Chimeric pro-caspases and methods of using same
US6916917B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 17, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07K2319/50
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to a chimeric pro-caspase, which contains a pro-caspase domain and an oligomerizing domain. The invention also relates to an antibody that reacts specifically with a chimeric pro-caspase. In addition, the invention further relates to a polynucleotide encoding a chimeric pro-caspase, and to nucleotide sequences, which can hybridize specifically with a polynucleotide encoding a chimeric pro-caspase. The present invention also relates to a method of inducing apoptosis in a cell by providing a chimeric pro-caspase in the cell, wherein the chimeric pro-caspase includes a pro-caspase domain and an oligomerizing domain, whereby the chimeric pro-caspase forms an oligomer in the cell, thereby activating caspase activity of the chimeric pro-caspase and inducing apoptosis in the cell. The present invention further relates to a method of reducing the severity of a pathologic condition in a subject, by providing cells of the subject that are involved in the pathologic condition with a chimeric pro-caspase comprising a pro-caspase domain and an oligomerizing domain, whereby the chimeric pro-caspase forms an oligomer in the cells, thereby activating caspase activity …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.