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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.
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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