Leland Stanford Junior University

Harvard College

Other

Peter Belshaw

Stuart L Schreiber

Gerald R Crabtree

Thomas J Wandless

David M Spencer

Steffan Nicholas Ho

David Spencer

Steffan N Ho

We have developed a general procedure for the regulated (inducible) dimerization or oligomerization of intracellular proteins and disclose methods and materials for using that procedure to regulatably initiate cell-specific apoptosis (programmed cell death) in genetically engineered cells.

Regulated apoptosis

This invention is directed to a modified cyclosporin A and to a modified, genetically engineered version of its receptor, cyclophilin. This invention is further directed to a method for treating host versus graft disease following blood marrow transplantation by transfecting stem cells so that after introduction into a patient the stem cells will express the modified cyclophilin, and, as necessary, administer the modified cyclosporin A to the patient.

Gene therapy by cell specific targeting

Dimerization and oligomerization of proteins are general biological control mechanisms that contribute to the activation of cell membrane receptors, transcription factors, vesicle fusion proteins, and other classes of intra- and extracellular proteins. We have developed a general procedure for the regulated (inducible) dimerization or oligomerization of intracellular proteins.

Regulated transcription of targeted genes and other biological events

We have developed a general procedure for the regulated (inducible) dimerization or oligomerization of intracellular proteins and disclose methods and materials for using that procedure to regulatably initiate cell-specific apoptosis (programmed cell death) in genetically engineered cells

Dimerization and oligomerization of proteins are general biological control mechanisms that contribute to the activation of cell membrane receptors, transcription factors, vesicle fusion proteins, and other classes of intra- and extracellular proteins. We have developed a general procedure for the regulated (inducible) dimerization or oligomerization of intracellular proteins. In principle, any two target proteins can be induced to associate by treating the cells or organisms that harbor them with cell permeable, synthetic ligands. To illustrate the practice of this invention, we have induced: (1) the intracellular aggregation of the cytoplasmic tail of the .zeta. chain of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex thereby leading to signaling and transcription of a reporter gene, (2) the homodimerization of the cytoplasmic tail of the Fas receptor thereby leading to cell-specific apoptosis (programmed cell death) and (3) the heterodimerization of a DNA-binding domain (Gal4) and a transcription-activation domain (VP16) thereby leading to direct transcription of a reporter gene. Regulated intracellular protein association with our cell permeable, synthetic ligands offers new capabilities in biological research and medicine, in particular, in gene therapy. Using gene transfer techniques to introduce our artificial receptors, one can turn on or off the signaling pathways that lead to the overexpression of therapeutic proteins by administering orally active 'dimerizers' or 'de-dimerizers', respectively. Since cells from different recipients can be configured to have the pathway overexpress different therapeutic proteins for use in a variety of disorders, the dimerizers have the potential to serve as 'universal drugs'. They can also be viewed as cell permeable, organic replacements for therapeutic antisense agents or for proteins that would otherwise require intravenous injection or intracellular expression (e.g., the LDL receptor or the CFTR protein).

Dimerization and oligomerization of proteins are general biological control mechanisms that contribute to the activation of cell membrane receptors, transcription factors, vesicle fusion proteins, and other classes of intra- and extracellular proteins. We have developed a general procedure for the regulated (inducible) dimerization or oligomerization of intracellular proteins. In principle, any two target proteins can be induced to associate by treating the cells or organisms that harbor them with cell permeable, synthetic ligands. To illustrate the practice of this invention, we have induced: (1) the intracellular aggregation of the cytoplasmic tail of the .xi. chain of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex thereby leading to signalig and transcription of a reporter gene, (2) the homodimerization of the cytoplasmic tail of the Fas receptor thereby leading to cell-specific apoptosis (programmed cell death) and (3) the heterodimerization of a DNA-binding domain (Gal4) and a transcription-activation domain (VP16) thereby leading to direct transcription of a reporter gene. Regulated intracellular protein association with our cell permeable, synthetic ligands offers new capabilities in biological research and medicine, in particular, in gene therapy. Using gene transfer techniques to introduce our artificial receptors, one can turn on or off the signaling pathways that lead to the overexpression of therapeutic proteins by administering orally active 'dimerizers' or 'de-dimerizers', respectively. Since cells from different recipients can be configured to have the pathway overexpress different therapeutic proteins for use in a variety of disorders, the dimerizers have the potential to serve as 'universal drugs'. They can also be viewed as cell permeable, organic replacements for therapeutic antisense agents or for proteins that would otherwise require intravenous injection or intracellular expression (e.g., the LDL receptor or the CFTR protein).

Dimerization and oligomerization of proteins are general biological control mechanisms that contribute to the activation of cell membrane receptors, transcription factors, vesicle fusion proteins, and other classes of intra- and extracellular proteins. We have developed a general procedure for the regulated (inducible) dimerization or oligomerization of intracellular proteins. In principle, any two target proteins can be induced to associate by treating the cells or organisms that harbor them with cell permeable, synthetic ligands. To illustrate the practice of tis invention, we have induced: (1) the intracellular aggregation of the cytoplasmic tail of the .zeta. chain of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex thereby leading to signaling and transcription of a reporter gene, (2) the homodimerization of the cytoplasmic tail of the Fas receptor thereby leading to cell-specific apoptosis (programmed cell death) and (3) the heterodimerization of a DNA-binding domain (Gal4) and a transcription-activation domain (VP16) thereby leading to direct transcription of a reporter gene. Regulated intracellular protein association with our cell permeable, synthetic ligands offers new capabilities in biological research and medicine, in particular, in gene therapy. Using gene transfer techniques to introduce our artificial receptors, one can turn on or off the signaling pathways that lead to the overexpression of therapeutic proteins by administering orally active 'dimerizers' or 'de-dimerizers', respectively. Since cells from different recipients can be configured to have the pathway overexpress different therapeutic proteins for use in a variety of disorders, the dimerizers have the potential to serve as 'universal drugs'. They can also be viewed as cell permeable, organic replacements for therapeutic antisense agents or for proteins that would otherwise require intravenous injection or intracellular expression (e.g., the LDL receptor or the CFTR protein).

Dimerization and oligomerization of proteins are general biological control mechanisms that contribute to the activation of cell membrane receptors, transcription factors, vesicle fusion proteins, and other classes of intra- and extracellular proteins. We have developed a general procedure for the regulated (inducible) dimerization or oligomerization of intracellular proteins. In principle, any two target proteins can be induced to associate by treating the cells or organisms that harbor them with cell permeable, synthetic ligands. To illustrate the practice of this invention, we have induced: (1) the intracellular aggregation of the cytoplasmic tail of the .zeta. chain of the T cell receptor (TCR)CD3 complex thereby leading to signaling and transcription of a reporter gene, (2) the homodimerization of the cytoplasmic tail of the Fas receptor thereby leading to cell-specific apoptosis (programmed cell death) and (3) the heterodimerization of a DNA-binding domain (Gal4) and a transcription-activation domain (VP16) thereby leading to direct transcription of a reporter gene. Regulated intracellular protein association with our cell permeable, synthetic ligands offers new capabilities in biological research and medicine, in particular, in gene therapy. Using gene transfer techniques to introduce our artificial receptors, one can turn on or off the signaling pathways that lead to the overexpression of therapeutic proteins by administering orally active 'dimerizers' or 'de-dimerizers', respectively. Since cells from different recipients can be configured to have the pathway overexpress different therapeutic proteins for use in a variety of disorders, the dimerizers have the potential to serve as 'universal drugs'. They can also be viewed as cell permeable, organic replacements for therapeutic antisense agents or for proteins that would otherwise require intravenous injection or intracellular expression (e.g., the LDL receptor or the CFTR protein).

Methods and compositions are provided for modified cells, where a chimeric protein consisting of a ligand binding domain fused to an action domain is employed which initiates a signal which activates a biological process: transcription of at least one gene, usually a second construct introduced into the host cells; exocytosis; or an extracellular process. The second construct optimally present provides for a promoter which responds to a transcriptional activation action domain to provide for transcription, when an appropriate ligand binds to the ligand binding domain. Exemplary of the system is the use of an FKBP/CD3.zeta. or transcription factor fusion protein, using dimeric FK506 or FK520 as the ligand and a promoter responsive to NF-AT or other transcription factor requiring two molecules for transcriptional activation.

Dimerization and oligomerization of proteins are general biological control mechanisms that contribute to the activation of cell membrane receptors, transcription factors, vesicle fusion proteins, and other classes of intra- and extracellular proteins. We have developed a general procedure for the regulated (inducible) dimerization or oligomerization of intracellular proteins. In principle, any two target proteins can be induced to associate by treating the cells or organisms that harbor them with cell permeable, synthetic ligands. To illustrate the practice of this invention, we have induced: (1) the intracellular aggregation of the cytoplasmic tail of the .zeta. chain of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex thereby leading to signaling and transcription of a reporter gene, (2) the homodimerization of the cytoplasmic tail of the Fas receptor thereby leading to cell-specific apoptosis (programmed cell death) and (3) the heterodimerization of a DNA-binding domain (Gal4) and a transcription-activation domain (VP16) thereby leading to direct transcription of a reporter gene. Regulated intracellular protein association with our cell permeable, synthetic ligands offers new capabilities in biological research and medicine, in particular, in gene therapy.

Growing community of inventors

Somerville, MA, United States of America

Peter Belshaw