EPH Receptor Ligands, and Uses Related Thereto

Summary The EPH kinases constitute the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases. EPH receptors and their ligands (ephrins) play a central role in embryonic development and increasing evidence also implicates EPH and ephrins in cancer progression and metastasis.

Harvard's researchers have identified a membrane bound protein, Elf-1 (EPH ligand family-1) as an EPH receptor ligand, isolated and sequenced Elf-1 cDNA and generated fusion proteins. Elf-1, also known as Ephrin-A2, Cek7-L and LERK-6, is a member of the ephrin ligand family which binds members of the Eph receptor family. Ligands of the ephrin family share a conserved extracellular sequence, which most likely corresponds to the receptor binding domain. Elf-1 has been shown to bind EphA2, EphA3, EphA4, EphA5, EphA6, EphA7, and EphA8. Elf-1 is involved in the formation and maintenance of ordered spatial arrangements of differentiated tissues in vertebrates. Agonists or antagonists of Elf-1 could be used to induce or maintain a differentiated state or enhancing survival of a cell.

References:
H.J. Cheng, J. G. Flanagan, Cell 1994, 79, 157-168. Harvard's intellectual property portfolio includes the following patents: US 6,777,536 issued August 17, 2004 US 6,268,476 issued July 31, 2001 US 5,795,734 issued August 18, 1998

Applications Elf-1 polypeptide and the corresponding nucleic acid sequence can be used to: - study growth and differentiation pathways modulated by EPH receptors;
- prepare Elf-1 antibodies;
- generate transgenic animals;
- design assays for screening test compounds for inhibitors of the interaction between Elf-1 and EPH;
- detect a mutation on the Elf-1 gene and thus assess the risk for a patient to develop a disorder characterized by unwanted cell-proliferation or differentiation. - find therapeutics agents, to enhance survival and maintenance of specific cells. For Further Information Please Contact the Director of Business Development Katie Gordon Email: [email protected] Telephone: (617) 432-0920

Inventor(s): Flanagan, John G

Type of Offer: Licensing



« More Pharmaceutical Patents

---