| Recent
Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences
ISSN: 1872-2156
Recent Patents on DNA &
Gene Sequences
Volume 1, Number 1, February
2007
Contents
Advanced Nanotechnological Approaches for Designing
Protein-Based “Lab-on-Chips” Sensors on Porous
Silicon Wafer Pp. 1-7
Stefano Borini, Maria Staiano, Massimiliano Rocchia, Andrea
M. Rossi, Mose Rossi, and Sabato D’Auria
[Abstract] [Full
Text Article]
Recent Patents of Gene Sequences Relative to
the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase / Akt Pathway and their
Relevance to Drug Discovery Pp. 9-23
Kathrin T. Doepfner, Danielle Boller, Angela De Laurentiis,
Ana S. Guerreiro, Marin Marinov and Alexandre Arcaro
[Abstract] [Full
Text Article]
Patenting Human Genes and Stem Cells Pp.
25-34
Enca Martin-Rendon and Derek J. Blake
[Abstract] [Full
Text Article]
Recent Patents Relating to Tumor Suppressor Genes
Pp. 35-41
Jason J. Derry and Yijan E. Chang
[Abstract] [Full
Text Article]
Modulating Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptotic Cell Death
Through Targeting of Bcl-2 Family Proteins Pp. 43-61
Abdel Aouacheria, Agnès Cibiel, Yannis Guillemin,
Germain Gillet and Philippe Lalle
[Abstract] [Full
Text Article]
The Importance of Bio-Computational Tools for Predicting
HIV Drug Resistance Pp. 63-68
Antonio Carvajal-Rodríguez
[Abstract] [Full
Text Article]
Current and Future Developments in Patents for Quantitative
Trait Loci in Dairy Cattle Pp. 69-76
Joel I. Weller
[Abstract] [Full
Text Article]
Patent
Annotations Pp. 77-80
Patent
Selections Pp. 81-93
Abstracts
[Back to top]
Advanced Nanotechnological Approaches for Designing Protein-Based
“Lab-on-Chips” Sensors on Porous Silicon Wafer
Stefano Borini, Maria Staiano, Massimiliano Rocchia, Andrea
M. Rossi, Mose Rossi, and Sabato D’Auria
[Full
Text Article]
In this article, we will review the more recent patented
approaches related to the design and development of micro-
and nano-patterns of biomolecules on solid substrates for
the realization of innovative biochips, including inkjet and
spotting technology, and Scanning Probe Methods In addition,
we will report on some important patents based on the use
of porous materials as substrates, exploiting the large specific
surface for the design of highly sensitive biodevices. The
main advantages and drawbacks related to each technological
approach to the biochips fabrication will be pointed out,
and future perspectives in the field will be discussed.
[Back to top]
Recent Patents of Gene Sequences Relative to
the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase / Akt Pathway and their
Relevance to Drug Discovery
Kathrin T. Doepfner, Danielle Boller, Angela De Laurentiis,
Ana S. Guerreiro, Marin Marinov and Alexandre Arcaro
[Full
Text Article]
Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) play an essential role
in the signal transduction events initiated by the binding
of extracellular signals to their cell surface receptors.
There are eight known PI3Ks in humans, which have been subdivided
into three classes (I-III). The class IA of PI3K
comprises the p110α,
p110β
and p110δ
isoforms, which associate with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs).
On the other hand, the class IB PI3K p110γ
is regulated by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Gene
targeting studies in mice have revealed specific biological
functions for the class IA p110δ
in lymphocyte activation, and the class IB p110γ
in inflammatory cell responses. In human cancer, recent reports
have described activating mutations in the PIK3CA
gene encoding p110α,
and inactivating mutations in the PTEN gene, a tumor
suppressor and antagonist of the PI3K pathway. Thus, individual
PI3K isoforms are potential drug targets for a variety of
human diseases, including allergies, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis
and arterial thrombosis. In this review, we will discuss recent
patents relating to class I PI3Ks, including patents on the
cDNA sequences of p110γ
and p110δ.
Moreover, we will review patents on novel pharmacological
PI3K inhibitors and on methods of manipulating T cell responses
through PI3K.
[Back to top]
Patenting Human Genes and Stem Cells
Enca Martin-Rendon and Derek J. Blake
[Full
Text Article]
Cell lines and genetically modified single cell organisms
have been considered patentable subjects for the last two
decades. However, despite the technical patentability of genes
and stem cell lines, social and legal controversy concerning
their ‘ownership’ has surrounded stem cell research
in recent years. Some granted patents on stem cells with extremely
broad claims are casting a shadow over the commercialization
of these cells as therapeutics. However, in spite of those
early patents, the number of patent applications related to
stem cells is growing exponentially. Both embryonic and adult
stem cells have the ability to differentiate into several
cell lineages in an organism as a result of specific genetic
programs that direct their commitment and cell fate. Genes
that control the pluripotency of stem cells have been recently
identified and the genetic manipulation of these cells is
becoming more efficient with the advance of new technologies.
This review summarizes some of the recent published patents
on pluripotency genes, gene transfer into stem cells and genetic
reprogramming and takes the hematopoietic and embryonic stem
cell as model systems.
[Back to top]
Recent Patents Relating to Tumor Suppressor Genes
Jason J. Derry and Yijan E. Chang
[Full
Text Article]
Researchers in the field of tumor suppressor genes are actively
attempting to discover new tumor suppressor genes and/or characterize
known tumor suppressor genes with the intention of treating
and diagnosing cancers. A number of recent patents and patent
applications have been published that discuss some of these
discoveries. Some of the patents and patent applications discuss
newly discovered tumor suppressor genes, including WW Domain-Containing
Oxidoreductase (WWOX), Cancer Associated Ring-1 (CAR-1), Human
Cervical Cancer Suppressor 1 (HCCS-1), Src-suppressed C kinase
substrate (SSeCKS), ADP-Ribosylation factor-like putative
Tumor Suppressor gene 1 (ARTS1), and Deleted in Osteosarcoma
(DOS). One Recent Patent describes the discovery that known
caspase family member caspase-8 (CASP8) is a tumor suppressor.
Another Recent Patent describes the use of Wilms Tumor suppressor
gene (WT1) peptides as a cancer vaccine. In addition, Sakai
et al. received a patent describing a fragment of
the p51 tumor suppressor gene containing a promoter region,
which is useful for identifying compounds that modulate p51
activity. Another patent application recently published describes
a chimeric tumor suppressor gene generated by combining a
portion of the rat PEG-3 protein with the human GADD34 protein,
thus creating a protein with apoptotic activity. These patents
and patent applications provide valuable information that
may be useful in fighting cancer by focusing on tumor suppressor
gene activities.
[Back to top]
Modulating Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptotic Cell Death
Through Targeting of Bcl-2 Family Proteins
Abdel Aouacheria, Agnès Cibiel, Yannis Guillemin,
Germain Gillet and Philippe Lalle
[Full
Text Article]
Research demonstrated that the function of mitochondria extends
well beyond that of being cell powerhouses and revealed that
these organelles fulfil a dual role in both cellular life
and death. In most vertebrates, execution of the mitochondrial
pathway of apoptosis requires permeabilization of the mitochondrial
outer membrane, an event which allows for the release of a
variety of intramembrane space proteins, leading to the activation
of caspases and ultimately cell demise. Bcl-2 family proteins,
which include pro- and antiapoptotic members, positively or
negatively regulate mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization,
i.e. a barrier to apoptosis induction. Over-expression of
Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL is associated with tumor progression
and may be responsible for drug resistance, making pro-survival
Bcl-2 family members important targets for the development
of anticancer agents. Pharmacological apoptosis modulation
by manipulation of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, with
the goal to treat disorders associated with uncontrolled cell
death or to kill unwanted cells, is likely to represent an
additional research focus in the coming years. The purpose
of this review is to describe, with examples taken from recent
patents, novel strategies for targeting the Bcl-2 family of
apoptotic regulators through peptide-based approaches and
selective delivery of functional nucleic acids.
[Back to top]
The Importance of Bio-Computational Tools for Predicting
HIV Drug Resistance
Antonio Carvajal-Rodríguez
[Full
Text Article]
The battle against retrovirus HIV-1 has reached a critical
point. Antiretroviral resistance appears under highly active
anti-retroviral therapy and the use of new drug combinations
capable to overcome the emerged resistance is necessary. After
detecting drug resistance two main approaches are possible.
The phenotypic assays study in vitro the replication
ability of virus variants in the presence or absence of drugs.
This approach is expensive and time consuming. The genotypic
assays try to obtain information from viral sequences coding
for the drug targets in order to detect mutations with low
susceptibility to drugs. Although this approach is faster
and cheaper, a clear interpretation of the results is not
always possible. In this work, I comment and analyze some
new patents that point towards more efficient resistance detection
and integral data management and prediction systems performing
an efficient personalized combined therapy. In the future,
computational tools will be essential as exploratory and interpretation
systems in order to obtain a better support of clinical decisions
concerning both the prediction and the evolution of drug resistance.
Importantly, the revised patents conform to this trend.
[Back to top]
Current and Future Developments in Patents for Quantitative
Trait Loci in Dairy Cattle
Joel I. Weller
[Full
Text Article]
Many studies have proposed that rates of genetic gain in dairy
cattle can be increased by direct selection on the individual
quantitative loci responsible for the genetic variation in
these traits, or selection on linked genetic markers. The
development of DNA-level genetic markers has made detection
of QTL nearly routine in all major livestock species. The
studies that attempted to detect genes affecting quantitative
traits can be divided into two categories: analysis of candidate
genes, and genome scans based on within-family genetic linkage.
To date, 12 patent cooperative treaty (PCT) and US patents
have been registered for DNA sequences claimed to be associated
with effects on economic traits in dairy cattle. All claim
effects on milk production, but other traits are also included
in some of the claims. Most of the sequences found by the
candidate gene approach are of dubious validity, and have
been repeated in only very few independent studies. The two
missense mutations on chromosomes 6 and 14 affecting milk
concentration derived from genome scans are more solidly based,
but the claims are also disputed. A few PCT in dairy cattle
are commercialized as genetic tests where commercial dairy
farmers are the target market.
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