Patent · US Expired

Soluble form of PrP.sup.SC which is insoluble in native form

US5834593A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
6References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 5, 1996
Grant dateNov 10, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 5, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61K38/00
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention includes deleting codon segments from DNA expressing a native protein (e.g., PrP.sup.Sc) in order to obtain a shorter, soluble protein which mimics characteristics of an insoluble native (e.g., PrP.sup.Sc) protein. Soluble proteins of the invention are characterized by: (1) having less amino acids than the full length native protein; (2) having a higher degree of solubility than the native protein; (3) retaining the basic biological characteristics of the native protein such as (a) not being subject to enzymatic digestion and (b) causing disease. Soluble proteins of the invention are obtained by providing a DNA sequence which encodes a native protein and systematically removing codons, making copies of the shortened versions of DNA which are then expressed to provide the shortened proteins. The shortened proteins are then tested for solubility. Soluble proteins are then further tested to confirm that they retain the biological characteristics of the native protein. The soluble form can also be created by adding amino acids, binding a hydrophilic moiety to the native protein or combinations of deleting, adding, and binding hydrophilic moieties to the protein.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.