Aspects of the application relate to methods and systems for obtaining information regarding multiple amino acids in a polypeptide based on binding interactions between the polypeptide and one or more amino acid recognizers. Kinetic signature information may be obtained from a series of signal pulses indicative of a series of binding events between one or more amino acid recognizers and an amino acid of a polypeptide (e.g., a terminal amino acid, an internal amino acid). The kinetic signature information (e.g., pulse duration, interpulse duration, recognition segment (RS) duration, intersegment duration) may be used to determine one or more chemical characteristics (e.g., identity, modification) of multiple amino acids of the polypeptide.

In certain embodiments, this application discloses methods for detecting lung cancer. The method includes characterization of cells extracted from human sputum, which is a valuable tissue surrogate and source of upper respiratory cells that become cancerous early in 5 the process of lung cancer development. The method includes the staining of extracted cells with fluorescent reporters that produce a specific pattern in the nuclei of labeled cells, which can be made visible by light microscopy. The pattern is relevant to a type of epigenetic coding of DNA known as DNA methylation, which changes in specific cells of the lung during cancer development, in comparison to normal respiratory cells.

The present invention refers to p53 sequence and post translational modifications (PTMs) and to their use as biomarkers in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease and cognitive decline and/or in the prognosis of Alzheimer's disease at different stages and/or of neurodegenerative disease in a biological sample. The invention also provides for a 1) diagnostic method based on a highly accurate mass spectrometry analysis for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease, including Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), Lewi's Body (LB), and vascular dementia (VD) in a subject, by evaluating the PTMs to the said p53 linear sequence protein and possible cut of its full sequence specifically in human plasma of patients; and 2) prognosis of AD in CU and MCI patients.

Provided are methods and compositions for determining methylarginine demethylase activity in test samples. The methods and compositions comprise a peptide substrate containing methylated arginine that can act as a substrate for the demethylation activity, a positive control that has methylarginine demethylation activity and a variant of the positive control that does not have methylarginine demethylation activity and that can act as a negative control.

Epigenetic compound screening platform, including methods and cell lines. In an exemplary screening method, ADK-null, ADK-L, and ADK-S cell lines may be selected. The ADK-null cell line may express no ADK protein. The ADK-L cell line may express only the long (L), nuclear isoform of a mammalian ADK protein from an exogenous construct. The ADK-S cell line may express only the short (S), cytoplasmic isoform of a mammalian ADK protein from an exogenous construct. Each of the cell lines may be exposed to the same test compound. A level of DNA or histone methylation, or DNA or histone methyltransferase activity for each of the exposed cell lines may be measured. The level for each exposed cell line may be compared to a corresponding level measured without exposure to the test compound, to determine whether the test compound affects DNA or histone methylation, or DNA or histone methyltransferase activity, in any of the cell lines.

An object of the present invention is to provide a prediction marker in male animals for predicting behaviors of their offspring. Specifically, isolated H3K79me3 from a spermatocyte or a sperm of a male animal is used as a marker. When levels of methylation of H3K79me3 in a spermatocyte or a sperm which has been collected from male animals are analyzed, those with a lower level of trimethylation of H3K79me3 have a higher probability of their offspring having autism or exhibiting autism-like behaviors.

Provided herein is technology for esophageal disorder screening and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods, compositions, and related uses for detecting the presence of esophageal disorders (e.g., Barrett's esophagus, Barrett's esophageal dysplasia, etc.). In addition, the technology provides methods, compositions and related uses for distinguishing between Barrett's esophagus and Barrett's esophageal dysplasia, and between Barrett's esophageal low-grade dysplasia, Barrett's esophageal high-grade dysplasia, and esophageal adenocarcinoma within samples obtained through endoscopic brushing or nonendoscopic whole esophageal brushing or swabbing using a tethered device (e.g. such as a capsule sponge, balloon, or other device).

This disclosure relates generally to methods and agents for assessing T-cell function and for predicting responses to therapy. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and agents for detecting different forms of Eomesodermin (EOMES) in T-cells, which are useful for assessing the function of a T-cell, for assessing the immune function of a subject, for predicting the likelihood of response of a cancer patient to therapy including immunotherapy, for stratifying a cancer patient as a likely responder or non-responder to a therapy, and for managing treatment of a cancer patient.

In certain embodiments, this application discloses methods for detecting lung cancer. The method includes characterization of cells extracted from human sputum, which is a valuable tissue surrogate and source of upper respiratory cells that become cancerous early in the process of lung cancer development. The method includes the staining of extracted cells with fluorescent reporters that produce a specific pattern in the nuclei of labeled cells, which can be made visible by light microscopy. The pattern is relevant to a type of epigenetic coding of DNA known as DNA methylation, which changes in specific cells of the lung during cancer development, in comparison to normal respiratory cells.

The present invention generally pertains to methods of preventing disulfide scrambling in non-reducing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of a protein of interest. In particular, the present invention pertains to the addition of maleimide to a non-reducing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of a protein to prevent disulfide scrambling.