Paul C. Zamecnik, at 96; discoveries helped revolutionize biochemistry Nov 16, 2009
He was forced into mandatory retirement from Harvard at age 65 and went to the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research, where he worked on blocking HIV with an antisense oligonucleotide. He left the company to cofound Hybridon Inc. in 1990. (Boston Globe)
Combimatrix Molecular Diagnostics Strengthens Management Team Oct 21, 2009
The technologies we have developed include a platform technology to rapidly produce user-defined, in-situ synthesized, oligonucleotide arrays for use in identifying and determining the roles of genes, gene mutations and proteins. This technology has a wide range of potential applications in the areas of genomics, proteomics, biosensors, drug discovery, drug development, diagnostics, combinatorial chemistry, material sciences and nanotechnology. (Primezone Releases)
Designing drugs and their antidotes together improves patient care Oct 5, 2009
If a patient takes an aptamer drug, the drug is the only free oligonucleotide in the body ... "This technology could be applied to any oligonucleotide-based therapeutic that is free in a patient's circulation," said lead author Sabah Oney, Ph. (EurekAlert!)
Regado Biosciences Announces Allowance in Europe of a Fundamental Patent Broadly Covering Oligonucleotide Modulators to Blood Coagulation Factor Aptamers Sep 18, 2009
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Regado Biosciences, a privately held company leading the development of antithrombotic aptamers with active control agents, announced today that the European Patent Office (EPO) has notified the Company of its intent to grant a patent with claims directed to oligonucleotide modulators of blood coagulation factor aptamers in EP 1401853 ... The allowed claims in EP1401853 broadly cover oligonucleotide modulators that hybridize under physiological... (PR Newswire)
Researchers identify proteintelomere interactions that could be key in treating cancer Sep 1, 2009
In cell cultures, through RNA affinity purification, a process that isolates a single type of protein from a complex mixture, the team identified telomeric proteins (Shelterin components TRF1 and TRF2, and origin recognition complex subunits ORC1, ORC2, and ORC4) that bound to a TERRA oligonucleotide sequence but not to control oligonucleotides. Using RNA chromatin immunoprecipitation assays (ChIPs), in which specific pieces of RNA are isolated from bound proteins, the team discovered that TERRA... (EurekAlert!)
Gene signal GS-101 data shows safe and effective inhibition of ophthalmic blood vessel growth Sep 1, 2009
Lausanne, Switzerland Gene Signal, a company focused on developing innovative drugs to manage angiogenesis based conditions, today announced the publication of interim results from a phase II study suggesting that the antisense oligonucleotide GS-101 (eye drops) is safe and effective at inhibiting and regressing corneal neovascularisation (abnormal new blood vessel growth) ... The aim of this randomised, double-blind, multicenter phase II clinical study was to test the efficacy and tolerability... (EurekAlert!)
Experimental Treatment Could Fight Muscular Dystrophy Aug 27, 2009
Recently, molecules called antisense oligonucleotides have shown some promise ... In their study, published online Aug. 25 in The Lancet Neurology, researchers at the University College London Institute of Child Health selected seven patients for whom a particular oligonucleotide molecule, called AVI-4658, appeared suitable. (MEDLINEplus)
Anti-oncogenic and pro-differentiation effects of clorgyline, a monoamine oxidase A inhibitor, on high grade prostate cancer cells Aug 20, 2009
We systematically assessed gene expression changes induced by clorgyline in E-CA cells using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays. Genes differentially expressed in treated and control cells were identified by Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM). (BioMed Central)
Important Step In Neutralizing Toxic Cause Of Muscle Disease Aug 17, 2009
In collaboration with biotech company Prosensa, specialized in RNA-based therapeutics, Mulders used small artificial RNA molecules, called oligonucleotides, which bind to the toxic RNA. One particular oligonucleotide, specifically directed to the expanded area, was able to destroy the toxin in cells ... At the moment, oligonucleotide delivery to all cells in the mouse is being optimized ... Triplet-repeat oligonucleotide-mediated reversal of RNA toxicity in myotonic dystrophy. (Science Daily)
Dystrophy treatment 'step closer' Jul 20, 2009
The team used a synthetic molecule, called an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide, that mimics a segment of the genetic code to break up these deposits and re-establish cellular activity. It was specifically designed to bind to the toxic RNA and neutralise its harmful effects. (BBC News)
Possible Cure for Muscular Dystrophy? Jul 17, 2009
The Rochester team used a synthetic molecule called an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide that mimics a segment of the genetic code ... "The current textbooks for medical students do not have chapters on antisense oligonucleotides, but this will change in the near future," said Thornton ... "As compared to conventional drugs that work on proteins, antisense oligonucleotides work on RNA. They have been around for 20 years, but only recently is their full potential being realized. They provide... (Science Daily)
Gene Inhibition May Help Normalize Type 2 Diabetes Jun 20, 2009
At the same time, they inhibited expression of the Sirtiun 1 gene through injection of an antisense oligonucleotide (short fragments of nucleic acid that inactivate gene expression) specifically targeted to that gene. Blood glucose levels in the rats came down close to normal, as did their ability to regulate blood glucose levels with insulin, said first author Derek Erion, a graduate student in cellular and molecular physiology at Yale. (Science Daily)
Rapid approach to identify influenza A virus mutations and drug resistance developed May 29, 2009
Roche NimbleGen produces high-density arrays of long oligonucleotide probes that provide greater information content and higher data quality necessary for studying the full diversity of genomic and epigenomic variation. The enhanced performance is made possible by Roche NimbleGen's proprietary Maskless Array Synthesis (MAS) technology, which uses digital light processing and rapid, high-yield photochemistry to synthesize long oligonucleotide, high-density DNA microarrays with extreme... (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
A New Era in the Application of Lab-on-a-Chip to Rapid Point-of-Care Diagnosis May 18, 2009
Type A/H1N1 detection kits are available across three diagnostic technology platforms: VDS makes use of the highly advanced nucleic acid sequence-based amplification - enzyme-linked oligonucleotide capture (NASBA-EOC) ... HKLife's MOBILE FIELD UNIT is also available with a choice of technology platforms, either NASBA-EOC (enzyme-linked oligonucleotide capture) or a recently developed, patented and validated NASBA-POC (point-of-care) molecular diagnostics technology. (PR Newswire)
Kinovate Life Sciences, Inc. and Nitto Denko Corporation Announce Successful Development of NittoPhase™ HL High Loading Solid Support for Oligon May 15, 2009
(PRWEB) May 15, 2009 -- Kinovate Life Sciences, Inc, the market leader in solid support for oligonucleotide synthesis, will be announcing the successful development of its next generation high loading polymeric solid support product NittoPhase HL for oligonucleotide synthesis at the TIDES meeting commencing in Las Vegas on May 17th ... Through utilization of the unparalleled polymer synthesis and Rbilities of Nitto Denko Corporation, and the worldwide marketing and customer support operations of... (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
First Look At Genetic Dynamics Of Inbreeding Depression Mar 14, 2009
Using oligonucleotide microarrays, which can measure the activity of all of an organism s genes at once, the researchers were able to see which genes were more or less active (up-regulated or down-regulated) in the inbred versus the outbred lines. The six inbred lines of fruit flies showed a lot of variation in the degree of inbreeding depression, from 24 to 79 percent when compared with non-inbred flies. (Science Daily)
Artificial 3-D Microtissues, Tiny Gland Created Mar 6, 2009
Cells are stained different colors according to the oligonucleotide sequence attached to their surfaces. (Credit: Bertozzi lab, UC Berkeley). (Science Daily)
Tekmira Presents Data Demonstrating Further Increases in SNALP Potency Feb 24, 2009
Dr. Ian MacLachlan, Tekmira's Chief Scientific Officer, presented data at the Asia TIDES Oligonucleotide and Peptide Technology and Product Development Conference in Tokyo, Japan, that demonstrated improvements in the therapeutic index of new SNALP formulations of 5-10 times over that of formulations currently in use ... The Tokyo conference is the 20th TIDES Oligonucleotide and Peptide Technology and Product Development Conference ... TIDES is the only conference to focus on technology and... (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
A New Gene Silencing Platform -- Silence Is Golden Feb 19, 2009
The agents are single-stranded oligonucleotides, called U1 Adaptors, that have dual, and independent, functions ... Further, the domains of the oligonucleotide are independent so transcript binding and U1 snRNP binding can be independently optimized and adapted to a wide array of genes associated with disease ... "The U1 Adaptor is an oligonucleotide version of this older method and instead targets the 3' end processing step. U1 Adaptors have high activity when used alone and are synergistic... (Science Daily)
CombiMatrix Will Present Preliminary Data On Non-Invasive, Cancer Screening Test Feb 10, 2009
The study, titled ``Detection of Cancer with Serum miRNAs on an Oligonucleotide Microarray,'' will be presented as a poster by Dr. Dominic Suciu, Senior Scientist at CombiMatrix ... Abstract Title: Detection of Cancer with Serum miRNAs on an Oligonucleotide Microarray ... The technologies we have developed include a platform technology to rapidly produce customizable, in-situ synthesized, oligonucleotide arrays for use in identifying and determining the roles of genes, gene mutations and... (Primezone Releases)
