The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 05, 1997
Paul Hasty, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Lexicon Genetics Incorporated, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Abstract
When a mutation, designated rad51.sup.M1, was generated in the mouse MmRAD51 gene, mutant embryos died shortly after implantation. rad51.sup.M1 cells exhibited hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation, reduced proliferation, programmed cell death and chromosome loss. The disruption of MmRad51 protein--protein interactions stopped cell proliferation and/or reduced cell viability. Several proteins that interact with MmRad51 have been identified including, for example Brca2 and M96. Additionally, Rad51 self-associates via the N-terminal region. When a single residue was changed from a conserved lysine to an alanine, the alteration proved toxic to cells. Moreover, a rad51 allele that lacked the RecA homology region was also deleterious to cells. In view of the above, it is clear that inhibiting MmRad51 function or the function of any molecule that associates with MmRad51, or any molecule in the Rad51 or Rad52 pathways, hinders cell proliferation and/or viability. Accordingly, molecules capable of blocking these critical DNA repair pathways may be effective as therapeutics for inhibiting cell proliferation.