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Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterases (TDP) and Related Polypeptides, Nucleic Acids, Vectors, TDP-Producing Host Cell, Antibodies and Methods of Use

Description of Invention:
Topisomerases are cellular enzymes that are vital for replication of the genome. However, if topisomerase and DNA form covalent complexes that prevent the resealing of DNA, this may lead to cell death. Essentially, this invention consists of a new isolated and cloned enzyme, tyrosyl-DNA phospodiesterase (TDP1) that is capable of hydrolyzing the covalent complexes between topisomerase and DNA, allowing the DNA to reseal. The mechanism that defines topiosomerases is their capacity to break DNA and, after an interval in which topological changes may occur, to reseal the break without the intervention of a high-energy cofactor. The breakage of the DNA is accompanied by the formation of a covalent bond between topisomerase and DNA to create an intermediate that is resolved during the resealing step. However, if the resealing step fails, the covalent intermediates between topoisomerase I and DNA can form complexes that lead to cell death. The failure of the resealing is increased by some chemotherapies such as camptothecin. Thus, this technology has many potential commercial uses including: a method for screening camptothecin analogues or other compounds for their resistance to repair by this enzyme or to prescreen patients for their sensitivity to topoisomerase inhibitors, which could identify patients most likely to respond to camptothecin therapy. Further, this invention provides for a vector comprising of the nucleic acid molecule for TDP1 as well as the method of altering the level of TDP1 in a cell, a tissue, an organ or an organism. Finally, this invention consists of a method for identifying a compound that stabilizes a covalent bond complex that forms between DNA and topoisomerase I, wherein the covalent bond cannot be cleaved.

Inventors:
Jeffrey J. Pouliot and Howard A. Nash (NIMH)

Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-281-1999/0-US-03 -- U.S. Patent Application No. 10/110,176 filed 05 Apr 2002, claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/157,690 filed 05 Oct 1999 (DHHS Reference No. E-281-1999/0-US-01)

Portfolios:
Gene Based Therapies

Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics-Oligonucleotide Based Therapies-Antisense-Control mechanisms
Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics-Gene Therapy-Vectors-Control sequences/genes
Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics-Oligonucleotide Based Therapies-Antisense
Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics-Gene Therapy-Vectors
Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics-Oligonucleotide Based Therapies
Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics-Gene Therapy
Gene Based Therapies -Diagnostics
Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics


For Additional Information Please Contact:
John Stansberry Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301)435-5236
Email: stansbej@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220


Web Ref: 1051

Updated: 3/05

 

 
 
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