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VisuVivo A proliferation marker to visualise cell cycle progression in vitro and in n vivo with high spatial resolution of the M-phase M Invention The invention provides a nucleic acid expression construct encoding a fusion protein comprising a fluorescence reporter protein (like EGFP) and a protein with a wild-type wild destruction signal (like Anillin). Localised to subcellular structures during cell cycle progression, it presents a fluorescence marker for imaging cell cycle progression in vitro and in vivo. Localisation of EGFP to subcellular structures during cell cycle progression. G1 = Gap 1, G2 = Gap 2, S = Synthesis, Pro=Prophase, Meta=Metaphase, Ana=Anaphase, Telo= Telophase, G0 = Gap 0/Resting. Challenge The cell cycle comprises consecutive phases termed G1, S (synthesis), G2 (interphase) and M (mitosis). Cells that temporarily or reversibly stop dividing enter quiescence, named the G0-phase. To differentiate between cells that start to divide again and resting cells is still an unreached goal. In addition, available cell cycle indicators are unable to distinguish between cell division and acytokinetic mitosis which is karyokinesis without cyotkinesis or endoreplication which is continuing rounds of DNA replication without karyokinesis. Competitive Advantages Visualising proliferating cells in vitro & in vivo Identification, isolation and characterisation of proliferating cells Discrimination between cell division and acytokinetic mitosis / endoreplication Applicable in cell systems containing a mixture of proliferating, differentiated and post-mitotic cells Solution The Anillin fusion protein of the invention is located in the nucleus during G1-, G1 S- and G2-phase, e, in the cytoplasm and cell cortex in early M-Phase, M in the contractile ring during cytokinesis and in the midbody just before absission, making it possible to distinguish between different phases. At the end of mitosis the fusion protein gets degraded by the proteasome. Therefore, cells arrested in G0 do not show any fluorescence. The invention enables scientists to identify, isolate and characterize proliferating cells out of a composition of proliferating, differentiated and post-mitotic post cells. Furthermore, it enables to distinguish between cell division and variations of the cell cycle such as acytokinetic mitosis and endoreplication that cause false positives in standard proliferation assays. Commercial Opportunities In case of interest we are pleased to inform you about the current patent status. We offer access to rights for commercial use as well as the opportunity for further co codevelopment. Current Status Stable transfected, pluripotent murine embryonic stem cells were generated. VisuVivo can aid to gain knowledge about mechanisms of cell proliferation, which could be useful for stem cell biology as well as regenerative medicine and others. Further Reading Hesse, M. et al. (2012) Direct visualization of cell division using high-resolution high imaging of M-phase phase of the cell cycle. Nature Communications 3:1076. 3:1076 An invention of Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University University of Bonn (UniBonn). PROvendis GmbH is the patent licensing agency for the universities of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhine Germany. PROvendis recommends: www.inventionstore.de - Free e-mail mail service to access the latest IP-protected IP top technologies. Contact: Ref. No.: 2092 Dr. Silvia Schoen-Feltes PROvendis GmbH Schlossstrasse 11-15 45468 Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany Phone: +49 (0)208 94 105 46 Fax: +49 (0)208 94 105 50 Email: [email protected] Web: www.provendis.info