Thomas Jefferson University

University of Delaware

Other

Cornell Research Foundation Inc.

Valigen (us), Inc.

Kimeragen, Inc.

Eric B Kmiec

Michael C Rice

William K Holloman

Howard Gamper

Allyson D Cole-Strauss

David L Gerhold

Hetal Parekh-Olmedo

Pamela A Havre

Allyson Cole Strauss

Howard B Gamper, Jr

Sheryl T Smith

Michael G Usher

Zhigang Shu

Li Liu

Erin E Brachman

Kyonggeun Yoon

The present invention relates to oligonucleotide compositions and therapeutic uses thereof to modify protein-protein interactions. In particular, the invention relates to the use of a guanidine-rich oligonucleotides to disrupt disease-causing protein aggregates, for example, Huntington's Disease (HD) protein aggregates.

G-rich polynucleotides for the treatment of Huntington's Disease

The invention is directed to oligonucleotide-mediated repair or alteration of genetic information, such as nucleic acid sequence alteration, and methods, compositions and kits for enhancing the efficiency of such alteration. Specifically, the invention incorporates the use of factors such as Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (HDAC), Lambda phage beta protein, or hydroxyurea to achieve such enhanced efficiency.

Enhanced oligonucleotide-mediated nucleic acid sequence alteration

Methods and compositions for polymorphism detection and separation. The methods are readily multiplexed, can be adapted to a variety of existing detection systems, and permit target amplification without PCR. The methods permit allelic variants selectively to be isolated, with or without contemporaneous detection, and finds particular utility in facilitating the construction of coisogenic cell collections in which the cells differ genotypically by single nucleotide changes targeted to defined loci.

Polymorphism detection and separation

Presented are methods and compositions for targeted chromosomal genomic alterations using modified single-stranded oligonucleotides. The oligonucleotides of the invention have at least one modified nuclease-resistant terminal region comprising phosphorothioate linkages, LNA analogs or 2'-O-Me base analogs.

Targeted chromosomal genomic alterations with modified single stranded oligonucleotides

Methods for the production and use of stable complexes of duplex nucleic acid molecules and oligonucleotides are presented. These complexes can be used for the detection and purification of a known nucleic acid target as well as the manipulation of a defined nucleic acid target sequence.

Genomics applications for modified OLIGO nucleotides

Presented are methods and compositions for targeted chromosomal genomic alterations using modified single-stranded oligonucleotides of the invention have at least one modified nuclease-resistant terminal region comprising phosphorothioate linkages, LNA analogs or 2'-O-Me base analogs.

Composition and methods for enhancing oligonucleotide-directed nucleic acid sequence alteration in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro are presented. These methods and compositions involve cells and cell-free extracts with altered levels or activities of a protein from the RAD52 epistasis group, the mismatch repair group and/or the excision repair group.

Compositions and methods for enhancing oligonucleotide-mediated gene alteration

The invention is based on the reaction of recombinagenic oligonucleotides in a cell-free system containing a cytoplasmic cell extract and a test duplex DNA on a plasmid. The reaction specifically converts a mutant kan gene to recover the resistant phenotype in transformed MutS, RecA deficient bacteria and allows for the rapid and quantitative comparison of recombinagenic oligonucleobases. Using this system a type of Duplex Mutational Vector termed a Heteroduplex Mutational Vector, was shown to be more active in than the types of mutational vectors heretofore tested. Further improvements in activity were obtained by replacement of a tetrathymidine linker by a nuclease resistant oligonucleotide, such as tetra-2&prime;-O-methyl-uridine, to link the two strands of the Duplex Mutational Vector and removal of the DNA-containing intervening segment. The claims concern Duplex Mutational Vectors that contain the above improvements. In an alternative embodiment the claims concern a reaction mixture containing a recombinagenic oligonucleobase, a cell-free enzyme mixture and a duplex DNA containing a target sequence. In yet an alternative embodiment, the invention concerns the use of such mixture to test improvements in recombinagenic oligonucleobases, as well as to test the effects of compounds on the activity of the cell-free enzyme mixture and also to make specific changes in the target DNA sequence.

Eukaryotic use of improved chimeric mutational vectors

The invention concerns mammalian recombinase genes (REC2) and their promoters. Over expression of REC2 in a cell is found to facilitate homologous recombination, particularly homologous recombination using a DNA/RNA chimeric oligonucleotide and to sensitize a cell to the apoptotic effects of irradiation. The REC2 promoter, in combination with a strong enhancer, e.g., a SV40 enhancer, was found to be a strong promoter following irradiation of the cells. A radiation induceable promoter can be used to sensitize a cell to radiation treatment by operably linking the radiation induceable promoter to a gene whose expression converts a prodrug to a drug such as a herpes thymidien kinase gene.

Mammalian and human REC2

Disclosed are the Hmp class of polypeptides, DNA sequences encoding those polypeptides, and uses thereof, particularly in methods and kits for mismatch (for example, mutation) detection.

Recombinant helix modification recognition proteins and uses thereof

The invention includes a method of phosphorylating a serine containing substrate by incubating the substrate with ATP and an enzyme that is hsRec2 or muRec2 or a derivative thereof. The natural substrates of the kinase activity of Rec2 are the cell cycle control proteins such as p53 and cyclin E. The over expression of Rec2 is known to cause cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis and the invention discloses that these effects are kinase mediated. Accordingly, the invention provides a method of assessing antagonists and agonists of Rec2, which antagonists and agonists would have pharmacological activity. The invention further discloses that there is specific binding between hsRec2 and at least three cell cycle control proteins: p53, PCNA and cdc2.

Rec 2 kinase

REC2 kinase

The invention is based on the reaction of Duplex Mutational Vector in a cell-free system containing a cytoplasmic cell extract and a test plasmid. The reaction specifically converts a mutant kan.sup.r gene to recover the resistant phenotype in transformed MutS, RecA deficient bacteria. Using this system a type of Duplex Mutational Vector termed a Non-Chimeric Mutational Vector, having no RNA:DNA hybrid-duplex is shown to be an effective substrate for eukaryotic enzymes. The invention concerns the use of Non-Chimeric Mutational Vectors protected from 3' exonuclease attack in eukaryotic cells. Such protection can be conferred by replacement of a tetrathymidine linker by a nuclease resistant oligonucleotide, such as tetra-2'-O-methyl-uridine, to link the two strands of the recombinagenic oligonucleobase.

Eukaryotic use of non-chimeric mutational vectors

The invention concerns genes encoding recombinases that can be used to promote homologous recombination in eukaryotic cells. The application teaches methods by which a recombinase of one species can be used to isolate a homologous recombinase of a different species and methods to identify the isolated homologs. Recombinases from Ustilago maydis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and humans are specifically included in the invention. The invention encompasses the method of producing an isolated recombinase protein in a prokaryotic cell and recovering the product in an active form. The invention also encompasses a genetically engineered gene which encodes a non-naturally occurring recombinase that causes a greater rate of recombination than does the naturally occurring recombinase. The invention further encompasses the use of recombinase proteins and of recombinase genes to promote homologous recombination, including recombination between a host cell genome and a chimeric oligonucleotide, i.e., an oligonucleotide having both RNA and DNA bases.

Growing community of inventors

Landenberg, PA, United States of America

Eric B Kmiec