# Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Xenopus Proteins

> **NIH NIH R24** · UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST · 2020 · $265,346

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
The amphibian embryo and in particular the frog Xenopus laevis is an outstanding model used by
embryologist and cell biologist worldwide. This model system has led the discovery of axis formation
(antero/posterior and dorso/ventral), tissue induction and nuclear reprograming among others.
Advances in genome sequencing, proteomics and gene silencing have rejuvenated this model. In
its most recent White Paper, the Xenopus community has identified a lack of adequate resource of
antibody to study Xenopus proteins and proposed the production of such resources a priority. We
propose to produce at least a hundred fully characterized monoclonal antibodies to transcription
factors, cell surface proteins including signaling receptors and ligands as well as tissue specific
markers. To achieve this goal we will immunize mice with both selected recombinant proteins
expressed in mammalian cells and complex protein extracts isolated from Xenopus embryos.
The recombinant protein targets will be selected by a steering committee composed of Xenopus
investigators based on the importance of the proteins in developmental and diseases processes and
the absence of cross-reactive commercial antibodies. From these immunizations we will produce and
archive more than 10,000 clonal IgG-expressing hyrbidomas that will be screened by immunofluor-
escence, whole mount immunostaining and immunoprecipitation to identify monoclonal anti-bodies
to native proteins. Final characterization of monoclonal antibodies produced against the complex
embryonic extracts will be performed by mass spectrometry followed by immuno-fluorescence on the
recombinant putative target(s). These monoclonal antibodies, together with the characterization data
will be freely distributed to the community via the developmental hybridoma study bank and Xenbase.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9951135
- **Project number:** 5R24OD021485-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
- **Principal Investigator:** DOMINIQUE R ALFANDARI
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $265,346
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-07 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9951135

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9951135, Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Xenopus Proteins (5R24OD021485-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9951135. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*