Gene patents: socially acceptable monopolies or an unnecessary hindrance to research?

Why should patents be granted on genes? This question is a provocative and troubling issue currently facing society. Looking at the commercial realities of gene patents, I conclude that on balance their effect is to retard, rather than to stimulate, both scientific and economic progress. The monopolies awarded by patents on genes as novel chemicals are not therefore in the public interest. Society would benefit from immediate change in the policy of patent offices to limit the allowance of patents on genes to specified uses with only narrow claims.

Creating a structural genomics consortium.

A group of multinational companies, together with the Wellcome Trust, is attempting to form a charitable organization, the Structural Genomics Consortium. The goal will be to obtain X-ray structures for a broad representation across families of human proteins and to place the structural coordinates in the public database.

Recommendations of dietitians for overcoming barriers to dietary adherence in individuals with diabetes.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this research were to (1) identify factors that contribute to the barriers to dietary adherence in individuals with diabetes identified in a 1998 study and (2) obtain recommendations from registered dietitians for strategies to overcome these barriers. METHODS: A 10-item, open-ended telephone questionnaire was used to obtain information. The sample included 75 registered dietitians who participated in a previous survey to identify barriers and agreed to a follow-up telephone interview. RESULTS: Of the 75 participants, 28% reported spending 5 hours or less per week counseling individuals with diabetes, 64% spent between 6 and 30 hours, and 8% spent more than 31 hours per week. Almost half of the participants (47%) were certified diabetes educators. Factors identified as the greatest contributors to the barriers being evaluated included lack of time, lack of symptoms, lack of education (including follow-up), poor self-esteem/lack of empowerment, and misinformation from family/peers/others with diabetes. The primary recommendations for overcoming each of these barriers included individualizing meal plans and planning ahead, teaching about complications, and setting obtainable goals. CONCLUSIONS: The registered dietitians who were surveyed emphasized the importance of individualizing dietary counseling.

The Merck Gene Index browser: an extensible data integration system for gene finding, gene characterization and EST data mining.

MOTIVATION: To make effective use of the vast amounts of expressed sequence tag (EST) sequence data generated by the Merck-sponsored EST project and other similar efforts, sequences must be organized into gene classes, and scientists must be able to 'mine' the gene class data in the context of related genomic data. RESULTS: This paper presents the Merck Gene Index browser, an easily extensible, World Wide Web-based system for mining the Merck Gene Index (MGI) and related genomic data. The MGI is a non-redundant set of clones and sequences, each representing a distinct gene, constructed from all high-quality 3' EST sequences generated by the Merck-sponsored EST project. The MGI browser integrates data from a variety of sources and storage formats, both local and remote, using an eclectic integration strategy, including a federation of relational databases, a local data warehouse and simple hypertext links. Data currently integrated include: LENS cDNA clone and EST data, dbEST protein and non-EST nucleic acid similarity data, WashU sequence chromatograms. Entrez sequence and Medline entries, and UniGene gene clusters. Flatfile sequence data are accessed using the Bioapps server, an internally developed client-server system that supports generic sequence analysis applications. Browser data are retrieved and formatted by means of the Bioinformatics Data Integration Toolkit (B-DIT), a new suite of Perl routines.

A tacrolimus-related immunosuppressant with biochemical properties distinct from those of tacrolimus.

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus (FK506) is an immunosuppressive drug 50-100 times more potent than cyclosporine (CsA), the current mainstay of organ transplant rejection therapy. Despite being chemically unrelated, CsA and tacrolimus exert their immunosuppressive effects through the inhibition of calcineurin (CaN), a critical signaling molecule during T-lymphocyte activation. Although numerous clinical studies have proven the therapeutic efficacy of drugs within this class, tacrolimus and CsA also have a strikingly similar profile of unwanted side effects. METHOD: Our objective has been to identify a less toxic immunosuppressant through the modification of ascomycin (FK520). Quantitative in vitro immunosuppression and toxicity assays have demonstrated (see the accompanying article, p. 18) that we achieved our goal with L-732,531 (indolyl-ascomycin; indolyl-ASC), a 32-O-(1-hydroxyethylindol-5-yl) ascomycin derivative with an improved therapeutic index relative to tacrolimus. RESULTS: We report that the attributes of indolyl-ASC may result from its distinctive biochemical properties. In contrast to tacrolimus, indolyl-ASC binds poorly to FK506 binding protein 12 (FKBP12), the major cytosolic receptor for tacrolimus and related compounds. However, the stability of the interaction between the FKBP12-indolyl-ASC complex and CaN is much greater than that of the FKBP12-tacrolimus complex. These distinguishing properties of indolyl-ASC result in the potent inhibition of CaN within T lymphocytes but may lower the accumulation of the drug at sites of toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Indolyl-ASC may define those properties needed to increase the therapeutic efficacy of a macrolactam immunoregulant for treating both human autoimmune disease and organ transplant rejection.

A tacrolimus-related immunosuppressant with reduced toxicity.

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus (FK506) has potent immunosuppressive properties reflecting its ability to block the transcription of lymphokine genes in activated T cells through formation of a complex with FK506 binding protein-12, which inhibits the phosphatase activity of calcineurin. The clinical usefulness of tacrolimus is limited, however, by severe adverse effects, including neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Although this toxicity, like immunosuppression, appears mechanistically related to the calcineurin inhibitory action of the drug, a large chemistry effort has been devoted to search for tacrolimus analogs with reduced toxicity but preserved immunosuppressive activity that might have enhanced therapeutic utility. METHODS: Here, we report on the identification of such an analog, which was synthetically derived from ascomycin (ASC), the C21 ethyl analog of tacrolimus, by introducing an indole group at the C32 position. The profile of biological activity of indolyl-ASC was characterized in rodent models of immunosuppression and toxicity. RESULTS: Indolyl-ASC was found to exhibit an immunosuppressive potency equivalent to that of tacrolimus in T-cell activation in vitro and in murine transplant models, even though indolyl-ASC bound about 10 times less to intracellular FK506 binding protein-12 than tacrolimus or ASC. Further evaluation of indolyl-ASC revealed that it is threefold less potent than tacrolimus in inducing hypothermia, a response that may reflect neurotoxicity, and in causing gastrointestinal transit alterations in mice. Moreover, indolyl-ASC was at least twofold less nephrotoxic than tacrolimus upon 3-week oral treatment in rats. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these data indicate a modest but definite improvement in the therapeutic index for indolyl-ASC compared with tacrolimus in rodent models.

Endogenous loading of HLA-A2 molecules with an analog of the influenza virus matrix protein-derived peptide and its inhibition by an exogenous peptide antagonist.

Episomal plasmids (p8901) with minigenes coding for the influenza virus matrix peptide amino acids 57-68 (KGILGFVFTLTV; referred to as M57-68) or coding for a modified peptide were introduced into HLA-A2-positive target cells. The association of these peptides, synthesized in the cytoplasm, with HLA-A2 and the expression of this complex at the cell surface was evaluated with HLA-A2-restricted CTL specific for the influenza virus matrix peptide M57-68. Cells expressing M57-68 were lysed effectively, as were cells expressing a peptide that retained residues 60-64 with seven flanking alanine residues (AAALGFVFAAAA). An exogenously added synthetic analog of peptide M57-68 that inhibited sensitization of targets with synthetic peptide M57-68 also inhibited lysis of cells expressing the minigene coding for the peptide with seven alanine substitutions. These results demonstrate the utility of minigene DNA constructs in creating experimental systems to develop agents to diminish the severity of CTL-mediated tissue damage in autoimmune diseases and graft rejection.

The minimum peptide epitope from the influenza virus matrix protein. Extra and intracellular loading of HLA-A2.

Influenza virus matrix protein-derived peptides were synthesized based on the amino acid motifs for HLA-A2 bound self peptides. Among these peptides a nonamer (amino acids 58 through 66: G I L G F V F T L) was found to be 100 to 1000 times more effective than the commonly used peptide 57-68 (K G I L G F V F T L T V) in sensitizing HLA-A2+ target cells to lysis by influenza virus specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The sensitizing activity of the 12-mer 57-68 was not due to contamination with shorter and more active peptides. Intracellular expression of peptide 58-66 (mediated by a stable expression plasmid with DNA coding for this peptide) also sensitized HLA-A2+ cells to lysis. Peptide 58-66 stimulated human PBMC to generate CTL that recognized peptides 58-66 and 57-68 in association with HLA-A2.

Soluble HLA-A2.1 restricted peptides that are recognized by influenza virus specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The influenza A virus matrix protein derived peptide with amino acids 57-68 (Lys-Gly-Ileu-Leu-Gly-Phe-Val-Phe-Thr-Leu-Thr-Val) is recognized by influenza virus HLA-A2 restricted CTL. Because of the large number of hydrophobic residues this peptide is very insoluble. Substitution with a number of polar amino acids resulted in a soluble peptide (Lys-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Phe-Val-Phe-Thr-Leu-Asp-Lys) that was very effective in sensitizing HLA-A2 positive target cells. Further substitution of threonine in position 65 with lysine resulted in a soluble antagonist peptide that inhibited sensitization. Both agonist and antagonist peptides retained 20% of their biological activity when tyrosine was added at the N terminus. Soluble radio-iodinated peptides can now be prepared that will be useful reagents to study the interaction of peptides and class I molecules.

Post-translational fate of variant MOPC 315 lambda chains in Xenopus oocytes and mouse myeloma cells.

The post-translational fates of three immunoglobulin lambda chain variants of MOPC 315 were investigated in mouse plasmacytoma cell lines and in mRNA-microinjected Xenopus oocytes. Quite unexpectedly we found that one non-secretory variant chain (lambda-43) underwent extensive post-translational N-glycosylation: however the presence of the oligosaccharide moiety did not account for the nonsecretory phenotype nor did it affect the rate of degradation of this lambda chain. Another variant chain (lambda-47) at first believed to be non-secretory, was found to be secreted from oocytes at a very low level, but mostly as a lambda-lambda dimer. In myeloma cells a low level of lambda-47 chain was secreted and again lambda-lambda dimers were the favoured secretory form. The secretory lambda-48 chain also formed lambda-lambda dimers, whereas lambda-43, which was never secreted, was only found as a monomeric lambda chain in both oocytes and myeloma cells. A similar relationship between assembly and secretion was found when oocytes were coinjected with MOPC 21 heavy (gamma 1) chain mRNA and MOPC 315 lambda chain mRNAs. The wild type lambda chain (lambda-48) was able to assemble with the gamma chain in a covalently bound tetramer (gamma gamma lambda lambda). The variant lambda-47 chain was also able to form gamma gamma lambda lambda tetramers, whereas the lambda-43 was not, even when glycosylation was prevented by tunicamycin. Both types of tetramer were secreted. These data reinforce the idea that conformational changes play a major role in the routing of secretory proteins and that the cellular mechanisms by which these changes are recognized are not cell-type specific.

Co-operative nature of N-glycosylation of proteins at multiple sites: evidence from studies with tunicamycin.

The pattern of glycosylation of newly synthesized human and murine immunoglobulin mu-chains varies according to the degree of inhibition of N-glycosylation effected by using the antibiotic tunicamycin. Tunicamycin, at high concentrations, can apparently block N-glycosylation of mu-chains completely as judged by SDS-PAGE analysis of the biosynthetically labelled products. At lower concentrations of tunicamycin, fully glycosylated and totally non-glycosylated chains were the predominant molecular species. The paucity of the predicted partially glycosylated mu-chains leads us to suggest that the addition of oligosaccharides to the appropriate acceptor sites is a cooperative process. Long exposure of fluorographs reveals each of the predicted intermediately glycosylated forms of the mu-chain, and counting the number of bands on such fluorographs may prove useful in the preliminary determination of the number of N-linked oligosaccharides in a given glycoprotein.

Monoclonal anti-B produced by the immunization of mice with soluble salivary glycoproteins.

IgM and IgG mouse monoclonal antibodies with specificity for the blood group B determinant have been produced by immunization of mice with a partially purified salivary glycoprotein. These antibodies have been characterized and one of the IgM antibodies showed potential as a grouping reagent. The ready availability of these salivary blood group substances offers the potential to produce a wide range of related monoclonal antibodies.

Mouse monoclonal anti-N. II. Physicochemical characterization and assessment for routine blood grouping.

The precise physicochemical conditions under which two examples of mouse monoclonal anti-N can be used as blood grouping reagents have been defined. The antibodies were shown to belong to the IgG1 and IgG2b subclasses respectively and both reacted within discrete ranges of temperature and pH with optimal reactions occurring at 20 degrees C or less and pH 8.5. Under these conditions and at concentrations of 2-3 micrograms/ml, the antibodies were used, in parallel with conventional polyclonal antisera, to type a series of random blood donors. The results obtained with one of the monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal reagents were in perfect agreement and the monoclonal antibody was judged to have considerable potential as an N-grouping reagent.

Mouse monoclonal anti-N. I. Production and serological characterization.

Two examples of mouse monoclonal anti-N are described. The antibodies were derived from mice immunized with sialoglycoprotein extracts of group O MM ss erythrocyte membranes and the probable stimulus for immunization was glycophorin B associated N-antigen. Both antibodies reacted as direct agglutinins but appeared to recognize different epitopes with one having a greater dependence on sialic acid. The antibodies could prove to be valuable alternatives to those reagents used currently for N-blood grouping.