University of California

University of Southern California

Kenzo Morinaga

Charles E McKenna

Boris A Kashemirov

Ichiro Nishimura

Akishige Hokugo

Eric T Richard

In certain embodiments osteoadsorptive fluorogenic substrates of cathepsin K (or other proteases) are provided. Utilizing a bisphosphonate targeting moiety, the fluorogenic substrates provide effective bone-targeted protease sensor(s). In certain embodiments the 'probes' comprise cleavable fluorophore-quencher pair linked by a cathepsin K (or other protease) peptide substrate and tethered to a bisphosphonate. Unlike existing probes that are cleared within a few days in vivo, the probes described herein (e.g., OFS-1) allow for monitoring resorption over the course of longer time periods with a single dose.

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Kenzo Morinaga