Patents by Inventor Amy L. Blount

Amy L. Blount 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).

  • Method of inhibiting the formation of inhibin/betaglycan complexes with an anti-betaglycan antibody
    Patent number: 7455839
    Abstract: Inhibins and activins are protein hormones that reciprocally modulate a diversity of regulatory pathways. Competitive binding experiments revealed that betaglycan, the type III TGF-? receptor, also functions as an inhibin receptor. Betaglycan augments the binding of inhibin to the ActRII activin receptor. By augmenting inhibin binding to ActRII, betaglycan effectively sequesters ActRII away from activin and thereby reduces activin signaling. In addition, the ActRII-betaglycan complex may generate novel signals distinct from those initiated by activin signaling via ActRII and ALK4. Betaglycan is produced in discrete nuclei of the rat brain and by specific cell types within the adult rat pituitary, testis, and ovary. The presence of betaglycan within inhibin-responsive tissues and cell types, together with the ability of this protoglycan to bind inhibin and to confer inhibin sensitivity, is consistent with a role of betaglycan as an inhibin-specific receptor mediating inhibin responses within various tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Research Development Foundation
    Inventors: Wylie Vale, Kathy A. Lewis, Peter C. Gray, Louise M. Bilezikjian, Amy L. Blount
  • Betaglycan as an inhibin receptor and uses thereof
    Publication number: 20040258689
    Abstract: Inhibins and activins are protein hormones that reciprocally modulate a diversity of regulatory pathways. Competitive binding experiments revealed that betaglycan, the type III TGF-&bgr; receptor, also functions as an inhibin receptor. Betaglycan augments the binding of inhibin to the ActRII activin receptor. By augmenting inhibin binding to ActRII, betaglycan effectively sequesters ActRII away from activin and thereby reduces activin signaling. In addition, the ActRII-betaglycan complex may generate novel signals distinct from those initiated by activin signaling via ActRII and ALK4. Betaglycan is produced in discrete nuclei of the rat brain and by specific cell types within the adult rat pituitary, testis, and ovary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Research Development Foundation
    Inventors: Wylie Vale, Kathy A. Lewis, Peter C. Gray, Louise M. Bilezikjian, Amy L. Blount
  • Betaglycan as an inhibin receptor and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6692744
    Abstract: Inhibins and activins are protein hormones that reciprocally modulate a diversity of regulatory pathways. Competitive binding experiments revealed that betaglycan, the type III TGF-&bgr; receptor, also functions as an inhibin receptor. Betaglycan augments the binding of inhibin to the ActRII activin receptor. By augmenting inhibin binding to ActRII, betaglycan effectively sequesters ActRII away from activin and thereby reduces activin signaling. In addition, the ActRII-betaglycan complex may generate novel signals distinct from those initiated by activin signaling via ActRII and ALK4. Betaglycan is produced in discrete nuclei of the rat brain and by specific cell types within the adult rat pituitary, testis, and ovary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Research Development Foundation
    Inventors: Wylie Vale, Kathy A. Lewis, Peter C. Gray, Louise M. Bilezikjian, Amy L. Blount
  • Betaglycan as an inhibin receptor and uses thereof
    Publication number: 20010049360
    Abstract: Inhibins and activins are protein hormones that reciprocally modulate a diversity of regulatory pathways. Competitive binding experiments revealed that betaglycan, the type III TGF-&bgr; receptor, also functions as an inhibin receptor. Betaglycan augments the binding of inhibin to the ActRII activin receptor. By augmenting inhibin binding to ActRII, betaglycan effectively sequesters ActRII away from activin and thereby reduces activin signaling. In addition, the ActRII-betaglycan complex may generate novel signals distinct from those initiated by activin signaling via ActRII and ALK4. Betaglycan is produced in discrete nuclei of the rat brain and by specific cell types within the adult rat pituitary, testis, and ovary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Wylie Vale, Kathy A. Lewis, Peter C. Gray, Louise M. Bilezikjian, Amy L. Blount