Abl Kinase Phosphorylation in Living Cells

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a cancer of white blood cells caused by ABL kinase, an overactive signaling molecule that overstimulates tyrosine phosphorylation, an intracellular signaling process. The overstimulation of this signaling pathway leads to rapid cell division. Recent years have seen the successful development of therapies targeted to regulate this cellular process; however, with drug resistance a continuing problem, a method for monitoring ABL kinase activity is still needed to fine-tune drug delivery.

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a rapid and reliable method to monitor phosphorylation events in live cells. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) was used with a protein biosensor to visualize phosphorylation in these cells. Computational techniques were created to divide the FLIM readout into intensity and lifetime data and visualized in 2D and 2.5D.

This system allows spatiotemporal maps to be developed for phosphorylation events in tissues. With the data provided by this new technique for monitoring phosphorylation, researchers will be able to assess the cause and effect of targeted therapies on phosphorylation and inhibition of kinase triggers more easily.

Advantages:

-Rapid and reliable phosphorylation event monitoring

-Allows for assessment of the cause and effect of targeted therapies

Potential Applications:

-Medical/Health

-Research & Development

-Drug delivery

-Targeted therapy assessment

TRL: 4

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, FLIM, protein biosensor, phosphorylation monitoring, ABL kinase activity, targeted therapy assessment, drug delivery, tyrosine phosphorylation, live cell imaging, spatiotemporal maps