Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists at AxCell Biosciences Corporation, a subsidiary of Cytogen Corporation (Nasdaq: CYTO - news), have successfully mapped all of the interactions of the known proteins found in one of the estimated 60 to 80 protein domain families in the human body. This achievement represents the first domain map to be completed in the effort to develop a chart of all of the protein pathways in the human body, which medical scientists believe will have applications for the development of drug therapies for a wide range of diseases.
Using advanced robotic screening techniques and data made available through the Human Genome Project (HGP), AxCell scientists have successfully identified more than 69,000 different protein interactions of the ``WW domain,'' the name for one of the human body's specific family of proteins. A domain is a structural site on a protein where interaction occurs with another protein.
``This milestone in the effort to map the interaction of human proteins is extremely important for two reasons. First, it will provide important data for research right away. Second, it reinforces our strong belief that AxCell Biosciences will be able to complete the entire human protein interaction model using our robotic screening technique,'' said John D. Rodwell, Ph.D., acting president and chief technical officer of AxCell Biosciences.
Proteins in the human body interact using signaling pathways that, in turn, regulate cellular activity such as the transmission of nerve impulses, secretion of hormones or the triggering of cell replication. Aberrations in protein interactions play a role in the progress of diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, among many others. Aberrations in the WW protein domain family specifically have been implicated in health problems ranging from hypertension and muscular dystrophy to immunodeficiency.
``AxCell has provided an interesting dataset for understanding protein signaling pathways,'' said Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D., founder, president and director of the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, WA, and one of the earliest advocates of the Human Genome Project. ``This achievement, a systems analysis of the WW domain family, provides important new information on protein signaling pathways which could have implications for their role in a broad range of diseases.''
Because protein signaling pathways play a role in many diseases, scientists are working to develop drugs that specifically target these pathways. While some interactions are likely to have positive clinical results, others can lead to unwanted drug side effects and toxicity. By referring to a chart of the body's protein interactions, researchers may be better able to identify drugs that target pathways related to a specific disease while avoiding those pathways associated with unwanted side effects.
``By charting all of the protein pathways within human cells, AxCell will be able to offer medical researchers a better understanding of protein interactions and their role in human health. Our human protein map promises to change the way pharmaceuticals are developed in the years ahead, with significant benefits for researchers and patients,'' Dr. Rodwell said.
In addition to the completion of the WW domain family map, research at AxCell has also led to several other important findings, including the identification of a significant number of previously unrecorded protein interactions. In 1999 AxCell was awarded a U.S. patent for the identification of previously undiscovered proteins in the WW domain family. The company expects to make substantial progress toward complete mapping of two additional protein domains -- the PDZ and SH3 domains -- in 2001. The PDZ and SH3 domains have been implicated in cancer, inflammatory disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
``The completion of the map of the WW domain is very exciting, but it's also just a first step in our ongoing effort to complete the entire map of human protein signaling interactions. We expect many more important discoveries along the way, and are on target to complete this project and make these data available to medical researchers and healthcare companies around the world,'' said Brian R. Bullard, vice president and chief information officer at AxCell.
To make these findings available to researchers, AxCell, along with partner InforMax, Inc., a leading global provider of bioinformatics software solutions, plan to conduct pre-launch and market activities of the InterFunctional Proteomics(TM) (IFP) Database early in 2001. The IFP Database will be designed to make these important findings available to subscribing medical and scientific researchers around the world on a commercial basis.
As more data from the HGP are made public, information related to the WW domain and all other protein domain families will continue to expand. The robotic screening process developed by AxCell makes it possible to incorporate new data quickly and update information available through the IFP Database.
AxCell Biosciences, a subsidiary of Cytogen Corporation, is a leader in the effort to chart protein signaling pathways in the human proteome as a means of discovering new drug tar gets. In conjunction with InforMax, AxCell is developing a proprietary protein-pathway database, the Inter-Functional Proteomic Database(TM) (IFP Database), as a discovery and development tool for subscribers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agricultural industries. For additional information on AxCell Biosciences, visit www.axcellbio.com . |
