Categories | Inventors
Mammalian Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Receptors and Uses (MC2)
OHSU # 0245
Categories:
- Biological Materials - Receptors/Targets
- Research Tools - Screening
- Biological Materials
- Research Tools
Inventors:
- Roger Cone
- Kathleen Mountjoy, VI.Vollum Institute
Technology
Overview
The
present invention relates to the mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor
(ACTH) which is a type of melanocortin receptor (MC2). The fact that this
receptor belongs to the melanocortin receptor family implies close association
between several physiological processes including stress homeostatic mechanisms,
regulation of food intake, immunity and skin function. This receptor is
found in the zona fasciculate of the adrenal cortex and stimulates production of
cortisol. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization
and pharmacological use of the MC2 receptor, the gene corresponding to this
receptor, a recombinant eukaryotic expression construct capable of expressing a
mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor in cultures of transformed
eukaryotic cells and such cultures of transformed eukaryotic cells that
synthesize mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor. The invention also
provides methods for screening MC2r agonists and antagonists in vitro using
preparations of receptor from such cultures of eukaryotic cells transformed with
a recombinant eukaryotic expression construct comprising the MC2r receptor
gene.
Overexpression of this receptor or inability to desensitize it is found in adrenal adenomas or hyperplasia associated with glucocorticoid overproduction (Cushing syndrome). These disorders are uncommon, but there are considerable data to show that the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis is overactive in common situations including depression, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and anorexia nervosa, or in some circumstances underactive such as in septic shock and rheumatoid arthritis
Market
Summary
As
the MC2 receptor is involved in a variety of conditions, the potential market
for this technology is vast. For smaller markets such as for Cushing
syndrome, an estimated 10 to 15 of every million people are affected each
year. Larger markets such as obesity is projected to include 139 million
obese people the U.S, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K. and Japan by the year
2010.
Inventor
Profile
Roger
Cone earned his Ph.D. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1985. He received his B.A. in Biochemistry from Princeton University.
Starting in 1985, Cone was a fellow at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. In
1988, he became an assistant professor in the Division of Molecular Medicine at
the New England Medical Center, where he remained until he accepted his
appointment to the Vollum in 1990. Cone moved to Vanderbilt University in 2008
and is the Chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and
Biophysics.
Publications
Science.
1992 Aug 28;257(5074):1248-51; Ann NY Acad Sci. 1993 May
31;680:342-63
Licensing
Opportunity
The
patent rights under OHSU 245 are available for non-exclusive or exclusive
licensing.
Patents:
| Issued | United States | 5,554,729 |
| Issued | United States | 5,773,229 |
Related Technologies:
- OHSU # 0244 — Mammalian Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone Receptors and Uses (MC1)
- OHSU # 0264 — Mammalian Melanocortin Receptors and Uses (MC3)
- OHSU # 0367 — Methods and Reagents for Using Mammalian Melanocortin Receptor Agonists and Antagonists to Modulate Feeding Behavior in Animals (MC3&4)
- OHSU # 0387-A — Regulation of Exocrine Gland Function by Modulation of Melanocortin-5 Receptor (MC5-R) Activity
For more information, contact:
Robert Copenhaver
Technology Development Manager
503-494-7809
