Cloning of ligand targets: systematic isolation of SH3 domain-containing proteins

Nat Biotechnol. 1996 Jun;14(6):741-4. doi: 10.1038/nbt0696-741.

Abstract

Based on the prevalence of modular protein domains, such as Src homology domain 3 and 2 (SH3 and SH2), among important signaling molecules, we have sought to identify new SH3 domain-containing proteins. However, modest sequence similarity among these domains restricts the use of DNA-based methods for this purpose. To circumvent this limitation, we have developed a functional screen that permits the rapid cloning of modular domains based on their ligand-binding activity. Using operationally defined SH3 ligands from combinatorial peptide libraries, we screened a series of mouse and human cDNA expression libraries. We found that 69 of the 74 clones isolated encode at least one SH3 domain. These clones encode 18 different SH3-containing proteins, 10 of which have not been described previously. The isolation of entire repertoires of modular domain-containing proteins will prove invaluable in genome analysis and in bringing new targets into drug discovery programs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • src Homology Domains*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Proteins