Anvesh Rallapalli's CIAP Aptamer Project (2016)

For every 7,500 people in the world, there is one person who exhibits symptoms of Polymyositis, an uncommon inflammatory disease known that primarily cause muscle weakness and related pain. Polymyositis usually occurs in adults over the age of 30 with

Figure 2: Differences between Normal Muscle and Polymyositis Muscle

chances exponentially rising the older the individual is. The exact cause of Polymyositis is unknown but it is hypothesized to be the result of an autoimmune disorder resulting in the body’s own white blood cells to systematically attack muscles cells resulting in the symptoms. Some research supports that “many infectious agents are thought to trigger the disease, mainly Coxsackie virus B1, HIV, human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1), hepatitis B and C, influenza, echovirus, and adenovirus” (do Carmo Oyama, 2005).

Calf-Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase has been shown to reduce broad ranged inflammation as well as identify markers for inflammation. CIAP is an excellent reporter molecule. This could be used in diagnostic functions of CIAP to identify the specific area and pattern that Polymyositis occurs and what causes the immune cells to go haywire. Furthermore, previous research shows that CIAP identifies any sources of mutant proteins from intact cells giving a control between normal white blood cells and possible mutant cells and sends a signal. With this Aptamer, Polymyositis patients will be able to be better assisted in faster findings of said disease and better treatment with enhanced research if this Aptamer finds the underlying cause of the autoimmune response.

Aptamers are DNA or RNA molecules that can bind to any molecular targets within the cell. They are similar to anti-bodies without having the need for an immune response to antigens. Aptamers can be used in a wide range of things including medical tools such as diagnostic and medical therapeutic. PCR and Transcription is vital to the Aptamer selection process. Polymerase chain reaction amplifies the template DNA allowing there to be more DNA to be used for targeting. After PCR is successful, large scale amplification will help establish sufficient RNA product for transcription. The use of Aptamers for this specific autoimmune chronic inflammatory disease is mostly for diagnostic purposes but could also be modified for synthetic biological applications to bind onto the affected blood cells.

Calf-Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase is found in cows and is an enzyme that aids in the dephosphorylating of certain DNA and RNA 5’ and 3’ ends. Current research is being conducted around the world especially at the University of Texas at Austin. CIAP has a molecular weight of about 69 kDa and requires a slightly basic buffer to function properly.

Currently in the first round of the selection having run multiple Cycle Course Gels and in the process of running another gel.