Confirmant Unveils the First Comprehensive Database of Human Proteins, Their Variants and the Genes That Encode Them
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Confirmant Ltd., a provider of innovative bio-information, will preview its breakthrough Protein Atlas of the Human Genome at CHI's upcoming Genome Tri-Conference 2002, running from the 23rd of February to the 1st of March at the Santa Clara Convention Center.
Unlike existing genomics databases that use DNA/RNA information to predict genes and proteins, the underlying foundation of the Protein Atlas are the proteins themselves. Proteins are the true drivers of cellular function and therefore play a key role in the cause and treatment of disease.
The information contained in the Protein Atlas is experimentally derived using unique and proprietary technologies developed by Oxford GlycoSciences -- one of the world leaders in high-throughput proteomics -- to identify protein sequence tags (PSTs) that can be mapped back to the human genome to define gene fine structure unambiguously.
This approach will overcome the inaccuracies associated with computational predictions and will facilitate the drug discovery process by providing accurate and definitive information needed for the identification, prioritisation and validation of drug targets.
``The publication of the draft human genome was a turning point in many respects,'' notes Dr. Jonathan Sheldon, Confirmant's Chief Technology Officer. ``On the one hand, it has provided a remarkable stepping stone on which to build our understanding of human biology. On the other hand, it has also shown that genomics alone could not provide all the answers. Even the simplest questions such as 'how many genes do we have?' -- not to mention proteins -- have yet to be answered.''
Not only does the Protein Atlas currently contain information some 7,000 genes, it also includes their fine structure, as well as the protein variants that they encode. Some of these genes have never been identified before by predictive or indirect methods and represent a tremendous potential for novel therapeutic intervention.
``The Protein Atlas is a combined genomics and proteomics approach that has tremendous potential to increase our understanding of disease at molecular level, and deliver a substantial productivity boost to drug discovery pipelines,'' explained Dr. Andrew Lyall, OGS' Chief Information Officer and Confirmant's Board Director, whilst pointing to the value of Confirmant's new bio-information offering.
According to Confirmant's Dr. Sheldon, key application areas for Protein Atlas bio-information will include:
* Identifying novel targets and biomarkers
* Improved annotation to facilitate validation of existing targets
* Compound screening
* Positional cloning and association studies
* Microarray design
* Protein-centric organisation of biological information
The Protein Atlas is expected to contain more than 10,000 protein-coding genes by the time of its first commercial release, planned for June 2002, and it should be complete by 2003.
Special Note
At CHI's Genome Tri-Conference 2002, Dr. Sheldon will make a short presentation on Saturday the 23rd of February at 5:15pm, entitled ``The Protein Atlas: Finding Forward Momentum in Post-Genomics.'' A press briefing will be held Tuesday the 26th of February at 10:15am. This will be followed by a breakfast workshop at 7:30am, Wednesday the 27th February, ``The Protein Atlas of the Human Genome: Unambiguous Identification, Location and Organisation of All Human Protein-Coding Genes in the Genome.'' Confirmant will also demonstrate and preview its bio-information solution at Booth 402 throughout the conference period.
About Confirmant
Confirmant Ltd. provides novel and unique post-genomic bio-information to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical research communities. Based on experimentally derived human protein sequence determination, Confirmant's first database product, the Protein Atlas of the Human Genome, will be the first definitive database of human proteins, their variants and genes encoding for them. This information will more reliably aid in the identification and validation of drug targets and disease biomarkers, resulting in faster and more effective development of new treatments and diagnostics. Confirmant is a joint venture between Oxford GlycoSciences (LSE: OGS; Nasdaq: OGSI) and Marconi (LSE: MONI) and is based in Abingdon in the United Kingdom. www.confirmant.com |
