Protein biopolymer markers indicative of age matched control

Abstract

The instant invention involves the use of a combination of preparatory steps in conjunction with mass spectroscopy and time-of-flight detection procedures to maximize the diversity of biopolymers which are verifiable within a particular sample. The cohort of biopolymers verified within such a sample is then viewed with reference to their ability to evidence at least one particular disease state; thereby enabling a diagnostician to gain the ability to characterize either the presence or absence of said at least one disease state relative to recognition of the presence and/or the absence of said biopolymer, predict disease risk assessment, and develop therapeutic avenues against said disease.

1 . An isolated biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 which is diagnostic for Alzheimer's disease.  
     
     
         2 . A method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease by determining the presence of a biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 comprising: 
 (a) conducting mass spectrometric analysis on a sample obtained from a patient in a manner effective to maximize analysis of peptide fragments contained therein;    (b) comparing a mass spectral profile of said biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 to mass spectral profiles of peptides obtained and analyzed from said sample; and    (c) confirming the presence of said biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 in said sample by identifying a mass spectral profile having an ion peak at about 1624 daltons; wherein the presence of said biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 is diagnostic for Alzheimer's disease.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said sample is an unfractionated body fluid or a tissue sample.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said sample is selected from the group consisting of blood, blood products, urine, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, and lymph.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said mass spectrometric analysis is selected from the group of mass spectrometric techniques consisting of Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption Ionization (SELDI), MALDI Qq TOF, MS/MS, TOF-TOF, ESI-Q-TOF and ION-TRAP.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said patient is a human.  
     
     
         7 . An Alzheimer's disease diagnostic kit comprising: (a) a peptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, and (b) an antibody that binds to said peptide in a sample obtained from a patient.  
     
     
         8 . The Alzheimer's disease diagnostic kit of  claim 7 , wherein said antibody is immobilized on a solid support.  
     
     
         9 . The Alzheimer's disease diagnostic kit of  claim 7 , wherein said antibody is labeled.  
     
     
         10 . A method for screening for efficacy of disease process modulating agents for Alzheimer's disease comprising: 
 (a) providing a sample of bodily fluid containing a biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) adding a quantity of said agent sufficient to interact with said biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2; and    (c) determining the presence of an interaction between said agent and said biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2;    wherein said interaction is determinative of efficacy of said disease process modulating agent.    
     
     
         11 . A method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease comprising: 
 (a) providing a sample; and    (b) determining a presence of a biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 in said sample;    wherein the presence of said biopolymer marker consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 is diagnostic for Alzheimer's disease.