β-secretase enzyme compositions and methods

US7456007B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · US

Inventors

• John P. Anderson · Langenfeld, DE
• Guriqbal Basi · Palo Alto, US
• Minh Tam Doan · Hayward, US
• Normand Frigon · Pleasant Hill, US
• Varghese John · San Francisco, US
• Michael Power · Quincy, US
• Sukanto Sinha · San Francisco, US
• Gwen Tatsuno · Oakland, US
• Jay Tung · Belmont, US
• Shuwen Wang · Hershey, US
• Lisa McConlogue · Burlingame, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 24, 1999
• Grant date: Nov 25, 2008
• Expiry date: Dec 24, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12Q1/6883
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Disclosed is an active, isolated β-secretase enzyme in purified and recombinant form. This enzyme is implicated in the production of amyloid plaque components which accumulate in the brains of individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Recombinant cells that produce this enzyme either alone or in combination with some of its natural substrates (APP and APPsw) are also disclosed. These compositions are useful for use in methods of selecting compounds that modulate β-secretase. Inhibitors of β-secretase are implicated as therapeutics in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.