Gender	Male
E-mail	avelino.teixeira@mssm.edu
Education and Training	Ph.D., University of Cape Town
	Post Doctoral Training, NIH

Dr. Teixeira is the Research Director of Mount Sinai's Proteomics Laboratory.

Education and Training	Ph.D., University of Cape Town
	Post Doctoral Training, NIH

The aim of my research is the development of technologies for the purification and identification of biologically important proteins that are difficult to isolate. To this end I develop and implement specific chromatographic strategies and assays to purify proteins and follow their progress through the purification steps. Pure proteins are then identified using mass spectrometric sequencing methods designed and optimized in my lab. To verify the identity of the protein(s) their genes are cloned and expressed and the purified recombinant protein tested in the assay(s) utilized in the initial purification. My research has contributed to two ongoing projects in the Department of Medicine.

1. Isolation and identification of proteins secreted by human CD8+ cells that suppress replication of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1)

The presence of suppressive factors secreted by human CD8+ cells been well documented. Although a number of proteins contributing to this suppression have been isolated and identified we and other groups have shown that the described factors do not fully account for the antiviral activity. In a collaborative effort, separation protocols have been designed and implemented to purify HIV-1 suppressive factors in biologically active form and identify them by mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). These methods have identified a very active suppressor protein as well as a number of potent suppressing chromatographic fractions which are currently being examined by mass spectrometry to determine their identities.

2. Isolation and identification of the components of a multi-component nucleic acid conducting channel present in the plasma membrane of a number of eukaryotic cell types

Membrane proteins, especially those whose function results from the concerted activity of a number of proteins are very challenging to purify particularly if biological activity is to be maintained for assay purposes. As part of a collaborative effort we have developed the necessary isolation protocols to isolate the entire channel complex in a biologically active form and have to date identified by mass spectrometry a number of the component proteins, one of which has been verified as part of the complex. Work continues currently to identify the transmembrane domain of this extremely important channel.

In addition, as an offshoot of my research work I run the Proteomics Laboratory of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center which operates on a fee for service basis.

Overview of the Proteomics Laboratory:

• The goal of the Proteomics Laboratory is to provide rapid, reliable and reasonably priced protein separation and identification services and technical support to researchers in the biomedical field.
• While the Proteomics Laboratory is part of the Department of Medicine and its services are available primarily to the Mount Sinai Medical Center community projects from other institutions are welcomed.

For more information, please visit the Proteomics Laboratory website.

Hanss B, Leal-Pinto E, Teixeira A, Tran B, Lee CH, Henderson SC, Klotman PE. Localization of the nucleic acid channel regulatory subunit cytosolic malate dehydrogenase. J Memb. Biol 2008; 226: 1-8.

Mosoian A, Teixeira A, Burns CS, Khitrov G, Zhang W, Gusella L, Klotman P, Klotman M. Influence of prothymosin-alpha on HIV-1 target cells. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci 2007; 1112: 269-285.

Mosoian A, Teixeira A, High AA, Christian RE, Hunt DF, Shabanowitz J, Liu X, Klotman M. A novel function of prothymosin alpha as a potent Inhibitor of HIV-1 gene expression in primary macrophages. J Virol 2006; 80: 9200-9206.

Leal-Pinto E, Teixeira A, Tran B, Hanss B, Klotman PE. Presence of the nucleic acid channel in renal brush-border membranes: allosteric modulation by extracellular calcium. Am. J. Physiol 2005; 289: F97-F106.

Hanss B, Leal-Pinto E, Teixeira A, Christian RE, Shabanowitz J, Hunt DF, Klotman PE. Cytosolic malate dehydrogenase confers selectivity of the nucleic acid-conducting channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99: 1707-1712.

Schwartz EJ, Neumann AU, Teixeira AV, Bruggeman LA, Rappaport J, Perelson AS, Klotman PE. Effect of target cell availability on HIV-1 production in vitro. AIDS 2002; 16: 341-345.

Mosoian A, Teixeira A, Caron E, Piwoz J, Klotman ME. CD8+ cell lines isolated from HIV-1-infected children have potent soluble HIV-1 inhibitory activity that differs from beta -chemokines. Viral Immunology 2000; 13: 481-495.