Mitokor, Inc.

Migenix, Inc.

Scott W Miller

Robert E Davis

Soumitra S Ghosh

Walter H Moos

Yazhong Pei

Christen M Anderson

William Christensen Clevenger

Tomas R Szabo

Sandra Eileen Wiley

Compositions and methods are provided for producing adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) polypeptides and fusion proteins, including the production and use of recombinant expression constructs having a regulated promoter. ANT ligands and compositions and methods for identifying ANT ligands, agents that bind ANT and agents that interact with ANT are also disclosed.

Production of adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), novel ANT ligands and screening assays therefor

Production of adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), novel ANT ligands and screening assays therefor.

The present invention relates generally to mitochondria protecting agents for treating diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction leads to tissue degeneration and, more specifically, to compounds, compositions and methods related to the same. The methods of this invention involve administration of a pharmaceutically effective amount of a mitochondria protecting agent to a warm-blooded animal in need thereof, and composition of this invention contain a mitochondria protecting agent in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. Mitochondrial associated diseases which may be treated by the present invention include (but are not limited to) Alzheimer's Disease, diabetes mellitus. Parkinson's Disease, neuronal and cardiac ischemia. Huntington's disease and stroke.

Mitochondria protecting agents for treating mitochondria associated diseases

The present invention relates generally to mitochondria protecting agents for treating diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction leads to tissue degeneration and, more specifically, to compounds, compositions and methods related to the same. The methods of this invention involve administration of a pharmaceutically effective amount of a mitochondria protecting agent to a warm-blooded animal in need thereof, and composition of this invention contain a mitochondria protecting agent in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. Mitochondrial associated diseases which may be treated by the present invention include (but are not limited to) Alzheimer's Disease, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's Disease, neuronal and cardiac ischemia, Huntington's disease and stroke.

Cybrid cell lines which have utility as model systems for the study of disorders that are associated with mitochondrial defects are described. The cybrids are constructed by treating immortal cell lines with an agent that irreversibly disables mitochondrial electron transport, and then transfecting the cells with mitochondria isolated from diseased tissue samples. Preferably, the immortal cell lines used are of an undifferentiated type that can be induced to differentiate, which results in the cybrids also being able to be induced to differentiate. One such cybrid was constructed using neuroblastoma cells and mitochondria from a patient suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Methods for using such cybrids for screening drugs and therapies for utility in treating such disorders are also provided. In addition, cybrid animals, methods of producing them, and methods of using them in drug and therapy screening are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

San Marcos, CA, United States of America

Scott W Miller