Patents Assigned to Whitehead Institute
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Patent number: 10240160Abstract: Disclosed are yeast cells expressing a polypeptide comprising a signal sequence and a human amyloid beta protein. Also disclosed are methods of screening yeast cells to identify compounds that prevent or suppress amyloid beta-induced toxicity and genetic suppressors or enhancers of amyloid beta-induced toxicity. Compounds identified by such screens can be used to treat or prevent neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Kent E. S. Matlack, Susan L. Lindquist, Sebastian Treusch
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Publication number: 20190010507Abstract: Disclosed are yeast cells expressing TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and methods of screening yeast cells to identify compounds that prevent or suppress TDP-43-induced toxicity, compounds that inhibit the formation or maintenance of cytoplasmic inclusions of TDP-43, genetic suppressors or enhancers of TDP-43-induced toxicity, and genetic suppressors or enhancers of the formation or maintenance of cytoplasmic inclusions of TDP-43. Compounds identified by such screens can be used to treat or prevent TDP-43 proteinopathies such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Applicant: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Susan L. Lindquist, Aaron D. Gitler
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Patent number: 10168338Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying modulators of mTORC1 based upon their effect on GATOR2-Sestrin binding or Sestrin-leucine binding; and the use of such modulators to alter mTORC1 activity in a cell and to treat disease and conditions that are effected by mTORC1 activity.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: David M. Sabatini, Lynne Chantranupong, Rachel L. Wolfson, Jose Orozco, Robert A. Saxton, Shomit Sengupta
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Patent number: 10160977Abstract: The present invention relates in some aspects to super-enhancers and related compositions, methods, and agents that are useful for modulating expression of cell type-specific genes that are required for maintenance of cell identity (e.g., embryonic stem cell identity) or maintenance of a disease state (e.g., cancer).Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Denes Hnisz, Brian Abraham, Tong Ihn Lee, Richard A. Young
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Publication number: 20180346899Abstract: An sortase-mediated intercellular labeling method allowing for tracking ligand-receptor interaction both in vitro and in vivo; and uses thereof for tracking molecule interactions both in vitro and in vivo, identifying modulators of ligand-receptor interaction, identifying potential binding partners of a protein of interest, identifying B cells expressing high affinity B cell receptors to antigens, and identifying the antigen to which a T cell of interest binds.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Applicant: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Giulia Pasqual, Gabriel Victora
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Patent number: 10123985Abstract: Provided herein are methods, compositions, and systems for treating mitochondrial disorders (e.g., MERRF, MELAS, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, diabetes mellitus and deafness, lactic acidosis, Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, Leigh syndrome, NARP, myoneurogenic gastrointestinal encephalopathy, mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome) or neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease) by administering aspartate, or an analog or prodrug thereof, or an agent that increases intracellular levels of aspartate. Pharmaceutical compositions and kits for use in treating mitochondrial disorders and neurodegenerative diseases are also described herein. Also provided are methods for treating disease by modulating the redox state of a cell, and methods of treating a proliferative disease by administering a cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (GOT1) inhibitor.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignees: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteInventors: David M. Sabatini, Kivanc Birsoy, Matthew George Vander Heiden, Lucas Bryan Sullivan, Dan Yi Gui
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Patent number: 10126303Abstract: The invention relates to methods of identifying compounds that modulate mTORC1 activity in a cell by modulating the activity of SLC38A9 (NCBI Gene ID: 153129), as well as to the use of such identified compounds in the modulation of mTORC1 and the treatment of diseases and conditions characterized by aberrant mTORC1 activity.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: David M. Sabatini, Shuyu Wang, Zhi Tsun
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Patent number: 10106803Abstract: Disclosed are yeast cells expressing TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and methods of screening yeast cells to identify compounds that prevent or suppress TDP-43-induced toxicity, compounds that inhibit the formation or maintenance of cytoplasmic inclusions of TDP-43, genetic suppressors or enhancers of TDP-43-induced toxicity, and genetic suppressors or enhancers of the formation or maintenance of cytoplasmic inclusions of TDP-43. Compounds identified by such screens can be used to treat or prevent TDP-43 proteinopathies such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Susan L. Lindquist, Aaron D. Gitler
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Patent number: 10106778Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to methods and related compositions for preferentially targeting cancer stem cells. In some embodiments, the methods utilize PKC-?/FRA1 pathway inhibitors to target carcinoma cells. Also provided are methods for identifying a candidate compound for selectively inhibiting growth of cancer stem cell, and methods for obtaining cells that have undergone an epithelial to mesenchymal transition.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Wai Leong Tam, Robert A. Weinberg
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Patent number: 10093904Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of reprogramming one or more somatic cells, e.g., partially differentiated or fully/terminally differentiated somatic cells, to a less differentiated state, e.g., a pluripotent or multipotent state. In further embodiments the invention also relates to reprogrammed somatic cells produced by methods of the invention, to uses of said cells, and to methods for identifying agents useful for reprogramming somatic cells.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2017Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Rudolf Jaenisch, Yaqub Hanna, Marius Wernig, Christopher J. Lengner, Alexander Meissner, Oliver Tobias Brambrink, G. Grant Welstead, Ruth Foreman
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Publication number: 20180280551Abstract: Provided herein are methods for producing site specific PEG modifications to single domain antibodies (e.g., VHHs). Methods for producing site-specific ally conjugated bivalent single domain antibodies (e.g., VHHs) are also provided. Methods for labeling (e.g., with a fluorophore or radionuclide) site-specifically PEGylated single domain antibodies and site-specifically conjugated bivalent single domain antibodies are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2016Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicants: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, The General Hospital Corporation d/b/a Massachusetts General HospitalInventors: Mohammad Rashidian, Hidde L. Ploegh, Neil Vasdev, Huan Steven Liang
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Publication number: 20180280440Abstract: Methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express a sortaggable surface protein, which allows for surface modification in the presence of a sortase. Also described herein are surface modified enucleated red blood cells, e.g., conjugated with an agent of interest such as a peptide, a detectable label, or a chemotherapeutic agent, and uses thereof in delivering the agent to a subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Harvey Lodish, Hidde L. Ploegh, Hsiang-Ying Sherry Lee, Jiahai Shi, Lenka Hoffman, Novalia Pishesha
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Patent number: 10081684Abstract: Methods and reagents for the installation of click chemistry handles on target proteins are provided, as well as modified proteins comprising click chemistry handles. Further, chimeric proteins, for example, bi-specific antibodies, that comprise two proteins conjugated via click chemistry, as well as methods for their generation and use are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Hidde L. Ploegh, Martin D. Witte, Nicholas C. Yoder
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Patent number: 10053683Abstract: An sortase-mediated intercellular labeling method allowing for tracking ligand-receptor interaction both in vitro and in vivo; and uses thereof for tracking molecule interactions both in vitro and in vivo, identifying modulators of ligand-receptor interaction, identifying potential binding partners of a protein of interest, identifying B cells expressing high affinity B cell receptors to antigens, and identifying the antigen to which a T cell of interest binds.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Giulia Pasqual, Gabriel Victora
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Patent number: 10023922Abstract: In some aspects, described herein is a DNA methylation reporter. In some aspects, the DNA methylation reporter comprises a promoter whose activity can be affected by exogenous methylation changes without being independently regulated by the DNA methylation machinery, operably linked to a DNA sequence that encodes a reporter molecule. In some embodiments the DNA methylation reporter comprises (i) a promoter derived from a mammalian imprinted gene promoter; and (ii) a sequence that encodes a reporter molecule that is detectable in individual mammalian cells, wherein the promoter is operably linked to the sequence that encodes the reporter molecule. Also described are nucleic acids that comprise the DNA methylation reporter, cells that have the DNA methylation reporter integrated into their genome, and non-human mammals comprising cells that have the DNA methylation reporter integrated into their genome.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Yonatan Stelzer, Rudolf Jaenisch
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Publication number: 20180105508Abstract: The present invention provides compounds pounds of Formula (II), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, polymorphs, co-crystals, tautomers, stereoisomers, isotopically labeled derivatives, pro-drugs, and compositions thereof. Also provided are methods and kits involving the compounds of Formula (I), (II) or (III) for treating diseases associated with the over-expression of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) in a subject, such as proliferative diseases (e.g., cancers (e.g., breast cancer, ER negative breast cancer, melanoma, cervical cancer), benign neoplasms, diseases associated with angiogenesis, inflammatory diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, and autoimmune diseases). Treatment of a subject with a proliferative disease using a compound or composition of the invention may inhibit the activity of PHGDH or inhibit the serine biosynthetic pathway, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicants: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.Inventors: David M. Sabatini, Michael Pacold, Matthew B. Boxer, Jason M. Rohde, Kyle R. Brimacombe, Min Shen
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Patent number: 9944607Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds (e.g., compounds of Formula (I)), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrate, polymorphs, co-crystals, tautomers, stereoisomers, isotopically labeled derivatives, prodrugs, and compositions thereof. Also provided are methods and kits comprising the inventive Compounds, or compositions thereof, for treating and/or preventing a fungal or protozoan infection, inhibiting the activity of a fungal or protozoan enzyme, killing a fungus or protozoan, or inhibiting the growth of a fungus or protozoan. The fungus may be a Candida species, Sacchawmyces species, or other pathogenic fungal species. The compounds of the invention may inhibit the activity of fungal or protozoan mitochondrial phosphate carrier protein.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignees: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Broad Institute, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Vincent, Luke Whitesell, Susan L. Lindquist, Willmen Youngsaye, Stephen L. Buchwald, Jean-Baptiste Langlois, Jun Pu, Benito Munoz, Sivaraman Dandapani
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Patent number: 9909160Abstract: Disclosed are genes that, when overexpressed in cells expressing alpha-synuclein, either suppress or enhance alpha-synuclein mediated cellular toxicity. Compounds that modulate expression of these genes or activity of the encoded proteins can be used to inhibit alpha-synuclein mediated toxicity and used to treat or prevent synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease. Also disclosed are methods of identifying inhibitors of alpha-synuclein mediated toxicity.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Susan L. Lindquist, Aaron D. Gitler
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Patent number: 9879257Abstract: Disclosed are genes that, when overexpressed in cells expressing alpha-synuclein, either suppress or enhance alpha-synuclein mediated cellular toxicity. Compounds that modulate expression of these genes or activity of the encoded proteins can be used to inhibit alpha-synuclein mediated toxicity and used to treat or prevent synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease. Also disclosed are methods of identifying inhibitors of alpha-synuclein mediated toxicity.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Susan L. Lindquist, Aaron D. Gitler, Anil Cashikar
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Publication number: 20180016588Abstract: Disclosed are yeast cells expressing a polypeptide comprising a signal sequence and a human amyloid beta protein. Also disclosed are methods of screening yeast cells to identify compounds that prevent or suppress amyloid beta-induced toxicity and genetic suppressors or enhancers of amyloid beta-induced toxicity. Compounds identified by such screens can be used to treat or prevent neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchInventors: Kent E.S. Matlack, Susan L. Lindquist, Sebastian Treusch