RICHMOND, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO - news) today announced that it has been granted a new patent in the United Kingdom entitled ``Selection of Sites for Targeting by Zinc Finger Proteins and Methods of Designing Zinc Finger Proteins to Bind to Preselected Sites.'' Issued claims cover methods for identifying target sequences, within any gene, that will serve as preferred binding sites for zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs) and methods for designing ZFP transcription factors that bind tightly and specifically to these preferred sites. Related applications with similar claims are pending worldwide.
``This patent adds significantly to our growing intellectual property portfolio in the field of gene regulation using engineered ZFP transcription factors for a variety of applications, including therapeutic product development,'' said Edward Lanphier, Sangamo's president and chief executive officer. ``In particular, the technology covered under this patent results in optimal modulation of gene expression and potentially more rapid identification of optimal ZFPs for gene regulation.''
Zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs) are the dominant class of naturally occurring transcription factors in organisms from yeast to humans. Transcription factors, which are found in the nucleus of every cell, bind to DNA to regulate gene expression. Though there are many kinds of transcription factors, only ZFPs are amenable to engineering and precise targeting to a particular gene or genes of interest. Since the over-expression or under-expression of individual genes is the basis for many diseases, the ability to regulate genes with engineered ZFPs has enormous potential therapeutic benefit.
The inventions covered by this patent (Patent No. GB 2,348,425) are the result of research by Sangamo scientists into improving the affinity and specificity of DNA binding by engineered zinc finger transcription factors. The enhanced affinity and specificity of ZFP binding to preferred binding sites, identified as described in this patent, lead to increased efficiency in regulation of gene expression by engineered ZFPs... |
