Product name
Microginins - new ACE-inhibitorsSummary
The complete DNA sequence of the gene cluster coding for the microginin synthetase of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa has been identified and sequenced for the first time.Organization name
ipal GmbHProfile
The microginin synthetase is a large multi-enzyme complex which catalyzes the microginin, a small linear lipopeptide belonging to the group of non-ribosomal synthesized peptides.
Microginins are synthesized by various species of cyanobacteria in diverse structure variants. Microginins represent an interesting group of unusual peptides in view of medical application as they are known to have inhibitory effects on the Angiotensin-Converting- Enzyme (ACE). Thus microginins are potential ACE-inhibitors and represent important drug candidates to treat hypertension and associated diseases such as chronic heart failure and diabetic nephropathy.
The new identified DNA-sequence of the microginin synthetase gene cluster can be used to identify homologue gene cluster in other cyanobacteria species and as a matter of fact for the detection of new microginin variants or microginin-like structures. Further on, novel microginin variants can be generated by gene biocombinatoric experiments (gene shuffling) with the objective to optimize the ACE-inhibitory effect.
Advantages
- 10-30 % therapies of patients treated with currently available ACE-inhibitors are ineffective, novel or improved ACE-inhibitors to treat hypertension are needed
- Microginins are non-toxic and show ACE-inhibitory effects
- Easy and effective method to identify microginin-producing strains of cyanobacteria
- Easy method to generate novel non-natural microginins or microginin-like structures optimizing the ACE-inhibitory effect
European and PCT patent applications have been filed.
This technology has been developed by Dr. Dan Kramer at the Humboldt University Berlin- Institute of Biology together with Cyano-Biotech GmbH and is offerd by IPAL GmbH.
Contact
ipal GmbH
Rafaela Kunz
rafaela.kunz(at)ipal.de
About IPAL
The ipal GmbH patent agency assesses and markets the inventions of scientists in the area of Life Sciences and Physics & Engineering from Charité-Universitätsmedizin (University Medicine), Robert Koch Institute, Deutsches Herzzentrum (German Heart Institute), Bundesanstalt für Materialprüfung (BAM - Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing), the Zuse Institute as well as the Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen and the Jacobs University Bremen. IPAL provides all of the services necessary - from the assessment of patentable technologies to a comprehensive patent protection all the way to the evaluation of sales returns potentials on the market and successful commercialisation through the use of licensing agreements.
Description File
05130_Microginin.pdf
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