414 results about "Screening assay" patented technology

Mitochondrial targets for drug screening assays and for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of diseases associated with altered mitochondrial function are provided. Complete amino acid sequences [SEQ ID NOS:1-3025] of polypeptides that comprise the human heart mitochondrial proteome are provided, using fractionated proteins derived from highly purified mitochondrial preparations, to identify previously unrecognized mitochondrial molecular components.

The present invention concerns methods and compositions for introducing miRNA activity or function into cells using synthetic nucleic acid molecules. Moreover, the present invention concerns methods and compositions for identifying miRNAs with specific cellular functions that are relevant to therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic applications wherein synthetic miRNAs and / or miRNA inhibitors are used in library screening assays.

The present invention relates to novel fluorescent dyes, novel fluorogenic and fluorescent reporter molecules and new enzyme assay processes that can be used to detect the activity of caspases and other enzymes involved in apoptosis in whole cells, cell lines and tissue samples derived from any living organism or organ. The reporter molecules and assay processes can be used in drug screening procedures to identify compounds which act as inhibitors or inducers of the caspase cascade in whole cells or tissues. The reagents and assays described herein are also useful for determining the chemosensitivity of human cancer cells to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. The present invention also relates to novel fluorogenic and fluorescent reporter molecules and new enzyme assay processes that can be used to detect the activity of type 2 methionine aminopeptidase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, calpain, aminopeptidase, HIV protease, adenovirus protease, HSV-1 protease, HCMV protease and HCV protease.

The present invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods that are useful for performing high-throughput screening assays. In particular, the devices and methods of the invention are useful in screening large numbers of different compounds for their effects on a variety of chemical, and preferably, biochemical systems.

The invention provides an in vivo screening assay and an in vitro screening assay for rapid screening of diabetes. A method of the invention includes determining a first glucose concentration in an ocular fluid of a patient; administering orally a load of carbohydrate to the patient; determining a second glucose concentration in an ocular fluid of the patient at a period of time of less than 50 minutes after orally administering of the load of carbohydrate; comparing the second glucose concentration with the first glucose concentration to determine if the patient is likely to be a diabetic. The method of the invention is performed by using a kit of the invention. The kit comprises: (1) a glucose-sensing ophthalmic device and instructions for using the glucose-sensing ophthalmic device to screen for diabetes; or (2) two or more tear-collecting devices, and a testing agent composition which specifically reacts with glucose to form a detectable signal. The glucose-sensing ophthalmic device comprises a testing agent composition which specifically and reversibly interacts with glucose to form a detectable optical signal which changes in a concentration-dependent manner.

The instant invention provides stable and novel lineage I WNV reverse genetics systems, and methods for making the reverse genetics systems, specifically, a fully-infectious lineage I WNV cDNA or replicon system engineered with one or more nucleotide sequences each encoding a reporter gene to be used in high throughput cell-based screening assays for the identification of novel antiflaviviral chemotherapeutics and / or vaccines effective to treat and / or immunize against infections by WNV and other emerging flaviviruses, such as, for example, JEV, SLEV, AV, KV, JV, CV, YV, TBEV, DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4, YFV and MVEV. The present invention further provides methods of high throughput screening of antiflaviviral compounds or improved derivatives thereof using novel lineage I WNV reverse genetics systems and / or cell lines stably containing the reverse genetics systems. Also, the invention provides novel pharmaceutical compositions comprising an attenuated lineage I WNV that is less virulent but similarly immunogenic as the parent WNV and is capable of providing a protective immune response in a host.

The present invention discloses nucleic acid sequences which encode infectious hepatitis C viruses and the use of these sequences, and polypeptides encoded by all or part of these sequences, in the development of vaccines and diagnostics for HCV and in the development of screening assays for the identification of antiviral agents for HCV.

The present invention relates to a method for modulating the interaction between at least two proteins, wherein at least one of the two proteins is a functional cell-surface receptor and the other protein is the receptor ligand. The invention features a binding site of said functional cell-surface receptor on the receptor ligand and discloses a series of amino acid sequences, which are part of the structure of said binding site and / or involved in the interaction between the receptor and the ligand. Moreover, the present invention features methods for molecular design and screening of a candidate compound capable of modulating the interaction between the functional cell-surface receptor and receptor ligand through the described binding site, and provides a screening assay for identification of such a compound. The invention further describes an antibody capable of binding to the above binding site and / or to an epitope comprising an amino acid sequence essential for executing the receptor ligand interaction through said binding site. The invention also concerns a variety of uses of the disclosed methods, peptide sequences and antibodies. The invention in preferred embodiments concerns the binding site of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) on FGFR ligands, compounds capable of modulating the receptor ligand interaction through said binding site, and antibody capable of recognition of said binding site.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of hematopoietic progenitor cells or endothelial progenitor cells from human pluripotent stem cells using a defined cell culture medium without the need to utilize feeder cells or serum. In some embodiments, differentiation is accomplished using hypoxic atmospheric conditions. The defined medium of the present invention may contain growth factors and a matrix component. The hematopoietic progenitor cells may be further differentiated into cell lineages including red blood cells, macrophages, granulocytes, and megakaryocytes. The endothelial progenitor cells may be further differentiated into endothelial cells. Also disclosed are screening assays for identification of candidate substances that affect differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into progenitor cells.

Methods for modulating proteasome activity in a subject is provided. Proteasome activity is modulated by administering a therapeutically effective amount of proteasome modulating pharmacological agent to a subject. In a preferred embodiment, the proteasome modulating pharmacological agent is a protease inhibitor. In another aspect, a screening assay for detecting and identifying proteasome modulating pharmacological agents to modulate proteasome activity in a subject is also provided.

Novel proteins and protein libraries are disclosed. The proteins possess one or more functional protein modules from different parent protein molecules. The proteins and protein libraries are exemplified by the preparation of cross-over chemokines that contain various combinations of peptide segments derived from RANTES, SDS-1 and vMIP-I and to vMIP-II. The proteins and libraries are extremely pure and can be provided in non-limiting high yields suitable for diagnostic and high-throughput screening assays.

The present invention relates to novel fluorescent dyes, novel fluorogenic and fluorescent reporter molecules and new enzyme assay processes that can be used to detect the activity of caspases and other enzymes involved in apoptosis in whole cells, cell lines and tissue samples derived from any living organism or organ. The reporter molecules and assay processes can be used in drug screening procedures to identify compounds which act as inhibitors or inducers of the caspase cascade in whole cells or tissues. The reagents and assays described herein are also useful for determining the chemosensitivity of human cancer cells to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. The present invention also relates to novel fluorogenic and fluorescent reporter molecules and new enzyme assay processes that can be used to detect the activity of type 2 methionine aminopeptidase, HIV protease, adenovirus protease, HSV-1 protease, HCMV protease and HCV protease.

Disclosed are DNA segments encoding <DEL-S DATE="20010821" ID="DEL-S-00001">hyaluronic acid synthase which are employed to construct recombinant cells useful in the production of hyaluronate synthase or hyaluronic acid (HA)<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00001"> <INS-S DATE="20010821" ID="INS-S-00001">the recombinant DNA segment identified in FIG. 5. <INS-E ID="INS-S-00001">In preferred aspects, chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus equisimilis is partially digested with EcoRI and the resultant fragments are ligated to form recombinant vectors. These vectors are useful in the transformation of host cells such as E. coli and or Streptococcal hosts. <DEL-S DATE="20010821" ID="DEL-S-00002">Resultant transformants are screened by the novel screening assays to identify colonies which have incorporated HA synthase DNA in a form that is being actively transcribed into the corresponding HA synthase enzyme. These colonies may be selected and employed in the production of the enzyme itself or its product, HA.<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00002"> <INS-S DATE="20010821" ID="INS-S-00002">The recombinant DNA segment identified in FIG. 5 is then inserted into a recombinant Streptococcal host for the production of hyaluronic acid (HA).<INS-E ID="INS-S-00002">

The present invention relates to the discovery of novel genes encoding an angiotensin converting enzyme, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2). Therapeutics, diagnostics and screening assays based on these molecules are also disclosed.

The invention provides methods, cells and constructs for optical measurement of membrane potential. These methods can be used in cells that are not accessible to presently available methods using electrodes. The methods can be directed to, for example, high-throughput drug screening assays to determine agents that can affect membrane potential of a target cell.

The present invention encompasses assays to identify compounds that inhibit the enzymatic activity of MIF which catalyzes the tautomerization of MIF-substrates, such as D-dopachrome to DHICA. In general, the assay is conducted in vitro by adding, mixing or combining MIF and a suitable substrate in the presence or absence of a test compound, and measuring the tautomerization of the substrate. The test compounds that inhibit tautomerization in the assay are identified as MIF inhibitors.

Methods and compositions are provided for the identification of stem cells and cancer stem cells. β-catenin is also identified as a target for the development of therapeutic moieties against hematopoietic tumors, i.e. leukemia and lymphoma cells, which may include screening assays directed at β-catenin, or members of the β-catenin signaling pathway. Cellular proliferation in hematopoietic cells can be altered by introducing stabilized β-catenin into a hematopoietic cell that is altered in its ability to undergo apoptosis but which is not fully transformed. The immortalized cells are useful in screening assays, and in the analysis of pathways by which hematopoietic cells undergo transformation.

Protein complexes are provided comprising at least one interacting pair of proteins. The protein complexes are useful in screening assays for identifying compounds effective in modulating the protein complexes, and in treating and / or preventing diseases and disorders associated with the protein complexes and / or their constituent interacting members.

The present invention relates to novel methods and compositions for detection and isolation of cancer cells with metastatic potential. The invention further relates to assays for measuring the metastatic potential of such cancer cells and drug screening assays for the identification of agents having anti-metastatic potential. The present invention further provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the metastatic potential of cancer cells by modulating the activity of serine integral membrane proteases [(SIMP) consisting of seprase and dipedidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV)]expressed on the surface of metastasizing cancer cells.

Aspects of the present invention relate to NF-HEV nuclear factor genes and polypeptides. Other aspects related to the use of NF-HEV nuclear factor genes and polypeptides. Other aspects related to the use of NF-HEV nuclear factor polynucleotides and polypeptides expressed in endothelial cells from chronically inflamed tissues, particularly in high endothelial venules endothelial cells (HEVECs) and endothelial cells from HEV-like vessels and small blood vessels, in connection with rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Aspects of the invention also relates to drug screening assays for identifying compounds capable of modulating NF-HEV activity, wherein such compounds can be used in inhibiting or preventing chronic inflammation.

The present invention provides novel biochips, biochip-based devices, and device configurations that can be used for ion transport measurement. The chips, devices, and designs of the present invention are particularly suited to high-throughput assays such as compound screening assays using patch clamping techniques. The invention includes high-density biochips made by novel methods and methods of making high density biochips, and also provides novel upper chamber configurations and fluidics designs for upper chambers of ion transport measurement devices that can be used in high throughput patch clamp assays. The present invention also includes methods of using ion transport measuring chips and devices of the present invention.

The present invention relates to methods of conducting assays for enzymatic activity on microarrays useful for the large-scale study of protein function, screening assays, and high-throughput analysis of enzymatic reactions. The invention relates to methods of using protein chips to assay the presence, amount, activity and / or function of enzymes present in a protein sample on a protein chip. In particular, the methods of the invention relate to conducting enzymatic assays using a microarray wherein a protein and a substance are immobilized on the surface of a solid support and wherein the protein and the substance are in proximity to each other sufficient for the occurrence of an enzymatic reaction between the substance and the protein. The invention also relates to microarrays that have an enzyme and a substrate immobilized on their surface wherein the enzyme and the substrate are in proximity to each other sufficient for the occurrence of an enzymatic reaction between the enzyme and the substrate.

Fusion of the viral envelope, or infected cell membranes with uninfected cell membranes, is an essential step in the viral life cycle. Recent studies involving the human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) demonstrated that synthetic peptides (designated DP-107 and DP-178) derived from potential helical regions of the transmembrane (TM) protein, gp41, were potent inhibitors of viral fusion and infection. A computerized antiviral searching technology (C.A.S.T.) that detects related structural motifs (e.g., ALLMOTI 5, 107x178x4, and PLZIP) in other viral proteins was employed to identify similar regions in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Several conserved heptad repeat domains that are predicted to form coiled-coil structures with antiviral activity were identified in the EBV genome. Synthetic peptides of 16 to 39 amino acids derived from these regions were prepared and their antiviral activities assessed in a suitable in vitro screening assay. These peptides proved to be potent inhibitors of EBV fusion. Based upon their structural and functional equivalence to the known HIV-1 inhibitors DP-107 and DP-178, these peptides should provide a novel approach to the development of targeted therapies for the treatment of EBV infections.

The present invention relates to polynucleotides that control desaturase genes and to drug screening assays for identifying pharmaceutially active compounds for use in the treatment of diseases involving abnormal lipid metabolism including diabetic neuropathy, by utilizing fatty acid desaturase enzymes and the genes which encode them as targets for intervention. The drug screening method identifies nucleotides, proteins, compounds and / or other pharmacological agents, which effectively modulate the activity of desaturase enzymes or regulate the level of expression of the desaturase genes.

The present invention relates to peptides which exhibit potent anti-retroviral activity. The peptides of the invention comprise DP178 (SEQ ID:1) peptide corresponding to amino acids 638 to 673 of the HIV-1LAI gp41 protein, and fragments, analogs and homologs of DP178. The invention further relates to the uses of such peptides as inhibitory of human and non-human retroviral, especially HIV, transmission to uninfected cells.

The invention provides methods, cells and constructs for optical measurement of membrane potential. These methods can be used in cells that are not accessible to presently available methods using electrodes. The methods can be directed to, for example, high-throughput drug screening assays to determine agents that can affect membrane potential of a target cell.