Patents by Inventor Vesa Olkkonen

Vesa Olkkonen 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).

  • Publication number: 20120058931
    Abstract: Munc18 proteins facilitate formation of SNARE complexes known to mediate membrane fusion. Much is known about the fusion of secretory granule (SG) to plasma membrane, mediated by Munc18a-SNARE complexes. It has been found that another Munc18 isoform, Munc18b, mediates SG-SG fusion which causes potentiation of secretion. The present invention has identified specific site mutations within Munc18b which further increased (called KR mutant) or reduced (called E59K mutant) SG-SG fusion compared to wild type (WT) Munc18b, causing amplification or reduction of insulin secretion, respectively. Compounds identified that mimic the actions of Munc18b-WT and Munc18b-KR mutant which increase SG-SG fusion, and those which mimic Munc18b-E59K mutant that block SG-SG fusion, are useful for treating and/or preventing diseases and/or conditions, whose underlying bases are a deficiency or excess of SG-SG fusion, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Haruo Kasai, Noriko Takahashi, Vesa Olkkonen, Herbert Y. Gaisano, Patrick Lam