James P. Tam

A convenient and versatile approach to the direct synthesis of a peptide-antigen matrix by the solid-phase method is described. The approach is called the multiple antigen peptide system (MAP) and it utilizes a simple scaffolding of a low number of sequential levels (n) of a trifunctional amino acid as the core matrix and 2n peptide antigens to form a macromolecule with a high density of peptide antigens of final Mr 10,000. The MAP model chosen for study was an octa-branching MAP consisting of a core matrix made up of three levels of lysine and eight amino terminals for anchoring peptide antigens. The MAP, containing both the core matrix and peptides of 9-16 amino acids, was prepared in a single synthesis by the solid-phase method. Six different MAPs elicited specific antibodies in rabbits and mice, of which five produced antibodies that reacted with their corresponding native proteins. In rabbits, the sera had a considerably higher titer of antibodies than sera prepared from the same peptides anchored covalently to keyhole limpet hemocyanin as carrier. Thus, the MAP provided a general, but chemically unambiguous, approach for the preparation of carrier-bound antigens of predetermined and reproducible structure and might be suitable for generating vaccines.

A physical map has been constructed of the human genome containing 15,086 sequence-tagged sites (STSs), with an average spacing of 199 kilobases. The project involved assembly of a radiation hybrid map of the human genome containing 6193 loci and incorporated a genetic linkage map of the human genome containing 5264 loci. This information was combined with the results of STS-content screening of 10,850 loci against a yeast artificial chromosome library to produce an integrated map, anchored by the radiation hybrid and genetic maps. The map provides radiation hybrid coverage of 99 percent and physical coverage of 94 percent of the human genome. The map also represents an early step in an international project to generate a transcript map of the human genome, with more than 3235 expressed sequences localized. The STSs in the map provide a scaffold for initiating large-scale sequencing of the human genome.

Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are known respiratory pathogens associated with a range of respiratory outcomes. In the past 14 years, the onset of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have thrust HCoVs into spotlight of the research community due to their high pathogenicity in humans. The study of HCoV-host interactions has contributed extensively to our understanding of HCoV pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss some of the recent findings of host cell factors that might be exploited by HCoVs to facilitate their own replication cycle. We also discuss various cellular processes, such as apoptosis, innate immunity, ER stress response, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway that may be modulated by HCoVs.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTAn SN2 deprotection of synthetic peptides with a low concentration of hydrofluoric acid in dimethyl sulfide: evidence and application in peptide synthesisJames P. Tam, William F. Heath, and R. B. MerrifieldCite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1983, 105, 21, 6442–6455Publication Date (Print):October 1, 1983Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 October 1983https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja00359a014https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00359a014research-articleACS PublicationsRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views1770Altmetric-Citations485LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose Get e-Alerts