University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Longevica Therapeutics Inc.

Alexey Ryazanov

Benjamin Turk

Alexander Chikunov

Benjamin E Turk

Hsueh-Ping Chu

William N Hait

Yuriy Shymkiv

Karen S Pavur

The present invention relates to methods for attenuating aging, of health maintenance, and/or treating, or delaying the onset of, an age-related condition or disorder, in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of (a) one or more compounds that sustain pharmacological activation of xenobiotic metabolism or induce fermentation by gut bacteria to produce substances that activate xenobiotic metabolism enzymes and/or stimulate xenobiotic excretion and (b) one or more chelators. A further aspect of the invention is a composition comprising (a) and (b).

Methods and compositions for extending lifespan

The present invention provides novel mammalian alpha-kinase proteins: melanoma alpha-kinase (MK), heart alpha-kinase (HK), kidney alpha-kinase (KK), skeletal muscle alpha-kinase (SK), and lymphocyte alpha-kinase (LK). In particular, a novel kinase type is herein provided, characterized by the presence of an alpha-kinase catalytic domain and an ion channel domain. Isolated nucleic acids of the alpha-kinases MK, HK, KK, SK and LK are provided. Methods for making the novel alpha-kinases, cells that express the alpha-kinases and methods for treating an animal in need of either increased or decreased activity of the alpha-kinases are provided.

Mammalian alpha-kinase proteins, nucleic acids and diagnostic and therapeutic uses thereof

Assays for identifying novel compounds for inhibiting eEF2 kinase and consequence peptides employed therein.

EEF2K assays for identifying compounds that inhibit EEF2K activity

eEF2K assays for identifying compounds that inhibit eEF2K activity

Methods are provided to increase resistance to cell damage in a subject. The increase in resistance to cell damage in a subject in the subject is accomplished by decreasing activity of eEF2 kinase in the subject. The eEF2 kinase activity can be decreased by decreasing the amount of functional eEF2 kinase produced by the subject, including contacting the eEF2 kinase with a compound that inhibits phosphorylation of eEF2 kinase substrate or decreasing the amount of functional eEF2 kinase is decreased by reducing expression of a gene encoding the eEF2 kinase.

Methods and means for increasing resistance to cell damage

A new superfamily of protein kinases has been discovered that centers around eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF-2 kinase). The protein kinases of this new superfamily have the following characteristics: 1) sequence similarity to eEF-2 kinase; 2) no sequence similarity to the protein kinases of either the serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase or histidine kinase superfamily; and, 3) specifically phosphorylates &agr;-helical regions of proteins as opposed to &bgr;-turns, as seen in all other protein kinases. Assays have been developed utilizing eEF-2 kinase and a phosphorylation target consisting of a novel &agr;-helical 16-amino acid peptide sequence to facilitate high-throughput screening for compounds that can specifically inhibit this protein kinase that has been implicated tumor growth and other hyperproliferitive disorders. Additionally, the disclosed invention includes assessing eEF-2 kinase levels for diagnostic purposes, and therapeutic formulations to inhibit eEF-2 kinase activity.

Growing community of inventors

Princeton, NJ, United States of America

Alexey Ryazanov