Cellular processes

Kanazawa University research: Understanding a nanomuscle

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Alexander Mikhailov from Kanazawa University and colleagues have now studied the scission of vesicles by dynamin in detail, and confirmed that when dynamin wraps around a tubular cell membrane fragment, it can constrict it, which results in scission.

Key Points: 
  • Alexander Mikhailov from Kanazawa University and colleagues have now studied the scission of vesicles by dynamin in detail, and confirmed that when dynamin wraps around a tubular cell membrane fragment, it can constrict it, which results in scission.
  • Single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is a method used for measuring distances in the nanometer range in single molecules typically biomolecules.
  • Oleg M. Ganichkin, Renee Vancraenenbroeck, Gabriel Rosenblum, Hagen Hofmann, Alexander S. Mikhailov, Oliver Daumke, and Jeffrey K. Noel.
  • Quantification and demonstration of the collective constriction-by-ratchet mechanism in the dynamin molecular motor, PNAS July 13, 2021 118 (28) e2101144118.

Kanazawa University research: Understanding a nanomuscle

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Alexander Mikhailov from Kanazawa University and colleagues have now studied the scission of vesicles by dynamin in detail, and confirmed that when dynamin wraps around a tubular cell membrane fragment, it can constrict it, which results in scission.

Key Points: 
  • Alexander Mikhailov from Kanazawa University and colleagues have now studied the scission of vesicles by dynamin in detail, and confirmed that when dynamin wraps around a tubular cell membrane fragment, it can constrict it, which results in scission.
  • Single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is a method used for measuring distances in the nanometer range in single molecules typically biomolecules.
  • Oleg M. Ganichkin, Renee Vancraenenbroeck, Gabriel Rosenblum, Hagen Hofmann, Alexander S. Mikhailov, Oliver Daumke, and Jeffrey K. Noel.
  • Quantification and demonstration of the collective constriction-by-ratchet mechanism in the dynamin molecular motor, PNAS July 13, 2021 118 (28) e2101144118.

TruDiagnostic licenses Mitotic Clock developed by Van Andel Institute and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 13, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. & LEXINGTON, Ky., July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TruDiagnostic licensed a Mitotic Clock developed by epigenetic pioneers at Van Andel Institute and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and will be working with Van Andel Institute to continue to develop and refine this new clock.

Key Points: 
  • GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. & LEXINGTON, Ky., July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TruDiagnostic licensed a Mitotic Clock developed by epigenetic pioneers at Van Andel Institute and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and will be working with Van Andel Institute to continue to develop and refine this new clock.
  • A fully developed Mitotic Clock could become extremely useful in both clinical research and personalized medicine...
    Mitosis is the process by which nearly all human and animal cells divide and replicate.
  • A Mitotic Clock looks at how many times a cell has undergone replication.
  • A fully developed Mitotic Clock could become extremely useful in both clinical research and personalized medicine with its ability to detect:
    Cell Senescence.

Trillium Therapeutics Announces Dosing of First Patient in Phase 1b/2 Study of TTI-621 in Combination With Doxorubicin in Leiomyosarcoma

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 29, 2021

TTI-621 binds CD47, an innate immune checkpoint that binds SIRP and delivers a "dont eat me" signal to suppress macrophage phagocytosis.

Key Points: 
  • TTI-621 binds CD47, an innate immune checkpoint that binds SIRP and delivers a "dont eat me" signal to suppress macrophage phagocytosis.
  • TTI-621 is a fusion protein consisting of the CD47 binding domain of SIRP linked to the Fc region of human IgG1.
  • The dosing of this patient marks the beginning of the first Phase 1b/2 solid tumor clinical trial for Trillium, commented Dr. Ingmar Bruns, Trilliums Chief Medical Officer.
  • In this open-label Phase 1b/2 study, Trillium is adding TTI-621 to frontline doxorubicin and enrolling approximately 60 newly diagnosed LMS patients.

Onxeo Receives Notice of Allowance for a New Patent Broadening the Protection of AsiDNA™ in combination with a PARP Inhibitor in the United States

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 9, 2021

This new patent completes, in a key territory, the already robust patent family protecting AsiDNA in combination with PARP inhibitors.

Key Points: 
  • This new patent completes, in a key territory, the already robust patent family protecting AsiDNA in combination with PARP inhibitors.
  • The DNA repair pathways, BRCA-dependent homologous recombination pathway and PARP pathway, are complementary and essential for tumor cell survival and proliferation.
  • If one pathway is deficient (homologous recombination by BRCA mutation) and the other is blocked by a PARP inhibitor, the tumor cell dies.
  • "This patent represents a further recognition in the strategic US market of the very original properties of AsiDNA.

Kojin Therapeutics Launches with $60 Million Series A to Develop New Category of Drugs Based on Cell State Biology

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 9, 2021

For many hard-to-treat diseases, including otherwise drug-resistant cancers, diseased cells are in a state that is sensitive to ferroptosis, or iron-dependent cell death.

Key Points: 
  • For many hard-to-treat diseases, including otherwise drug-resistant cancers, diseased cells are in a state that is sensitive to ferroptosis, or iron-dependent cell death.
  • At Kojin, we have pioneered a fundamentally new way of looking at biology that unlocks enormous potential for drug discovery, said Stuart Schreiber, co-founder of Kojin Therapeutics.
  • Understanding cell states allows us to determine how a cell behaves and to target cells previously thought untouchable in cancer and other diseases.
  • To learn more about how Kojin is drugging the ferroptosis-sensitive cell state, visit kojintx.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter @KojinTx.

New data presented at Virtual EULAR 2021 Congress by AKL Research and Development demonstrate its investigational osteoarthritis drug APPA reduces senescence and reactive oxygen species production

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Findings from the study indicate its investigational oral osteoarthritis (OA) drug APPA can reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and senescence of human articular chondrocytes, both indicators associated with OA pathogenesis.

Key Points: 
  • Findings from the study indicate its investigational oral osteoarthritis (OA) drug APPA can reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and senescence of human articular chondrocytes, both indicators associated with OA pathogenesis.
  • In chondrocytes, senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix degrading enzymes, can contribute to the development and progression of OA[2][3].
  • This research builds on previous work from INBIC and other laboratories that showed APPA modifies a number of pathways involved in the development of OA.
  • [3]Benderdour M, Martel-Pelletier J, Pelletier JP, Kapoor M, Zunzunegui MV, Fahmi H. Cellular Aging, Senescence and Autophagy Processes in Osteoarthritis.

New data presented at Virtual EULAR 2021 Congress by AKL Research and Development demonstrate its investigational osteoarthritis drug APPA reduces senescence and reactive oxygen species production

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Findings from the study indicate its investigational oral osteoarthritis (OA) drug APPA can reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and senescence of human articular chondrocytes, both indicators associated with OA pathogenesis.

Key Points: 
  • Findings from the study indicate its investigational oral osteoarthritis (OA) drug APPA can reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and senescence of human articular chondrocytes, both indicators associated with OA pathogenesis.
  • In chondrocytes, senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix degrading enzymes, can contribute to the development and progression of OA[2][3].
  • This research builds on previous work from INBIC and other laboratories that showed APPA modifies a number of pathways involved in the development of OA.
  • [3]Benderdour M, Martel-Pelletier J, Pelletier JP, Kapoor M, Zunzunegui MV, Fahmi H. Cellular Aging, Senescence and Autophagy Processes in Osteoarthritis.

Researchers prepare to send fungi for a ride around the moon

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 28, 2021

Naval Research Laboratory are preparing experimental samples of fungi to send for a ride around the moon tentatively scheduled for later in 2021 or early 2022.

Key Points: 
  • Naval Research Laboratory are preparing experimental samples of fungi to send for a ride around the moon tentatively scheduled for later in 2021 or early 2022.
  • Fungi have natural mechanisms to protect from and repair DNA damage caused by radiation.
  • Those mechanisms enable the fungi to withstand several hundred times more radiation than humans.
  • This experiment will study the melanin in fungi (which may assist in protecting them from damage), as well as DNA repair pathways (which repair damage once it occurs).

Casma Therapeutics to Present at Oppenheimer Rare & Orphan Disease Summit

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 14, 2021

b'CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casma Therapeutics , Inc., a biotechnology company harnessing the process of autophagy to design powerful new medicines, today announced that Chief Executive Officer, Keith Dionne, Ph.D., will present a company overview at the upcoming Oppenheimer Rare & Orphan Disease Summit on Friday, May 21, 2021 at 8:15 a.m. ET.\nCasma Therapeutics is harnessing autophagy by developing a novel degradation technology to open new target areas for drug discovery and development that will profoundly impact the lives of patients.

Key Points: 
  • b'CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casma Therapeutics , Inc., a biotechnology company harnessing the process of autophagy to design powerful new medicines, today announced that Chief Executive Officer, Keith Dionne, Ph.D., will present a company overview at the upcoming Oppenheimer Rare & Orphan Disease Summit on Friday, May 21, 2021 at 8:15 a.m. ET.\nCasma Therapeutics is harnessing autophagy by developing a novel degradation technology to open new target areas for drug discovery and development that will profoundly impact the lives of patients.
  • Autophagy is a conserved cellular process that contributes to overall organismal health, but when autophagy is perturbed, inefficient autophagic flux contributes to numerous diseases.
  • By selectively boosting autophagy and degradation of disease targets in the lysosome, Casma expects to be able to arrest or reverse the progression of several diseases such as neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders, inflammation and muscle degeneration.
  • For more information, please visit www.casmatx.com .\n'