Patent Watch

Abstract

The present invention provides zebrafish-based methods for the identification of compounds potentially useful in the treatment of motor neuron degenerative diseases (MNDDs), compounds identified by these methods and compositions, methods and medicaments for treating MNDDs.

http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2011_0190307_A1/en/

Summary

Drawing on the remarkable capacity of adult zebrafish to regenerate functional motor neurons following spinal cord injury, the claimed inventions include methods for using transgenic zebrafish with spinal cord lesions as a tool to screen for compounds which successfully modulate motor neuron regeneration. The claimed inventions also include the composition of compounds identified using the claimed screening methods, as well as such compounds' use in treating motor neuron degenerative diseases.

Abstract

A central nervous system tissue-labeling composition labeling the central nervous tissue system is described. The present invention also provides a method for noninvasively labeling the central nervous tissue system. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a screening method using the above central nervous system tissue-labeling composition. A central nervous system tissue-labeling composition containing, as an active ingredient, at least one of compounds represented by the general formula (1) or (7).

http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2011_0189096_A1/en/

Summary

Most conventional central nervous system (CNS) imaging probes label only subsets of the CNS because they accumulate either at sites of heavy glucose uptake or with β-amyloid. The inventions claimed herein are the composition and use of novel compounds capable of labeling CNS tissues not associated with heavy glucose uptake or β-amyloid. Zebrafish were used as a model in vivo imaging platform to screen for functional novel compounds labeling CNS components.

Abstract

Novel compounds comprising a guanidine-rich head covalently coupled to one or more oligonucleotide antisense sequences which are useful to modulate blood coagulation by affecting the expression of integrin αIIb or β3 are described herein. This invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, with or without other therapeutic agents, and methods of using these compounds as inhibitor of platelet aggregation, as thrombolytics, and/or for the treatment of other thromboembolic disorders. Vivo-MOs, which include eight guanidine groups dendrimerically arranged in the guanidine-rich head and two synthetic antisense morpholino oligonucleotides, are representative compounds of the present invention.

http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2011_0190287_A1/en/

Summary

Using zebrafish as a model, this work applies Vivo-Morpholino knockdown technology as a potential anticoagulant treatment tool for blood coagulation disorders, specifically by inhibiting thrombocyte function via knockdown of either integrin αIIb or integrin β3.

Abstract

The present invention relates to the microRNA miR-126 and to inhibitors of miR-126 that regulate angiogenesis. The present invention provides compositions and methods for the inhibition of miR-126 and for the inhibition of angiogenesis in vivo.

http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2011_0184043_A1/en

Summary

The claimed invention includes antisense oligonucleotide-based inhibition of miR-126 as an anti-angiogenic tool intended to treat disease conditions involving excess or improper blood vessel growth. Zebrafish are used as a model of the results of miR-126 knockdown.

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions comprising antisense nucleic acids that reduce miR-126 levels in an endothelial cell. The present invention provides compositions comprising a target protector nucleic acid. The present invention provides methods of modulating angiogenesis in an individual, the methods generally involving administering to the individual an effective amount of an agent that increases or that decreases the level of miR-126 in endothelial cells of the individual.

http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2011_0172293_A1/en/

Summary

The claimed invention includes the use of antisense oligonucleotide technologies as angiogenesis modulators acting through the miR-126 pathway, either by reducing miR-126 levels in endothelial cells, by protecting miR-126 target mRNAs, or by competitively inhibiting miR-126 binding. Zebrafish were used in characterizing miR-126 function and determining the effects of altering the miR-126 pathway on angiogenesis.

Abstract

This invention is directed towards methods of destabilizing proteins in living cells, and their use for the development of novel assays. In one embodiment, the invention comprises the use of noncleavable multimerized ubiquitin fusion proteins to destabilize a target protein, such as a reporter moiety. In one aspect of this method, the constructs also comprise a linker that operatively couples the reporter moiety to the multimerized ubiquitin fusion protein. In this embodiment, enzymatic modification of the linker results in a modulation of the coupling of the reporter protein to the multimerized ubiquitin domains, resulting in a change in the stability of the reporter moiety. The level of the reporter moiety in the cell can then be used as a measure of the enzymatic activity in the cell. In another embodiment, the invention provides for a generalized way of coordinately regulating the cellular concentration of a plurality of target proteins. In one aspect of this method, the target proteins are operatively coupled to a ubiquitin fusion protein via a linker containing a protease cleavage site. Cleavage of the linker by a protease results in uncoupling of the target protein from the multimerized ubiquitin construct, and results in an increase in the stability and concentration of the target protein.

http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2011_0191873_A1/en/

Summary

The claimed inventions include the core technology comprising the attachment of multimerized destabilization domains to a reporter protein or other protein of interest, as well as methods of modifying and using the core technology. Methods for using the core technology include the creation of transgenic animals expressing a destabilization-coupled protein of interest.