# GRANULOCYTE MEMBRANE STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 1987 · $117,379

## Abstract

While the molecular basis of granulocyte function is largely unknown,
glycoproteins of the plasma membrane are believed to play a prominent role
in many of the cell's functions.  The study of granulocyte membrane
structure and function has been hindered by difficulty in obtaining
membrane components of high purity.  Our long-term goal is to identify,
purify, and characterize a variety of granulocyte membrane proteins and to
examine their roles in granulocyte structure and function.  This goal will
be approached by developing a variety of monoclonal antibodies directed
against specific granulocyte membrane antigens.  We have already developed
several such antibodies and begun characterizing their respective
antigens.  One of these antibodies, AHN-1, selectively inhibits
phagocytosis by neutrophils and reacts with two distinct membrane
proteins.  We plan to purify these proteins, produce new monoclonal
antibodies which react with unique epitopes on these proteins, and use
these antibodies to further characterize their role in cell function.  We
have also found that the vast majority of monoclonal antibodies produced
from mice immunized with human granulocytes are directed against the same
highly antigenic carbohydrate recognized by AHN-1. Therefore granulocyte
membranes will be solubilized and passed over an affinity column containing
immobilized AHN-1; the column effluent containing other antigens of
interest will be used as the immunogen for the production of more
monoclonal antibodies.  We will characterize these antibodies as we have
AHN-1.  Proteins bearing antigens recognized by these antibodies will be
identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins
immunoprecipitated from detergent extracts of radiolabeled cells.  To
define the role of these antigens in granulocyte development and function,
we will study antigen expression on hemopoietic progenitor cells and test
the effects of the antibodies on measurable neutrophil functions.  Proteins
of interest will be purified by monoclonal antibody affinity
chromatography, and, if necessary, further chromatographic techniques.
These purified proteins will be used for further biochemical
characterization as well as immunogens for the production of polyclonal
antisera, which will recognize a variety of different antigens present on
the molecule.  Antibodies produced in this project should provide useful
tools to study the molecular nature of normal and abnormal granulocyte
surfaces and to probe the role of these antigens in cell development and
function.  (A)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3173775
- **Project number:** 2R01CA036248-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KABJZBBJ4B54
- **Principal Investigator:** KEITH M SKUBITZ
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $117,379
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-07-01 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3173775

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3173775, GRANULOCYTE MEMBRANE STRUCTURE & FUNCTION (2R01CA036248-04). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3173775. Licensed CC0.

---

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