Patents Assigned to Rockefeller University
  • Patent number: 6455681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated DNA molecules encoding mammalian single strand gap response proteins involved in activation of a DNA repair/cell cycle checkpoint pathway. Expression systems and host cells containing those DNA molecules as well as the proteins themselves and antibodies raised against them are also disclosed. The DNA molecules, proteins, and antibodies can be used for diagnostic purposes, while the DNA molecules also have therapeutic utility. In addition, transgenic animals can be produced where the gene encoding a single strand gap response protein is disrupted or deleted. As a result, these animals are characterized by spontaneous tumor development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Frank Dean, Michael E. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 6452068
    Abstract: Chemically inducible promoters are described that may be used to transform plants, including tobacco and lettuce, with genes which are easily regulatable by adding the plants or plant cells to a medium containing an inducer of the promoter or by removing the plants or plant cells from such medium. The promoters described are ones that are inducible by a glucocorticoid or estrogen which is not endogenous to plants. Such promoters may be used with a variety of genes such as ipt, CKI1, or knotted1, to induce shoot formation in the presence of an appropriate inducer. The promoters may be used with genes which induce somatic embryos such as Lec1 or SERK to prepare somatic embryos which can be grown into seedlings and then into plants. The promoter may also be used with antibiotic or herbicide resistance genes which are then regulatable by the presence or absence of inducer rather than being constitutive. Other examples of genes which may be placed under the control of the inducible promoter are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Jianru Zuo, Qiwen Niu, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Publication number: 20020127682
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal &bgr;1→4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc &bgr;1→3 to Gal; and adding Gal &agr;1→4 to Gal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventor: Emil C. Gotschlich
  • Patent number: 6446010
    Abstract: A method of generating a frequency distribution of scores comprising: a) generating mass data for a biological molecule; b) generating mass data for a series of random hypothetical biological molecules; c) calculating a frequency distribution of high similarity scores between mass data of each molecule generated in steps a and b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Jan Eriksson, David Feny{haeck over (o)}, Brian T. Chait
  • Patent number: 6444201
    Abstract: The role of synapsin II in both the reformation and the maintenance of synaptic connections in cultured hippocampal neurons can be the basis of therapy for neurodegenerative disorder, particularly Alzheimer disease, which involve the disruption of synapses. When synapsin II expression in neurons is blocked by antisense synapsin II oligonucleotides, the ability of hippocampal neurons to reform as well as to maintain synapses is severely disrupted. Antisense suppression of synapsin II after axon formation but immediately before synaptogenesis prevents synapse formation. Suppression of synapsin II after synaptogenesis disrupts the majority of existing synapses. Re-expression of synapsin II in synapsin deficient neurons achieved after removing the antisense oligonucleotides leads to the re-establishment of synaptic connections, providing direct evidence that synapsin II is required for the maintenance and/or restoration of synapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignees: The Rockefeller University, Brighan and Women's Hospital
    Inventors: Hui-Quan Han, Paul Greengard, Kenneth S. Kosik, Adriana Ferreira
  • Patent number: 6441276
    Abstract: A plant gene, Esr2, has been found which when overexpressed in plant cells results in cells which have cytokinin-independent cell growth. This feature allows the encoded protein ESR2 to be used as a selectable marker of transformed cells by growing the transformed cells on cytokinin-free media. It has also been found that overexpression of ESR2 in cells grown in the presence of cytokinins results in a higher regeneration of plants. This feature allows the gene to be used to obtain greater regeneration of plant cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Ikeda, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 6436628
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated nucleic acids and/or recombinant DNA molecules that encode the clock protein DOUBLETIME. The present invention further provides both isolated and/or recombinant DOUBLETIME. In addition, the present invention provides antibodies to DOUBLETIME. Methods of using the nucleic acids, proteins and antibodies of the present invention, including as therapeutics are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Michael W. Young, Brian Kloss, Justin Blau, Jeffrey Price
  • Publication number: 20020107211
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of weight, and to the diagnostic and therapeutic uses to which such modulators may be put. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to the elucidation and discovery of nucleotide sequences, and proteins putatively expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleotide sequences in object represent the genes corresponding to the murine and human ob gene, that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. Preliminary data, presented herein, suggests that the polypeptide product of the gene in question functions as a hormone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Friedman, Jeffrey L. Halaas, Ketan Gajiwala, Stephen K. Burley, Yiying Zhang, Ricardo Proenca, Margherita Maffei
  • Patent number: 6429290
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of body weight, and to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of such modulators. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences corresponding to the murine and human OB gene, and two isoforms thereof, and proteins expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight and that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In further aspects, the present invention provides cloning vectors and mammalian expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Friedman, Yiying Zhang, Ricardo Proenca
  • Patent number: 6429010
    Abstract: A new synapsin protein, designated synapsin III, its amino acid sequence, and its human gene have been isolated and characterized. Furthermore, isoforms of synapsin III, e.g., synapsin IIIa, IIIb and IIIc, and have isolated and characterized, and cDNA encoding these isoforms has also been isolated and characterized. The synapsin III gene is located on human chromosome 22, in the vicinity of a region previously identified as a susceptibility locus for schizophrenia. The information and experimental tools provided by this discovery can be used to generate new therapeutic agents or diagnostic assays for this new protein, its associated mRNA or its associated genomic DNA. Due to its role in neurotransmission and synaptogenesis, isoforms of synapsin III are associated with the symptoms of psychiatric diseases, especially schizophrenia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Paul Greengard, Barbara Porton, Hung-Teh Kao
  • Publication number: 20020081610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting differential expression of embryonic gene products known to play a fundamental role in the embryonic developmental process using nucleic acid arrays containing Xenopus embryonic gene sequences as set forth in Appendix 1. This allows the detection of the expression of differentially expressed genes in embryonic cells, for diagnosing developmental disorders or identifying different types of embryonic cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Ali Hemmati-Brivanlou, Curtis R. Altmann
  • Patent number: 6407312
    Abstract: A plant gene, Esr1, has been found which when overexpressed in plant cells results in cells which have cytokinin-independent cell growth. This feature allows the encoded protein ESR1 to be used as a selectable marker of transformed cells by growing the transformed cells on cytokinin-free media. It has also been found that overexpression of ESR1 in cells grown in the presence of cytokinins results in a higher regeneration of plants. This feature allows the gene to be used to obtain greater regeneration of plant cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Hiroharu Banno, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 6395541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic protocols and pharmaceutical compositions designed to target topo I for the treatment of HIV infection. The invention relates to therapeutic modalities and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of HIV-infection using human topo I and its interaction with HIV gag and RT as a target for intervention. The invention further relates to the use of human topo I to enhance the activity of RT. The present invention also relates to the expression of human topo I in transgenic animals, in particular mice, as a system to study the HIV life cycle and to screen agents for their ability to interfere with the HIV life cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: William W. Hall, Hidehiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6391572
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying interacting regions of transcription factors, and methods for identifying agents which modulate the interactions, useful for affecting gene regulation, for example, cellular transformation. A site within residues 130-154 and within residues 343-358 in Stat3 were found to interact with the transcription factor c-Jun. On c-Jun, a site within residues 105 and 334, and more particularly, between 105 and 263, interact with Stat3. These sites of interactions permit methods for identifying agents which modulate the interaction between these transcription factors to modulate gene transcription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Xiaokui Zhang, Curt Horvath, Melissa H. Wrzeszczynska, James E. Darnell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6391649
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for accurately comparing the levels of cellular components, such as proteins, present in samples which differ in some respect from each other using mass spectroscopy and isotopic labeling. A first sample of biological matter, such as cells, is cultured in a first medium and a second sample of the same biological matter is cultured in a second medium, wherein at least one isotope in the second medium has a different abundance than the abundance of the same isotope in the first medium. One of the samples is modulated, such as by treatment with a bacteria, a virus, a drug, hormone, a chemical or an environmental stimulus. The samples are combined and at least one protein is removed. The removed protein is subjected to mass spectroscopy to develop a mass spectrum. A ratio is computed between the peak intensities of at least one closely spaced pair of peaks to determine the relative abundance of the protein in each sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Brian T. Chait, David Cowburn, Yoshi Oda
  • Patent number: 6391614
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the identification of mutant strains of methicillin resistant bacteria, in particular methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, to identify the characteristics of such bacteria and develop drugs that can reverse, inhibit, or reduce bacterial resistance to beta lactam antibiotics, e.g., methicillin. The invention particularly relates to identification of a novel mutant strain of methicillin resistant S. aureus that manifests a unique phenotype, having a block in cell wall synthesis at or close to the branch point in hexose metabolism involved in the synthesis of cell wall components. Accordingly, the invention provides for methods of treatment and corresponding pharmaceutical compositions for treating bacterial, particularly staphylococcal, infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Alexander Tomasz, Herminia De Lencastre
  • Publication number: 20020058027
    Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of C1 bacteriophage genes that express protein involved in the lysis of bacterial cells during the phage life cycle, lysin and holin. The invention further relates to methods for lysing certain bacteria using lysin, which are useful for example in the treatment of an oral cavity bacterial infection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Daniel C. Nelson, Vincent A. Fischetti
  • Patent number: 6372471
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding vespid venom enzymes, or fragments thereof, recombinant vectors comprising such nucleic acids, and host cells containing the recombinant vectors. The invention is further directed to expression of such nucleic acids to produce recombinant vespid venom enzymes, or recombinant fragments, derivatives or analogs thereof. Such recombinant products are useful for diagnosis of allergy and for therapeutic treatment of allergy. In specific embodiments, the present invention provides nucleic acids encoding, and complete nucleotide and amino acids sequences for, vespid venom phospholipase, for example, Polistes annularis phospholipase A1, and vespid venom hyaluronidase, for example, Polistes annularis hyaluronidase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventor: Te Piao King
  • Patent number: 6355477
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel fibrinogen and fibronectin binding protein from group A streptococci, and the DNA encoding the protein. The protein and its DNA are useful in the preparation of compositions for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of streptococcal infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Vincent A. Fischetti, Claudia Rocha
  • Patent number: 6350730
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of body weight, and to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of such modulators. In one of its broadest aspects, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences corresponding to the murine and human OB gene, and two isoforms thereof, and proteins expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight and that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In further aspects, the present invention provides cloning vectors and mammalian expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Friedman, Yiying Zhang, Ricardo Proenca