Hi-Throughput Assay for Screening Small Molecule Inhibitors of Uracil DNA Glycosylase

Uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) is one of the primary enzymes that prevents the incorporation and accumulation of deoxyuridine in genomic DNA. The identification of pharmacologic agents that inhibit UDG is desirable for both investigational and therapeutic purposes. JHU scientists have developed a novel screening assay that allows for the screening of UDG enzymatic activity using sensitive molecular beacon technology. The assay is especially robust and economical for high-throughput screening applications and has already been successful in discovering small molecule inhibitors of native human UDG, which is absolutely required for human immunodeficiency virus replication. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) Current UDG inhibitor screening assays in the market are slow, insensitive and expensive. No other methods exist that allow rapid and economical screening of this enzymatic activity in a high throughput format. The invention has the potential to accelerate the discovery of new drugs that specifically target UDG from different organisms.

Inventor(s): Stivers, James T.

Type of Offer: Licensing



« More Medical Patents

---