Skip to main content

All of These

Latest Innovations
Therapeutic Scheme for Human Basigin Cancer researchers are focusing their efforts on identifying central pathways that trigger or enhance the invasiveness of tumor cells. One such target is EMMPRIN (... Read More Cancer researchers are focusing their efforts on identifying central pathways that trigger or enhance the invasiveness of tumor cells. One such target is EMMPRIN (Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer). It has been shown that EMMPRIN expression is linked to various cell signaling pathways that lead to an increase in tumor cell vascularization. Researchers are focusing efforts on elucidating the role of EMMPRIN in a number of disorders including cancer, arthritis, tissue repair and numerous inflammation-dependent diseases. DESCRIPTION/DETAILS Basigin is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily thatis also known as EMMPRIN. Human basigin is expressed as two differentiallyspliced isoforms encoded by a single gene found on chromosome, renamedrespectively as basigin-1 and basigin-2. Attempts to demonstrate specifichemophilic on separate cells, or between soluble forms of recombinant basiginusing surface Plasmon resonance have not been successful, suggesting thatbasigin-2 cannot function as a receptor for itself. In order to identify possible receptors for soluble basiginligand, an affinity purification approach was employed. This approach resulted inthe labeling of several potential interacting proteins, and MALDI MS/MSsequencing of one of these proteins identified a novel isoform of human basigin(basigin-3). Immunoprecipitation studies using cell fractions revealed thatrBSG interacts with basigin-2 at the cell membrane, and subsequently interactswith the basigin-3 isoform within the cell. Small-interfering RNA (siRNA)knockdown of basigin-2 protein reduced, but did not eliminate, rBSG-mediatedERK activation in HESCs, suggesting that additional cell surface receptors forsoluble basigin may exist. Taken together, these results support the hypothesisthat basigin-2 can function as a receptor for soluble basigin and demonstratethat the hemophilic interactions between basigin proteins are not dependentupon glycosylation of the basigin ligand. It has also been shown that soluble EMMPRIN binds tomembrane-bound EMMPRIN and the bound complex is internalized presenting apotential means to deliver therapeutic compounds to the cell in a highlytargeted manner. A therapeutic scheme isproposed that aims to design EMMPRIN-conjugates designed to deliver cancertherapeutics in a targeted fashion. Applications Conjugation oftherapeutics to EMMPRIN increases specificity and targets cancers cells cancer (skin, bladder,breast); other inflammatory diseases (arthritis, endometriosis); Upregulationof inflammatory response. Benefits It is possible to design therapeutic agents directed toward human basigin. Possible therapeutic scheme to block tumor progressionor inflammation.
Higher Performance Proteases for Scarless Tag Removal Dr. van der Donk from the University of Illinois has characterized expression vectors and a family of proteases that are useful in removing affinity tags after... Read More Dr. van der Donk from the University of Illinois has characterized expression vectors and a family of proteases that are useful in removing affinity tags after protein expression. Affinity tag removal after protein expression is sometimes necessary for the protein of interest to be functional and active. However during this tag removal, some amino acids not native to the protein of interest can be left behind. Dr. van der Donk's invention eliminates the possibility of extraneous amino acids being left on the final protein product, which is an improvement over existing enzymatic tag removal techniques. This invention has identified a class of lanthipeptides, class II LanPs that show substrate specificity and can serve as efficient sequence-specific traceless proteases, expanding and advancing the current toolbox of proteases. The general goal of Dr. van der Donk's research is to understand enzymatic transformations that are of environmental or pharmaceutical importance. The van der Donk lab utilizes both synthetic organic chemistry and molecular biology to reach this goal. Specifically, the lab uses genome mining strategies to discover new natural products, use microbiology and genomic tools to determine their mode of action, use chemical biology techniques to study their biosynthesis, and use synthetic chemistry to improve their activities and therapeutic properties.
Lantibiotic Screening Technique Dr. van der Donk has developed a screening system for identifying novel antibiotics. The system uses phage display and has been optimized for lantibiotic natural... Read More Dr. van der Donk has developed a screening system for identifying novel antibiotics. The system uses phage display and has been optimized for lantibiotic natural products. The system also has utility for investigating interactions between lantibiotics and other peptides. Lantibiotics have complex structures which make them particularly stable under changing pH and protease exposure as well as possessing the ability to bind to bacterial cell wall targets. This makes them ideal for scaffolds for new antibiotic discovery that can combat the burgeoning problem of antibiotic resistance
Preparation of Degradable Silica-Drug Conjugated Nanoparticle with Monodisperse Particle Sizes The invention provides a silica nanoparticle comprising a non-porous matrix of silicon-oxygen bonds, wherein the matrix comprises organic agents conjugated to... Read More The invention provides a silica nanoparticle comprising a non-porous matrix of silicon-oxygen bonds, wherein the matrix comprises organic agents conjugated to silicon or oxygen atoms in the matrix, the organic agents are conjugated to the matrix through linker L groups, wherein the linker L comprises, for example, an ester, urea, thiourea, or thio ether group, and wherein the diameter of the nanoparticle is about 15 nm to about 200 nm. The invention also provides novel methods of making and using the silica nanoparticles.
Pharmaceutical Compounds and Pathways from Actinobacteria Dr. Metcalf and Dr. van der Donk from the University of Illinois have discovered 12 novel phosphonate natural products as well as the genes responsible for the... Read More Dr. Metcalf and Dr. van der Donk from the University of Illinois have discovered 12 novel phosphonate natural products as well as the genes responsible for the biosynthesis of hundreds of additional compounds of other natural product classes. Phosphonic and phosphinic acids represent an underexploited group of bioactive compounds with great promise for the treatment of human disease.
Complex and Diverse Compounds from Abietic Acid Dr. Paul Hergenrother from the University of Illinois has created a diverse compound screening library from the synthetic scaffold abietic acid. Abietic acid... Read More Dr. Paul Hergenrother from the University of Illinois has created a diverse compound screening library from the synthetic scaffold abietic acid. Abietic acid is an abundant and widely available compound. Through manipulation of the ring system, the Hergenrother lab has constructed more than 91 novel and diverse compounds to be used in a high throughput drug screen. Dr. Hergenrother has received numerous honors for his achievements in chemistry and cancer research. The Hergenrother laboratory seeks to use small molecules to identify and validate novel targets for the treatment of intractable diseases, including cancer, degenerative disorders, and multi-drug resistant bacteria.
New Drugs for Malarial and Bacterial Infections New anti-infectives are required now more than ever as resistance to existing drugs increases in prevalence. Enzymes unique to bacteria or parasites are potential... Read More New anti-infectives are required now more than ever as resistance to existing drugs increases in prevalence. Enzymes unique to bacteria or parasites are potential drug targets with minimal side effects because they are not present in humans. One such source of potential drug targets is the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. Many pathogenic bacteria and malaria parasites use isoprenoids in their cell walls, to protect against the human immune system, and for other functions. This pathway is not present in humans and thus is an excellent target for new anti-infective drugs. Scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigns Departments of Chemistry and Biophysics have identified a class of novel chemical entities that are capable of inhibiting two key enzymes, GcpE and LytB, in the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. These compounds are able to inhibit the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway at concentrations far lower than any other known inhibitors and have the potential to treat a wide-range of infectious disease caused by both bacteria and malarial parasites. In addition, it may be possible to use these compounds for the treatment of cancers, via immune system activation. Details This invention includes a class of novel chemical entities composed of similar geometries and bonds. They inhibit through a unique organometallicinteraction that has not been previously described. Applications Currently, the compounds are being evaluated for their ability to act as: Broad spectrum anti-infectives Cytotoxic cancer drugs Other compounds produced using similar chemistry may have a wide range of medical applications Benefits Novel Mechanism: These compounds act on the isoprenoid pathway using a chemical interaction that has not been previously described. Continued work on these compounds is designed to identify new applications of this interaction, beyond anti-infectives.
Microfluidic Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Device for Epigenomic Analysis Researchers from the University of Illinois have created a process for the epigenomic analysis of single cells. This process combines the uses of single cell... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have created a process for the epigenomic analysis of single cells. This process combines the uses of single cell microfluidics and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) for the analysis of DNA modifications in single cells.This technology has the potential to greatly decrease the number of cells needed from a biopsy to test for different cancers. It may also allow the study of traveling cell cancers that are only present in very small almost undetectable quantities.
RF Coil for Improving Tuning Range, Cost and Maintaining Q A radio frequency (RF) coil comprising a plurality of electrically uninterrupted conductive legs, each leg having a first end and a second end, and at least one... Read More A radio frequency (RF) coil comprising a plurality of electrically uninterrupted conductive legs, each leg having a first end and a second end, and at least one continuous conductor electrically connected to the first ends of the legs. Frequency tuning of the coil is achieved by translating, along the legs, an electrically continuous tuning band that includes a capacitor closed about the axis of the coil in proximity to the conductive legs. Maintaining electrical symmetry of the coil results in tuning ranges of at least 30 percent of the nominal value of the resonant frequency.
Integrated System for Genome Modification in E. coli Dr. Kuhlman from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has created a new system that provides a single editing tool for a variety of genome modifications... Read More Dr. Kuhlman from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has created a new system that provides a single editing tool for a variety of genome modifications. This method has the advantage over CRISPR-Cas9 system in not requiring prior modification of the genome and requires only locus-specific primers for genome editing. This technology is an optimized Landing Pad system that can use positive and negative selection to select for insertion, deletion, and knockout events at genomic targets using specific primers contain homology region A, B, and C. This approach provides a powerful tool for manipulating the genome. Benefits The Landing-Pad system can integrate large fragments of DNA, can be targeted anywhere in the genome and ab be applicable to deletions and knockouts as well. Unlike the CRISPR-Cas9 system, this technique does not require a special promoter for gene expression. The Landing-Pad system can target different loci with only locus-specific primer design.

Pages