Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Limited

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.

Cambridge Neuroscience, Inc.

Other

Genentech, Inc.

Ucl Business Plc

Icrf Patents Limited

Cambridge Neuroscience Research Inc.

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Cambridge Neuroscience

Michael Derek Waterfield

Ian D Hiles

Paul Stroobant

Andrew David Goodearl

Luisa Minghetti

Mario Su Chen

Mark Marchioni

Ivan Tarasovich Gout

Ritu Bala Dhand

Michael J Fry

Mark Andrew Marchionni

Stefano Volinia

Maio Su Chen

Peter J Parker

George Panayoutou

Masayuki Otsu

Bart Vanhasebroeck

Axel Ullrich

Bart Vanhaesebroeck

Jan Domin

Ganna Panasyuk

J Schlessinger

Alexander Zhyvoloup

George Panayotou

Peter End

Masato Kasuga

Kazuyoshi Yonezawa

Ivan Nemazanyy

Gana Panasyuk

Ivan Gout

The invention relates to mTORbeta, a splice form of mTOR, nucleic acids encoding mTOR beta, and antibodies against mTOR beta. The invention also relates to methods of producing mTOR beta and methods of screening for an agent that modulates mTOR beta expression and/or activity. The invention further relates to a method of treating a disease associated with aberrant expression of mTOR beta by administration of an agent that alters mTOR activity and/or expression.

Truncated variant of the mammalian target for rapamycin (MTOR) protein

Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding a numerous polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell (particularly, Schwann cell) mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding novel polypeptides which may have use in stimulating glial cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides for the preparation of antibody probes useful for both diagnostic and therapeutic use in diseases involving glial cells.

Glial mitogenic factors, their preparation and use

This invention relates to new polypeptides which exhibit kinase activity or, more specifically, which show phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase activity. Such polypeptides are involved in pathways responsible for cellular growth and differentiation. An isolated polypeptide which possesses PI3-kinase activity when produced by recombinant production in insect cells is disclosed.

Method for determining expression of a PI3 kinase gene

The invention relates to a novel lipid kinase which is part of the PI3 Kinase family. PI3 Kinases catalyze the addition of phosphate to inositol generating inositol mono, di and triphosphate. Inositol phosphates have been implicated in regulating intracellular signaling cascades resulting in alternations in gene expression which, amongst other effects, can result in cytoskeletal remodeling and modulation of cellular motility. More particularly the invention relates to a novel human PI3 Kinase, p110&#x394; which interacts with p85, has a broad phosphinositide specificity and is sensitive to the same kinase inhibitors as PI3 Kinase p110A. However, in contrast to previously identified PI3 Kinases which show a ubiquitous pattern of expression, p110&#x394; is selectively expressed in leucocytes. Importantly, p110&#x394; shows enhanced expression in most melanomas tested and therefore may play a crucial role in regulating the metastatic property exhibited by melanomas. The identification of agents that enhance or reduce p110&#x394; activity may therefore prevent cancer metastatis.

Method for determining modulation of P110&#x394; activity

Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding a numerous polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell (particularly, Schwann cell) mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding novel polypeptides which may have use in stimulating glial cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Also included is the mature GGF peptide and the DNA encoding said peptide, exclusive of the N-terminal signal sequence. The mature GGF peptide and DNA encoding the same are also useful for treatment of conditions of the central nervous system. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides for the preparation of antibody probes useful for both diagnostic and therapeutic use in diseases involving glial cells.

Glial mitogenic factors lacking an N-terminal signal sequence

The invention involves prophylaxis or treatment of nervous system pathological conditions. This is accomplished by administering secretable glial growth factors, such as the molecule referred to as GGF-2.

Method for prophylaxis or treatment of a nervous system, pathophysiological condition involving a glial growth factor sensitive cell by administration of a glial growth factor

Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell mitogenesis. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides in the prevention or treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Methods for treating multiple sclerosis with GGF-related polypeptides

Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding a numerous polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell (particularly, Schwann cell) mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding novel polypeptides which may have use in stimulating glial cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides for the preparation of antibody probes useful for both diagnostic and therapeutic use in diseases involving glial cells. The present invention is specifically directed to methods of using said polypeptides to induce myelination and to treat multiple sclerosis.

Disclosed are methods for inducing myelination of neural cells by glial cells, The methods involve contacting glial cells with polypeptides comprising epidermal growth factor-like domains encoded by the GGF/p185 erb B2 ligand gene provided as a feature of the invention.

Method for determining modulation of p110&#x3b4; activity

A novel human class II PI3 kinase including the sequence of the isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes the kinase and the encoded amino acid sequence. The new human PI3 kinase is termed PI3K-C2&agr; and has unique biochemical properties that characterize it and distinguish it from previously known PI3 kinases. These include, among other things, resistance to the PI3 kinase inhibitors Wortmannin and LY294000, the lack of a p85 binding site, a divergent amino terminus, and the absence of a polyproline motif which is typical of previously known type II PI3 kinases.

Screening method for ligands with class II P13 kinase modulating activity

The invention relates to a novel lipid kinase which is part of the PI3 Kinase family. PI3 Kinases catalyze the addition of phosphate to inositol generating inositol mono, di and triphosphate. Inositol phosphates have been implicated in regulating intracellular signalling cascades resulting in alternations in gene expression which, amongst other effects, can result in cytoskeletal remodelling and modulation of cellular motility. More particularly the invention relates to a novel human PI3 Kinase, p110&dgr; which interacts with p85, has a broad phosphoinositide specificity and is sensitive to the same kinase inhibitors as PI3 Kinase p110&agr;. However in contrast to previously identified PI3 Kinases which show a ubiquitous pattern of expression, p110&dgr; is selectively expressed in leucocytes. Importantly, p110&dgr; shows enchanced expression in most melanomas tested and therefore may play a crucial role in regulating the metastatic property exhibited by melanomas. The identification of agents that enhance or reduce p110&dgr; activity may therefore prevent cancer metastasis.

Lipid kinase

Polypeptides having kinase activity, their preparation and use

Growing community of inventors

London, United Kingdom

Michael Derek Waterfield