Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for suppressing or treating cancer, in particular to a method for suppressing or treating one or more of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and/or lung cancer. The therapy employs use of a non-cytotoxic protease, which is targeted to a growth hormone-secreting cell such as to a pituitary cell. When so delivered, the protease is internalized and inhibits secretion/transmission of growth hormone from said cell. The present invention also relates to polypeptides and nucleic acids for use in said methods.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for suppressing neuroendocrine disease. The therapy employs use of a non-cytotoxic protease, which is targeted to a neuroendocrine tumor cell, preferably via a somatostatin or cortistatin receptor, a GHRH receptor, a ghrelin receptor, a bombesin receptor, a urotensin receptor a melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1; a KiSS-1 receptor or a prolactin-releasing peptide receptor. When so delivered, the protease is internalized and inhibits secretion from said tumor cell. The present invention also relates to polypeptides and nucleic acids for use in said methods.
Abstract:
A single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a nociceptive sensory afferent; a Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the nociceptive sensory afferent, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the Targeting Moiety; a translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent. Nucleic acids encoding the fusion proteins, methods of preparing same and uses thereof are also described.
Abstract:
The invention provides a single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a target cell; a Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the target cell, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the target cell; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the Targeting Moiety; and a translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the target cell.
Abstract:
Antigenic compositions are provided comprising a single chain polypeptide comprising first and second domains, wherein said first domain is a clostridial neurotoxin light chain or a fragment or a variant thereof and is capable of cleaving one or more vesicle or plasma membrane associated proteins essential to exocytosis; and said second domain is a clostridial neurotoxin heavy chain HN portion or a fragment or a variant thereof, wherein said second domain is capable of (i) translocating the polypeptide into a cell or (ii) increasing the solubility of the polypeptide compared to the solubility of the first domain on its own or (iii) both translocating the polypeptide into a cell and increasing the solubility of the polypeptide compared to the solubility of the first domain on its own; and wherein the second domain lacks a functional C-terminal part of a clostridial neurotoxin heavy chain designated HC thereby rendering the polypeptide incapable of binding to cell surface receptors that are the natural cell surface receptors to which native clostridial neurotoxin binds. Antibodies that bind to the polypeptides, and compositions comprising these antibodies, are also provided, as are DNA vaccines comprising polynucleotides that encode these polypeptides.The antigenic and antibody compositions, and the DNA vaccine compositions, can be used in methods of immunising against, or treating, clostridial neurotoxin poisoning in a subject by administering to that subject a therapeutically effective amount of the composition.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for suppressing neuroendocrine disease. The therapy employs use of a non-cytotoxic protease, which is targeted to a neuroendocrine tumour cell, preferably via a somatostatin or cortistatin receptor, a GHRH receptor, a ghrelin receptor, a bombesin receptor, a urotensin receptor a melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1; a KiSS-1 receptor or a prolactin-releasing peptide receptor. When so delivered, the protease is internalised and inhibits secretion from said tumour cell. The present invention also relates to polypeptides and nucleic acids for use in said methods.
Abstract:
A single polypeptide is provided which comprises first and second domains. The first domain enables the polypeptide to cleave one or more vesicle or plasma-membrane associated proteins essential to exocytosis, and the second domain enables the polypeptide to be translocated into a target cell or increases the solubility of the polypeptide, or both. The polypeptide thus combines useful properties of a clostridial toxin, such as a botulinum or tetanus toxin, without the toxicity associated with the natural molecule. The polypeptide can also contain a third domain that targets it to a specific cell, rendering the polypeptide useful in inhibition of exocytosis in target cells. Fusion proteins comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide and methods of making the polypeptide are also provided. Controlled activation of the polypeptide is possible and the polypeptide can be incorporated into vaccines and toxin assays.
Abstract:
A single polypeptide is provided which comprises first and second domains. The first domain enables the polypeptide to cleave one or more vesicle or plasma-membrane associated proteins essential to exocytosis, and the second domain enables the polypeptide to be translocated into a target cell or increases the solubility of the polypeptide, or both. The polypeptide thus combines useful properties of a clostridial toxin, such as a botulinum or tetanus toxin, without the toxicity associated with the natural molecule. The polypeptide can also contain a third domain that targets it to a specific cell, rendering the polypeptide useful in inhibition of exocytosis in target cells. Fusion proteins comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide and methods of making the polypeptide are also provided. Controlled activation of the polypeptide is possible and the polypeptide can be incorporated into vaccines and toxin assays.
Abstract:
Curable wood particle composites curable by the Michael addition reaction in the presence of weak base catalyst are disclosed, along with a method for making those curable wood particle composites. Cured wood particle composites are also disclosed, along with a method of making those cured wood particle composites.