URANIUM-CHELATING PEPTIDES AND USES THEREOF

摘要

Peptide (I) with a helix-loop-helix structure that comprises the loop of calmodulin with at least one mutation to neutral amino acids (Ser, Thr, Cys, His, Tyr, Asn and Gln) is new. Peptide (I) with a helix-loop-helix structure that comprises the loop of calmodulin with at least one mutation to neutral amino acids (Ser, Thr, Cys, His, Tyr, Asn and Gln) is new. Mutations involve 1-3 residues in at least one of the four calcium-binding sites of calmodulin, i.e. in site I, Asp at 20, 22 or 24; site II Asp56, Asp58 or Asn60; site III Asp93, Asp95 or Asn97; and site IV Asp129, 131 or 133. Positions refer to the human calmodulin sequence (SWISSPROT P02593). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) polypeptide (II) that is a concatenation of at least two, same or different, (I); (2) fusion protein (FP) of at least one (I) and another protein; (3) isolated nucleic acid (NA) that encodes (I), (II) or FP; (4) probes and primers, for specific amplification and detection of NA that contain 10-30 nucleotides adjacent to a helix-loop-helix motif, or its complement, in a calcium-binding protein; (5) recombinant eukaryotic or prokaryotic vector that includes NA; (6) eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells that include the vector of (5); (7) non-human transgenic animal, or transgenic plant, that includes cells modified by NA; (8) prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells modified by a regulatory system that includes (II) as regulator or repressor of a gene that encodes a bioluminecsent protein; (9) antibodies (Ab) that bind specifically to (I); and (10) kit for detecting contamination by uranium that comprises at least (I), (II), FP or the cells of (8).