Live Proteomics: Real-Time Measurement of Proteins in Living Cells

Sponsor: Anima Cell Metrology, Inc.

• Project Performance Period: 11/1/2007 - 10/31/2010
• Total project (est.): $2,140,928.00
• Requested ATP funds: $1,940,928.00

Proteins are the "vehicles of life," the fundamental molecules that form living things and carry out most biological functions. They hold the key to understanding disease and developing new clinical treatments. However, proteins are complex and difficult to study. Current methods for analyzing proteins require killing the cells first. Identifying and counting proteins in living cells, while they are being made, was long thought to be impossible. Anima Cell Metrology's Protein Synthesis Measurement (PSM) is designed to provide this capability. With PSM, ribosomes (the cellular factories of protein synthesis) are labeled with fluorescent molecules, and then signal precisely which proteins, in what order, and in what amounts, are produced by a cell. When used in the study of disease, PSM holds the promise to improve therapy through identification of optimal molecular targets. When used to study the effect of drugs, it is expected to better predict side- and adverse effects. In this ATP project, Anima will develop an in-vitro PSM technique that could be used in academic and pharmaceutical laboratories. Additionally, PSM will be implemented in several live cell applications. The company hopes to achieve a breakthrough in protein analysis comparable in significance to the now widespread Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) that is used to read gene sequences from cells. Anima expects PSM products and collaborations to generate significant business while facilitating research projects and new therapeutic approaches and reducing the overall cost of drug development.

For project information:

Rick Lufkin, (908) 963-6200
rick.lufkin@animapsl.com

ATP Project Manager

Mrunal Chapekar, (301) 975-6846
mrunal.chapekar@nist.gov