Patents by Inventor Brian A. Pollok
Brian A. Pollok 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).
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Publication number: 20110191873Abstract: This invention is directed towards methods of destabilizing proteins in living cells, and their use for the development of novel assays. In one embodiment, the invention comprises the use of non-cleavable multimerized ubiquitin fusion proteins to destabilize a target protein, such as a reporter moiety. In one aspect of this method the constructs also comprises a linker that operatively couples the reporter moiety to the multimerized ubiquitin fusion protein. In this embodiment, enzymatic modification of the linker results in a modulation of the coupling of the reporter protein to the multimerized ubiquitin domains resulting in a change in the stability of the reporter moiety. The level of the reporter moiety in the cell can then be used as a measure of the enzymatic activity in the cell. In another embodiment the invention provides for a generalized way of coordinately regulating the cellular concentration of a plurality of target proteins.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: Jeffrey Stack, Michael Whitney, Andrew B. Cubitt, Brian Pollok
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Patent number: 7824850Abstract: This invention is directed towards methods of destabilizing proteins in living cells, and their use for the development of novel assays. In one embodiment, the invention comprises the use of non-cleavable multimerized ubiquitin fusion proteins to destabilize a target protein, such as a reporter moiety. In one aspect of this method the constructs also comprises a linker that operatively couples the reporter moiety to the multimerized ubiquitin fusion protein. In this embodiment, enzymatic modification of the linker results in a modulation of the coupling of the reporter protein to the multimerized ubiquitin domains resulting in a change in the stability of the reporter moiety. The level of the reporter moiety in the cell can then be used as a measure of the enzymatic activity in the cell. In another embodiment the invention provides for a generalized way of coordinately regulating the cellular concentration of a plurality of target proteins.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Aurora Biosciences CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Stack, Michael Whitney, Andrew B. Cubitt, Brian Pollok
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Patent number: 7465738Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds useful as promoters of the SMN2 gene. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2004Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals IncorporatedInventors: Jill Jarecki, Xiaocun Chen, Dennis James Hurley, Lewis R. Makings, Mark T. Miller, Brian Pollok, Jeffrey H. Stack, Michael A. Whitney
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Publication number: 20080227129Abstract: This invention is directed towards methods of destabilizing proteins in living cells, and their use for the development of novel assays. In one embodiment, the invention comprises the use of non-cleavable multimerized ubiquitin fusion proteins to destabilize a target protein, such as a reporter moiety. In one aspect of this method the constructs also comprises a linker that operatively couples the reporter moiety to the multimerized ubiquitin fusion protein. In this embodiment, enzymatic modification of the linker results in a modulation of the coupling of the reporter protein to the multimerized ubiquitin domains resulting in a change in the stability of the reporter moiety. The level of the reporter moiety in the cell can then be used as a measure of the enzymatic activity in the cell. In another embodiment the invention provides for a generalized way of coordinately regulating the cellular concentration of a plurality of target proteins.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Jeffrey Stack, Michael Whitney, Andrew B. Cubitt, Brian Pollok
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Publication number: 20080146460Abstract: This invention provides an optical probe useful as an optical probe or sensor of post translational type modifications, such as phosphorylation. The invention comprises a polypeptide moiety, which contains a recognition motif for a post translational type activity and a protease site, which is coupled to a probe moiety. Modification of the polypeptide, by the post translational type activity, results in a modulation of the rate at which a protease cleaves the polypeptide which is sensed by a measurable change in at least one optical property of the optical probe upon cleavage. The present invention also includes a recombinant nucleic acid molecule that encodes an optical probe and a vector and host cell or library of cells that include the recombinant nucleic acid molecule. The optical probe can be used in methods to determine whether a sample, including a cell or a sample from an organism, contains a post-translational type modification activity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: Invitrogen CorporationInventors: Brian A. Pollok, Brian D. Hamman, Steven M. Rodems, Lewis R. Makings
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Publication number: 20070224615Abstract: The invention relates, in part, to methods for detecting, monitoring, measuring or assessing an interaction between at least two proteins. The invention also relates, in part, to methods for determining if a test compound, or a mix of compounds, modulates an interaction between at least two proteins. In some embodiments, determination is made possible via the use of two recombinant molecules, e.g., one of which contains a first protein cleavage site for a proteolytic molecules, and an activator of a gene. A second recombinant molecule may include a second protein and the proteolytic molecule. Various other formats are provided by the invention. In some embodiments, if the test compound binds to the first protein, a reaction is initiated whereby the activator is cleaved, and activates a reporter gene.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2007Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: INVITROGEN CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Lee, Brian Pollok, Zhong Zhong
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Patent number: 7262005Abstract: This invention is directed towards methods of destabilizing proteins in living cells, and their use for the development of novel assays. In one embodiment, the invention comprises the use of non-cleavable multimerized ubiquitin fusion proteins to destabilize a target protein, such as a reporter moiety. In one aspect of this method the constructs also comprises a linker that operatively couples the reporter moiety to the multimerized ubiquitin fusion protein. In this embodiment, enzymatic modification of the linker results in a modulation of the coupling of the reporter protein to the multimerized ubiquitin domains resulting in a change in the stability of the reporter moiety. The level of the reporter moiety in the cell can then be used as a measure of the enzymatic activity in the cell. In another embodiment the invention provides for a generalized way of coordinately regulating the cellular concentration of a plurality of target proteins.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Aurora Biosciences CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Stack, Michael Whitney, Andrew B. Cubitt, Brian Pollok
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Publication number: 20050065173Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds useful as promoters of the SMN2 gene. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Inventors: Jill Jarecki, Xiaocun Chen, Dennis Hurley, Lewis Makings, Mark Miller, Brian Pollok, Jeffrey Stack, Michael Whitney
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Publication number: 20030087328Abstract: This invention provides an optical probe useful as an optical probe or sensor of post translational type modifications, such as phosphorylation. The invention comprises a polypeptide moiety, which contains a recognition motif for a post translational type activity and a protease site, which is coupled to a probe moiety. Modification of the polypeptide, by the post translational type activity, results in a modulation of the rate at which a protease cleaves the polypeptide which is sensed by a measurable change in at least one optical property of the optical probe upon cleavage. The present invention also includes a recombinant nucleic acid molecule that encodes an optical probe and a vector and host cell or library of cells that include the recombinant nucleic acid molecule. The optical probe can be used in methods to determine whether a sample, including a cell or a sample from an organism, contains a post-translational type modification activity. Such methods can also be used to.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: Brian A. Pollok, Brian D. Hamman, Steven M. Rodems, Lewis R. Makings
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Patent number: 6410255Abstract: This invention provides an optical probe useful as an optical probe or sensor of post translational type modifications, such as phosphorylation. The invention comprises a polypeptide moiety, which contains a recognition motif for a post translational type activity and a protease site, which is coupled to a probe moiety. Modification of the polypeptide, by the post translational type activity, results in a modulation of the rate at which a protease cleaves the polypeptide which is sensed by a measurable change in at least one optical property of the optical probe upon cleavage. The present invention also includes a recombinant nucleic acid molecule that encodes an optical probe and a vector and host cell or library of cells that include the recombinant nucleic acid molecule. The optical probe can be used in methods to determine whether a sample, including a cell or a sample from an organism, contains a post-translational type modification activity.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1999Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Aurora Biosciences CorporationInventors: Brian A. Pollok, Brian D. Hamman, Steven M. Rodems, Lewis R. Makings