Description of Invention:
Translation initiation factor eIF5A is a highly conserved eukaryotic protein. One of its lysine residues is enzymatically modified, using spermidine, to form an unusual amino acid, hypusine, a posttranslational modification unique to eIF-5A. This eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF5A) and its hypusine modification are essential for mammalian cell proliferation. Inventors at the National Institutes of Health have recently cloned and characterized the enzyme deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH) that catalyzes the final step in the modification of eIF5A. The inventors have characterized and cloned both the yeast and human recombinant versions of this enzyme.
Studies have shown that metal chelating compounds like deferiprone and ciclopirox olamine that inhibit DOHH activity in cells also inhibit HIV-1 replication in cell culture. These findings suggest potential utility of DOHH as a novel target for anti-cancer and anti-retroviral therapy. These advances could also conceivably lead to the development of small molecule inhibitors that bind to specific sites in the enzyme.
Inventors:
Myung Hee Park et al. (NIDCR)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-051-2006/0 Licensing Status: This technology is no longer available for licensing.
Portfolios: Cancer
Cancer -Therapeutics-Conventional Chemotherapy Cancer -Diagnostics Cancer -Therapeutics Cancer -Research Materials
For Additional Information Please Contact: Sabarni K. Chatterjee Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: 301/435-5587
Email: chatterjeesa@mail.nih.gov
Fax: 301/402-0220
