University of California

Aurora Biosciences Corporation

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Michael A Whitney

Roger Y Tsien

Tao Jiang

Emilia S Olson

Brian Pollok

Jeffrey Stack

Andrew B Cubitt

Quyen T Nguyen

Mark Thomas Miller

Dennis James Hurley

Lewis R Makings

Stephen R Adams

Dina Hingorani

Jill Jarecki

Xiaocun Chen

Edward M Rockenstein

A generic structure for the peptides of the present invention includes A-X-B-C, where C is a cargo moiety, the B portion includes basic amino acids, X is a cleavable linker sequence, and the A portion includes acidic amino acids. The intact structure is not significantly taken up by cells; however, upon extracellular cleavage of X, the B-C portion is taken up, delivering the cargo to targeted cells. Cargo may be, for example, a contrast agent for diagnostic imaging, a chemotherapeutic drug, or a radiation-sensitizer for therapy. X may be cleaved extracellularly or intracellularly. The molecules of the present invention may be linear, cyclic, branched, or have a mixed structure.

Peptides whose uptake by cells is controllable

Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, is a selective transport molecule with increased in vivo circulation. In some embodiments, a selective transport molecule disclosed herein has the formula (A-X-B-C)n-M, wherein C is a cargo moiety; A is a peptide with a sequence comprising 5 to 9 consecutive acidic amino acids, wherein the amino acids are selected from: aspartates and glutatmates; B is a peptide with a sequence comprising 5 to 20 consecutive basic amino acids; X is a linker; and M is a macromolecular carrier.

Peptides whose uptake in cells is controllable

The present invention provides methods for guiding preservation of neurons or nerves during surgery by administering a fluorescently-labeled peptide or aptamer that specifically binds to the neurons or nerves. The invention further provides targeting molecules of fluorescently-labeled peptides or aptamers that specifically bind to neurons or nerves and for compositions thereof.

Peptides and aptamers for targeting of neuron or nerves

This invention is directed towards methods of destabilizing proteins in living cells, and their use for the development of novel assays. In one embodiment, the invention comprises the use of non-cleavable multimerized ubiquitin fusion proteins to destabilize a target protein, such as a reporter moiety. In one aspect of this method the constructs also comprises a linker that operatively couples the reporter moiety to the multimerized ubiquitin fusion protein. In this embodiment, enzymatic modification of the linker results in a modulation of the coupling of the reporter protein to the multimerized ubiquitin domains resulting in a change in the stability of the reporter moiety. The level of the reporter moiety in the cell can then be used as a measure of the enzymatic activity in the cell. In another embodiment the invention provides for a generalized way of coordinately regulating the cellular concentration of a plurality of target proteins. In one aspect of this method, the target proteins are operatively coupled to a ubiquitin fusion protein via a linker containing a protease cleavage site. Cleavage of the linker by a protease results in uncoupling of the target protein from the multimerized ubiquitin construct, and results in an increase in the stability and concentration of the target protein.

Methods of protein destabilization and uses thereof

The present invention relates to compounds useful as promoters of the SMN2 gene. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Compounds useful as promoters of SMN2

A non-optimal translational start site (Kozak) polynuclcotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 is provided. An expression vector for expressing a protein of interest, utilizing the non-optimal translational start site is also provided. Host cells containing the expression vector utilizing the non-optimal translational start site are also provided. A selectable marker encoded by a nucleic acid sequences utilizing the non-optimal translational start site is further provided.

Non-optimal Kozaks sequences

The invention provides for a methods and compositions for identifying proteins or compounds that directly or indirectly modulate a genomic polynucleotide and methods for identifying active genomic polynucleotides. Generally, the method comprises inserting a BL (beta-lactamase) expression construct into an eukaryotic genome, usually non-yeast, contained in at least one living cell, contacting the cell with a predetermined concentration of a modulator, and detecting BL activity in the cell.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Michael A Whitney