Patents by Inventor Alexandra C. McPherron

Alexandra C. McPherron has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8822411
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified growth differentiation factor (GDF) receptor, including a GDF-8 (myostatin) receptor, as well as functional peptide portions thereof. In addition, the invention provides a virtual representation of a GDF receptor or a functional peptide portion thereof. The present invention also provides a method of modulating an effect of myostatin on a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that affects myostatin signal transduction in the cell. In addition, the invention provides a method of ameliorating the severity of a pathologic condition, which is characterized, at least in part, by an abnormal amount, development or metabolic activity of muscle or adipose tissue in a subject, by modulating myostatin signal transduction in a muscle cell or an adipose tissue cell in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Patent number: 8323964
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding promyostatin polypeptides or a peptide portion thereof, polynucleotides complementary thereto, and oligonucleotides that can specifically hybridize to such polynucleotides. The present invention also provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding a mature myostatin peptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: The John Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20120094908
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified growth differentiation factor (GDF) receptor, including a GDF-8 (myostatin) receptor, as well as functional peptide portions thereof. In addition, the invention provides a virtual representation of a GDF receptor or a functional peptide portion thereof. The present invention also provides a method of modulating an effect of myostatin on a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that affects myostatin signal transduction in the cell. In addition, the invention provides a method of ameliorating the severity of a pathologic condition, which is characterized, at least in part, by an abnormal amount, development or metabolic activity of muscle or adipose tissue in a subject, by modulating myostatin signal transduction in a muscle cell or an adipose tissue cell in the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Patent number: 8124830
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified growth differentiation factor (GDF) receptor, including a GDF-8 (myostatin) receptor, as well as functional peptide portions thereof. In addition, the invention provides a virtual representation of a GDF receptor or a functional peptide portion thereof. The present invention also provides a method of modulating an effect of myostatin on a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that affects myostatin signal transduction in the cell. In addition, the invention provides a method of ameliorating the severity of a pathologic condition, which is characterized, at least in part, by an abnormal amount, development or metabolic activity of muscle or adipose tissue in a subject, by modulating myostatin signal transduction in a muscle cell or an adipose tissue cell in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20110239317
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding promyostatin polypeptides or a peptide portion thereof, polynucleotides complementary thereto, and oligonucleotides that can specifically hybridize to such polynucleotides. The present invention also provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding a mature myostatin peptide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Patent number: 7976839
    Abstract: A transgenic non-human animal of the species selected from the group consisting of avian, bovine, ovine and porcine having a transgene which results in disrupting the production of and/or activity of growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) chromosomally integrated into the germ cells of the animal is provided. Also provided are methods for making such animals, and methods of treating animals, including humans, with antibodies or antisense directed to GDF-11. The animals so treated are characterized by increased muscle tissue and bone tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20110034372
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified growth differentiation factor (GDF) receptor, including a GDF-8 (myostatin) receptor, as well as functional peptide portions thereof. In addition, the invention provides a virtual representation of a GDF receptor or a functional peptide portion thereof. The present invention also provides a method of modulating an effect of myostatin on a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that affects myostatin signal transduction in the cell. In addition, the invention provides a method of ameliorating the severity of a pathologic condition, which is characterized, at least in part, by an abnormal amount, development or metabolic activity of muscle or adipose tissue in a subject, by modulating myostatin signal transduction in a muscle cell or an adipose tissue cell in the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Patent number: 7732571
    Abstract: Chicken growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) is disclosed along with fragments and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20100061997
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified growth differentiation factor (GDF) receptor, including a GDF-8 (myostatin) receptor, as well as functional peptide portions thereof. In addition, the invention provides a virtual representation of a GDF receptor or a functional peptide portion thereof. The present invention also provides a method of modulating an effect of myostatin on a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that affects myostatin signal transduction in the cell. In addition, the invention provides a method of ameliorating the severity of a pathologic condition, which is characterized, at least in part, by an abnormal amount, development or metabolic activity of muscle or adipose tissue in a subject, by modulating myostatin signal transduction in a muscle cell or an adipose tissue cell in the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20090263402
    Abstract: A transgenic non-human animal of the species selected from the group consisting of avian, bovine, ovine and porcine having a transgene which results in disrupting the production of and/or activity of growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) chromosomally integrated into the germ cells of the animal is provided. Also provided are methods for making such animals, and methods of treating animals, including humans, with antibodies or antisense directed to GDF-11. The animals so treated are characterized by increased muscle tissue and bone tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Patent number: 7572599
    Abstract: It has been determined that metalloprotease cleavage of a myostatin pro peptide results in activation of a latent inactive myostatin to an active form. Accordingly, methods of identifying agents that modulate metalloprotease mediated activation of myostatin are provided, as are agents identified using such methods. Also provided are methods of modulating muscle growth in an organism by increasing or decreasing metalloprotease mediated cleavage of a myostatin pro peptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignees: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wyeth
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron, Daniel S. Greenspan, William N. Pappano, Neil Wolfman, Kathy Tomkinson
  • Patent number: 7566768
    Abstract: The present invention provides substantially purified peptide portions of a promyostatin polypeptide. For example, the invention provides proteolytic fragments of a promyostatin polypeptide such as a myostatin prodomain or a mature myostatin peptide, as well as functional peptide portions a myostatin prodomain an myostatin. Also provided is a mutant promyostatin polypeptide, which is resistant to proteolytic cleavage, for example, cleavage into a myostatin prodomain and a mature myostatin peptide. The present invention also provides a polynucleotide encoding a peptide portion of a promyostatin polypeptide. In addition, antibodies that specifically bind a peptide portion of a promyostatin polypeptide are provided. The invention further provides methods of identifying a functional peptide portion of a promyostatin polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20090186806
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified growth differentiation factor (GDF) receptor, including a GDF-8 (myostatin) receptor, as well as functional peptide portions thereof. In addition, the invention provides a virtual representation of a GDF receptor or a functional peptide portion thereof. The present invention also provides a method of modulating an effect of myostatin on a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that affects myostatin signal transduction in the cell. In addition, the invention provides a method of ameliorating the severity of a pathologic condition, which is characterized, at least in part, by an abnormal amount, development or metabolic activity of muscle or adipose tissue in a subject, by modulating myostatin signal transduction in a muscle cell or an adipose tissue cell in the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Patent number: 7534432
    Abstract: Growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) is disclosed along with its polynucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence. Also disclosed are diagnostic and therapeutic methods of using the GDF-8 polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20090017522
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding promyostatin polypeptides or a peptide portion thereof, polynucleotides complementary thereto, and oligonucleotides that can specifically hybridize to such polynucleotides. The present invention also provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding a mature myostatin peptide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20090017045
    Abstract: A transgenic non-human animal of the species selected from the group consisting of avian, bovine, ovine and porcine having a transgene which results in disrupting the production of and/or activity of growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) chromosomally integrated into the germ cells of the animal is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making such animals, and methods of treating animals with antibodies or antisense directed to GDF-8. The animals so treated are characterized by increased muscle tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20080311584
    Abstract: Methods for detecting allelic variants of the myostatin (growth and differentiation factor-8) gene are provided. Specifically provided are methods of identifying subjects having or having a predisposition for increased muscle mass as compared to subjects having wild-type myostatin. Increased muscle mass is particularly desirable for identification of animals used to produce food products, including bovine, porcine, ovine, avian and piscine species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Publication number: 20080178310
    Abstract: A transgenic non-human aquatic organisms, such as piscine, crustacean, mollusks, and the like, having a transgene which results in disrupting the production of and/or activity of growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) chromosomally integrated into the germ cells of the aquatic organism is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making such organisms and nucleic acid sequences encoding GDF-8 polypeptides from such aquatic organisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Patent number: 7399848
    Abstract: Disclosed are polynucleotides encoding growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) useful for increasing the muscle mass in chickens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron
  • Patent number: 7393682
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding promyostatin polypeptides or a peptide portion thereof, polynucleotides complementary thereto, and oligonucleotides that can specifically hybridize to such polynucleotides. The present invention also provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding a mature myostatin peptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Se-Jin Lee, Alexandra C. McPherron