald F. Hunt - Charlottesville VA, US
Scott M. Lieberman - Bronx NY, US
Stanley G. Nathenson - Pelham Manor NY, US
Pere Santamaria - Calgary CA, US
Jeffrey Shabanowitz - Charlottesville VA, US

International Classification:

A61K 31/711
A61K 38/08
A61P 3/10
C07H 21/02
C07H 21/04
C07K 14/00
C07K 7/00
C12N 5/06
G01N 33/567

US Classification:

435 721, 435375, 514 15, 514 16, 514 44, 530324, 530326, 530327, 530328, 530350, 536 231, 536 245

Abstract:

The present invention is based on the identification of a predominant ligand of CD8+ T cells that are responsible eq for type diabetes. That ligand is islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP). Several CD8+ T cell-binding peptides from IGRP are identified, including the peptide comprising amino acids 206-214 of the IGRP sequence, which has high avidity to the most prevalent T cell receptor of pathogenic CD8+ T cells in autoimmune diabetes. The invention thus provides oligopeptide and polypeptide compositions comprising YLKTN/A/I/L/V)FL, FLWSVFWLI, (T/A)YY/G/T)FLNFM, LR(LV)(F/L)(G/N)IDLL, KWCANPDWI, and SFCKSASIP. Also provided are oligopeptide compositions 8-10 amino acids in length and completely homologous with a mammalian IGRP, where the oligopeptide is capable of binding a human MHC class I molecule. Additionally, various methods of treating a mammal using the above compositions are provided, where the mammal is at risk for or has type 1 diabetes. Also provided are methods of preventing a CD8+ T cell that is cytotoxic to pancreatic islet β-cells from destroying a mammalian β-cell, where the methods also use the above compositions. Further provided are methods for determining whether a mammal is at risk for or has type 1 diabetes, where the methods use the above compositions.