E8-25222. Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY:

National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES:

Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive copies of the patent applications.

Catalytic Domains of [beta](1,4)-galactosyltransferase I Having Altered Donor and Acceptor Specificities, Domains That Promote In Vitro Protein Folding, and Methods for Their Use

Description of Technology: [beta](1,4)-galactosyltransferase I catalyzes the transfer of galactose from the donor, UDP-galactose, to an acceptor, N-acetylglucosamine, to form a galactose-[beta](1,4)-N-acetylglucosamine bond. This reaction allows galactose to be linked to an N-acetylglucosamine that may itself be linked to a variety of other molecules. The reaction can be used to make many types of molecules having great biological significance. For example, galactose-[beta](1,4)-N-acetylglucosamine linkages are very important for cellular recognition and binding events as well as cellular interactions with pathogens, such as viruses. Therefore, methods to synthesize these types of bonds have many applications in research and medicine to develop pharmaceutical agents and improved vaccines that can be used to treat disease.

The present invention is based on the surprising discovery that the enzymatic activity of [beta](1,4)-galactosyltransferase can be altered such that the enzyme can make chemical bonds that are very difficult to make by other methods. These alterations involve mutating the enzyme such that the mutated enzyme can transfer many different types of sugars from sugar nucleotide donors to many different types of acceptors. Therefore, the mutated [beta](1,4)-galactosyltransferases of the invention can be used to synthesize a variety of products that, until now, have been very difficult and expensive to produce.

The invention also provides amino acid segments that promote the proper folding of a galactosyltransferase catalytic domain and mutations in the catalytic domain that enhance folding efficiency and make the enzyme stable at room temperature. The amino acid segments may be used to properly fold the galactosyltransferase catalytic domains of the invention and thereby increase their activity. The amino acid segments may also be used to increase the activity of galactosyltransferases that are produced recombinantly. Accordingly, use of the amino acid segments according to the invention allows for production of [beta](1,4)-galactosyltransferases having increased enzymatic activity relative to [beta](1,4)-galactosyltransferases produced in the absence of the amino acid segments.

Applications: Synthesis of polysaccharide antigens for conjugate vaccines, glycosylation of monoclonal antibodies, and as research tools.

Development Status: The enzymes have been synthesized and preclinical studies have been performed.

Inventors: Pradman K. Qasba, Boopathy Ramakrishnan, Elizabeth Boeggeman (NCI).

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Application No. 11/178,230 filed 08 Jul 2005, allowed (HHS Reference No. E-230-2002/2-US-03); Foreign rights also available.

Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.

Licensing Contact: John Stansberry, PhD; 301-435-5236; [e-mail].

Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute's Nanobiology Program is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize the use of galactose and modified galactose to be linked to an N-acetylglucosamine that may itself be linked to a variety of other molecules. Please contact John D. Hewes, PhD, at 301-435-3121 or [e-mail] for more information.

Methods of Glycosylation and Bioconjugation

Description of Technology: Eukaryotic cells express several classes of oligosaccharides attached to proteins or lipids. Animal glycans can be N-linked via beta-GlcNAc to Asn (N-glycans), O-linked via -GalNAc to Ser/Thr (O-glycans), or can connect the carboxyl end of a protein to a phosphatidylinositol unit (GPI-anchors) via a common core glycan structure. Beta (1,4)-galactosyltransferase I catalyzes the transfer of galactose from the donor, UDP-galactose, to an acceptor, N-acetylglucosamine, to form a galactose-beta (1,4)-N-acetylglucosamine bond, and allows galactose to be linked to an N-acetylglucosamine that may itself be linked to a variety of other molecules. Examples of these molecules include other sugars and proteins. The reaction can be used to make many types of molecules having great biological significance. For example, galactose-beta (1,4)-N-acetylglucosamine linkages are important for many recognition events that control how cells interact with each other in the body, and how cells interact with pathogens. In addition, numerous other linkages of this type are also very important for cellular recognition and binding events as well as cellular interactions with pathogens, such as viruses. Therefore, methods to synthesize these types of bonds have many applications in research and medicine to develop pharmaceutical agents and improved vaccines that can be used to treat disease.

The invention provides in vitro folding methods for a polypeptidyl-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (pp-GalNAc-T) that transfers GalNAc to Ser/Thr residue on a protein. The application claims that this in vitro-folded recombinant ppGalNAc-T enzyme transfers modified sugar with a chemical handle to a specific site in the designed C-terminal polypeptide tag fused to a protein. The invention provides methods for engineering a glycoprotein from a biological substrate, and methods for glycosylating a biological substrate for use in glycoconjugation. Also included in the invention are diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

Application: Enzymes and methods are provided that can be used to promote the chemical linkage of biologically important molecules that have previously been difficult to link.

Development Status: Enzymes have been synthesized and characterization studies have been performed.

Inventors: Pradman Qasba and Boopathy Ramakrishnan (NCI).

Patent Status: PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/006248 filed 14 May 2008, claiming priority to 14 May 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-204-2007/0-PCT-02).

Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.

Licensing Contact: John Stansberry, PhD; 301-435-5236; [e-mail].

Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize this technology. Please contact John D. Hewes, PhD, at 301-435-3121 or [e-mail] for more information.

Alpha 1-3 N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases With Altered Donor and Acceptor Specificities, Compositions, and Methods of Use

Description of Technology: The present invention relates to the field of glycobiology, specifically to glycosyltransferases. The present invention provides structure-based design of novel glycosyltransferases and their biological applications.

The structural information of glycosyltransferases has revealed that the specificity of the sugar donor in these enzymes is determined by a few residues in the sugar-nucleotide binding pocket of the enzyme, which is conserved among the family members from different species. This conservation has made it possible to reengineer the existing glycosyltransferases with broader sugar donor specificities. Mutation of these residues generates novel glycosyltransferases that can transfer a sugar residue with a chemically reactive functional group to N-acetylglucosarnine (GlcNAc), galactose (Gal) and xylose residues of glycoproteins, glycolipids and proteoglycans (glycoconjugates). Thus, there is potential to develop mutant glycosyltransferases to produce glycoconjugates carrying sugar moieties with reactive groups that can be used in the assembly of bio-nanoparticles to develop targeted-drug delivery systems or contrast agents for medical uses.

Accordingly, methods to synthesize N-acetylglucosamine linkages have many applications in research and medicine, including in the development of pharmaceutical agents and improved vaccines that can be used to treat disease.

This application claims compositions and methods based on the structure-based design of alpha 1-3 N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (alpha 3 GalNAc-T) mutants from alpha l-3galactosyltransferase (a3Gal-T) that can transfer 2′-modified galactose from the corresponding UDP-derivatives due to mutations that broaden the alpha 3Gal-T donor specificity and make the enzyme alpha3 GalNAc-T.

Application: Development of pharmaceutical agents and improved vaccines.

Development Status: Enzymes have been synthesized and preclinical studies have been performed.

Inventors: Pradman Qasba, Boopathy Ramakrishnan, Elizabeth Boeggman, Marta Pasek (NCI).

Patent Status: PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/018678 filed 22 Aug 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-279-2007/0-PCT-01).

Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.

Licensing Contact: John Stansberry, PhD; 301-435-5236; [e-mail].

Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute's Nanobiology Program is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize structure-based design of novel glycosyltransferases. Please contact John D. Hewes, PhD, at 301-435-3121 or [e-mail] for more information.

Beta 1,4-Galactosyltransferases With Altered Donor and Acceptor Specificities, Compositions and Methods of Use

Description of Technology: The present invention relates to the field of glycobiology, specifically to glycosyltransferases. The present invention provides structure-based design of novel glycosyltransferases and their biological applications.

The structural information of glycosyltransferases has revealed that the specificity of the sugar donor in these enzymes is determined by a few residues in the sugar-nucleotide binding pocket of the enzyme, which is conserved among the family members from different species. This conservation has made it possible to reengineer the existing glycosyltransferases with broader sugar donor specificities. Mutation of these residues generates novel glycosyltransferases that can transfer a sugar residue with a chemically reactive functional group to N-acetylglucosarnine (GlcNAc), galactose (Gal) and xylose residues of glycoproteins, glycolipids and proteoglycans (glycoconjugates). Thus, there is potential to develop mutant glycosyltransferases to produce glycoconjugates carrying sugar moieties with reactive groups that can be used in the assembly of bio-nanoparticles to develop targeted-drug delivery systems or contrast agents for medical uses.

Accordingly, methods to synthesize N-acetylglucosamine linkages have many applications in research and medicine, including in the development of pharmaceutical agents and improved vaccines that can be used to treat disease.

The invention claims beta (1,4)-galactosyltransferase I mutants having altered donor and acceptor and metal ion specificities, and methods of use thereof. In addition, the invention claims methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the beta (1,4)-galactosyltransferase I mutants and to using the beta (1,4)-galactosyltransferase I mutants to conjugate agents, such as therapeutic agents or diagnostic agents, to acceptor molecules. More specifically, the invention claims a double mutant beta 1, 4 galactosyltransferase, human beta-1, 4-Tyr289Leu-Met344His-Gal-T1, constructed from the individual mutants, Tyr289Leu-Gal-T1 and Met344His-Gal-T1, that transfers modified galactose in the presence of magnesium ion, in contrast to the wild-type enzyme which requires manganese ion.

Application: Development of pharmaceutical agents and improved vaccines.

Development Status: Enzymes have been synthesized and preclinical studies have been performed.

Inventors: Pradman Qasba, Boopathy Ramakrishnan, Elizabeth Boeggman (NCI).

Patent Status: PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/018656 filed 22 Aug 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-280-2007/0-PCT-01).

Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.

Licensing Contact: John Stansberry, PhD; 301-435-5236; [e-mail].

Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute's Nanobiology Program is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize glycosyltransferases. Please contact John D. Hewes, PhD, at 301-435-3121 or [e-mail].

Dated: October 15, 2008.

Richard U. Rodriguez,

Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.