ASBESTOS DETECTION METHOD, ASBESTOS DETECTION AGENT, ASBESTOS DETECTION KIT, METHOD FOR SCREENING CANDIDATE FOR AGENT AIMING AT PREVENTING OR TREATING DISEASE FOR WHICH ASBESTOS IS CAUSATIVE OR WORSENING FACTOR

• US 20090098578A1
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hiroshima University
• Original Assignee: Nagaoka University of Technology
• Inventors: Nomura, Kazutaka, Kuroda, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 8,372,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.9
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2500/02 Screening involving studying the effect of compounds C on the interaction between interacting molecules A and B (e.g. A = enzyme and B = substrate for A, or A = receptor and B = ligand for the receptor)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5308 for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites

Abstract

The present invention provides a prompt and easy asbestos detection method and a method for screening a candidate for an agent aiming at preventing or treating a disease for which asbestos is a causative or worsening factor. It is possible to quickly and easily detect asbestos in a sample by finding a protein capable of binding specifically to asbestos, allowing the protein or a fusion protein of the protein and a reporter protein to bind to asbestos in the sample, and then detecting the protein or the fusion protein having been bound to asbestos. A substance inhibiting the binding of actin to asbestos, which has been found out as a protein capable of binding specifically to asbestos, is a candidate for an agent aiming at preventing or treating a disease for which asbestos is a causative or worsening factor.

Claims

1. An asbestos detection method comprising:

the step of bringing a protein capable of binding to asbestos in a solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride into contact with asbestos in a sample; and

the step of detecting the protein binding to the asbestos.

3. The asbestos detection method according to claim 1, wherein

the protein capable of biding to asbestos in the solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride is at least one type of protein selected from:

a protein with an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO;

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, or 25; and

a protein with amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution, or addition of one or several amino acids in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO;

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25.

4. The asbestos detection method according to claim 1, wherein

the protein capable of binding to asbestos in the solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride is actin.

2. An asbestos detection method comprising:

the step of obtaining a fusion protein of (i) a protein capable of binding to asbestos in a solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride and (ii) a reporter protein;

the step of bringing the obtained fusion protein into contact with asbestos in a sample; and

the step of detecting the fusion protein binding to the asbestos.

5. The asbestos detection method according to claim 2, wherein

the reporter protein is a protein selected form fluorescent protein, luciferase, alkaline phosphatase, beta galactosidase, diaphorase, and peroxidase.

13. The asbestos detection method according to claim 2, wherein

the protein capable of biding to asbestos in the solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride is at least one type of protein selected from:

a protein with an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO;

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, or 25; and

a protein with amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution, or addition of one or several amino acids in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO;

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25.

14. The asbestos detection method according to claim 2, wherein

the protein capable of binding to asbestos in the solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride is actin.

6. An asbestos detection agent containing a protein capable of binding to asbestos in a solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride.

8. The asbestos detection agent according to claim 6, wherein

the protein capable of biding to asbestos in the solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride is at least one type of protein selected from:

a protein with an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO;

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, or 25; and

a protein with amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution, or addition of one or several amino acids in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO;

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25.

9. The asbestos detection agent according to claim 6, wherein

the protein capable of binding to asbestos in the solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride is actin.

11. An asbestos detection kit comprising an asbestos detection agent according to claim 6.

18. An asbestos detection kit comprising an asbestos detection agent according to claim 8.

19. An asbestos detection kit comprising an asbestos detection agent according to claim 9.

7. An asbestos detection agent containing a fusion protein of (i) a protein capable of binding to asbestos in a solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride and (ii) a reporter protein.

10. The asbestos detection agent according to claim 7, wherein

the reporter protein is a protein selected form fluorescent protein, luciferase, alkaline phosphatase, beta galactosidase, diaphorase, and peroxidase.

15. The asbestos detection agent according to claim 7, wherein

the protein capable of biding to asbestos in the solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride is at least one type of protein selected from:

a protein with an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO;

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, or 25; and

a protein with amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution, or addition of one or several amino acids in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO;

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25.

16. The asbestos detection agent according to claim 7, wherein

the protein capable of binding to asbestos in the solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride is actin.

17. An asbestos detection kit comprising an asbestos detection agent according to claim 7.

20. An asbestos detection kit comprising an asbestos detection agent according to claim 10.

12. A screening method for screening a candidate for an agent aiming at preventing or treating a disease for which asbestos is a causative or worsening factor, the method comprising:

the step of bringing a test substance, asbestos, and actin into contact with each other in a solution containing at least 0.1 M or more sodium chloride; and

the step of measuring binding level of the asbestos and the actin in the solution.