| Recent
Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences
ISSN: 1872-2156
Recent Patents on DNA &
Gene Sequences
Volume 5, Number 1, April 2011
Contents
Human DNA Extraction Methods: Patents and Applications Pp.
1-7
Francesco M. Carpi, Fabio Di Pietro, Silvia
Vincenzetti, Fiorenzo Mignini and Valerio Napolioni
[Abstract] [Purchase
Article]
Recent Patents in Cationic Lipid Carriers
for Delivery of Nucleic Acids Pp. 8-27
Rumiana Koynova and Boris Tenchov
[Abstract] [Purchase
Article]
Recent Patents Concerning Targeted Therapy
of Apoptosis Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer Pp.
28-34
Kristin Werner, Felix Rückert, Hans-Detlev
Saeger, Robert Grützmann and Christian Pilarsky
[Abstract] [Purchase
Article]
Different Proposed Applications of Bacteriorhodopsin
Pp. 35-40
Seema Trivedi, Om Prakash Choudhary and
Jitendra Gharu
[Abstract] [Purchase
Article]
Significance of P2X7 Receptor Variants
to Human Health and Disease Pp. 41-55
Ronald Sluyter and Leanne Stokes
[Abstract] [Purchase
Article]
The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Importance
of Human Growth Hormone Isoforms Pp. 56-68
Marina María de Jesús Romero-Prado
and Noa Beatriz Martín-Cófreces
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Article]
Patent
Selections Pp. 69-71
Abstracts
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Human DNA Extraction Methods: Patents and Applications
Francesco M. Carpi, Fabio Di Pietro, Silvia
Vincenzetti, Fiorenzo Mignini and Valerio
Napolioni
Since the pioneer experiments conducted by Friedrich
Miescher in l861, extraordinary advances have been achieved
in the field of DNA handling. Today nucleic acids can be extracted
from any type of biological material such as tissues, cells
and viruses. Moreover, increasing knowledge of human genome
is paving the way to an effective employment of pharmacogenomics
and genetic-based predictive tests in medicine. In this context,
the recovery of DNA from different sources of biological samples
(e.g. archived formalin-fixed autopsy tissues, dried blood
spots, frozen serum or plasma, long-term stored whole blood)
is also an emerging field in genetic epidemiology studies.
Thus, given the crucial role played by DNA in bio-medical
research and in its related applications, here we review the
main relevant issued patents and recently published advances
in the field of DNA extraction and purification from human
specimens.
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Recent Patents in Cationic Lipid Carriers for Delivery of
Nucleic Acids
Rumiana Koynova and Boris
Tenchov
Gene therapy is a medical technique intended for treatment
of disorders caused by defective, missing, or overexpressing
genes. Efficient delivery vectors are necessary in order to
transport genetic material to the target cells. Such vectors
include viral and non-viral carriers. Viral vectors transfect
cells efficiently, however risks associated with their use
have limited their clinical applications. Nonviral delivery
systems are safer, easier to prepare, more versatile and cost
effective. However, their transfection efficiency still falls
behind that of the viral vectors. Considerable research into
nonviral gene delivery has been conducted in the last two
decades on synthetic soft materials such as cationic lipids,
polymers, surfactants, and dendrimers as prospective nucleotide
carriers for gene delivery. So far, cationic lipids are the
most widely used constituents of nonviral gene carriers, with
multiple strategies employed to improve their in vitro
and in vivo transfection. Efforts in synthesizing
new cationic lipids were not fully successful in closing the
gap between the efficiency of the viral vectors and that of
binary cationic lipid/DNA complexes. Current efforts for improving
lipofection efficiency are focused on the development of multicomponent
carriers including cationic lipids as key constituents. This
review summarizes the recent patents on new cationic lipids
as well as on multicomponent formulations enhancing their
efficiency as nucleotide carriers.
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Recent Patents Concerning Targeted Therapy of Apoptosis Resistance
in Pancreatic Cancer
Kristin Werner, Felix Rückert, Hans-Detlev
Saeger, Robert Grützmann and Christian
Pilarsky
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most malignant forms
of cancer. Due to numerous defects of the apoptosis machinery
this tumor shows a high resistance towards conventional oncological
therapies.
On the level of the extrinsic pathway, signal transduction
is flawed by over-expression of decoy receptors but also by
a dysfunctional death inducing signaling complex (DISC). The
mitochondrial pathway, normally stimulated by cell stress
and toxic agents is impeded by over-expression of anti-apoptotic
members of the Bcl-2 protein family and the so-called inhibitor
of apoptosis proteins (IAPs).
To overcome the dysfunction of the apoptosis pathway, new
therapeutics focus on molecular targets within the apoptosis
pathway. Recently, many new treatment modalities have been
reported like recombinant ligands of the cell death receptors
or inhibitors of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 members. Furthermore,
various substances for the direct activation of the caspase
cascade were patented and the over-expression of IAPs could
be treated by binding inhibitors or using RNA interference
techniques. The present review aims at giving an overview
on these new treatment modalities.
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Different Proposed Applications of Bacteriorhodopsin
Seema Trivedi, Om Prakash Choudhary and
Jitendra Gharu
Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) is an integral membrane protein found
in "purple membrane" (the Archaea cell membrane)
mainly in Halobacteria. This protein absorbs green
light (wavelength 500-650 nm, with the absorption maximum
at 568 nm) and converts it into an electrochemical gradient.
This gradient in turn is used for ATP production. The ability
of BR to convert light energy into chemical energy or sunlight
into electricity has been used in different applications mainly
optical appliances but also for therapeutic/medical applications
and research. This review surveys some of these applications
that have been patented in the last five years.
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Significance of P2X7 Receptor Variants to Human Health and
Disease
Ronald Sluyter and Leanne
Stokes
The human P2X7 receptor is a trimeric ligand-gated cation
channel coded by the P2XR7 gene located at chromosome
position 12q24. P2X7 is expressed in a wide variety of normal
and disease-associated cell types. Activation of this receptor
by extracellular adenosine 5’-triphosphate results in
numerous downstream events including the release of pro-inflammatory
mediators, cell proliferation or death, and killing of intracellular
pathogens. As a result, P2X7 plays important roles in inflammation,
immunity, bone homeostasis, neurological function and neoplasia.
The P2XR7 gene encodes a P2X7 subunit 595 amino acids
in length, however splice isoforms that can alter receptor
expression and function, and modify the signaling properties
downstream of receptor activation also exist. Moreover, the
relative amount of P2X7 function varies between human individuals
due to numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms resulting
in either loss- or gain-of-function. Combinations of these
polymorphisms give rise to various haplotypes that can also
modify P2X7 function. Collectively, P2X7, and its splice and
polymorphic variants are attracting considerable interest
in relation to human health and disease, including the development
and publication of a number of patents.
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The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Importance of Human Growth
Hormone Isoforms
Marina María de Jesús Romero-Prado
and Noa Beatriz Martín-Cófreces
The study of human growth hormone isoforms has conduced
to the elaboration of patents related to very important items:
codifying and regulatory sequences, production of the protein
at large-scale, modifications to prolong half-life as monomer,
dimer and fusion protein for treatments directed to growth-associated
diseases. The designed methodologies directed to the identification
and quantification of hGH are beside the formers establishing
very important basis of patented sources that can be used
for a specific and opportune diagnosis and treatment of biological
abnormalities or undesirable effects when these growth hormones
are involved.
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