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Identification of Cancer Biomarkers using Mammalian Chromatin Modifying Properties of Lunasin

Technology Benefits

Specific dietary factor with the ability to transcriptionally activate chemopreventive genes by chromatin modification

Technology Application

Basis for new anti-cancer drug designs Biomarker for cancer Screening a test compound for anti-neoplastic activity Therapeutic/prophylactic treatment and monitoring neoplastic disease

Detailed Technology Description

The mechanisms by which diet influences health and disease outcomes are not well understood. Our current understanding of how low potency dietary metabolites affect gene activity through genetic regulatory networks and signal transduction pathways cannot fully account for the expression of thousand of genes in hundreds of pathways in a comprehensive and highly coordinated fashion. Earlier research into Lunasin, a soy-peptide, has shown anti-cancer properties through its ability to affect gene expression. Lunasin up-regulates genes that are involved in tumor suppression (anti-cell proliferation), cell death and cell division (e.g., mitotic checkpoint). Lunasin has been shown to promote the acetylation of chromatin leading to the transcriptional activation of chemopreventive genes necessary for guarding or protecting cells from transformation events induced either by chemical carcinogens or oncogenes. Although chemopreventive properties of the soy-peptide are well-documented, its mechanisms of action were unknown. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered that Lunasin regulates the expression of chemopreventive genes involved in cancer by modifying the acetylation of chromatin, specifically increasing histone H4 acetylation. Lunasin and the genes it modifies may serve as a biomarker for cancer risk and progression. Furthermore, inherent in Lunasin's structure and chromatin-remodeling properties may be the basis for new anti-cancer drug designs that include combination therapeutics with other chromatin remodeling bioactive agents. These findings have important implications and clinical relevance for disease prevention and long-term health outcomes.

Supplementary Information

Patent Number: US20100291044A1
Application Number: US2010682892A
Inventor: Rodriguez, Raymond | Galvez, Alfredo F.
Priority Date: 12 Oct 2007
Priority Number: US20100291044A1
Application Date: 2 Aug 2010
Publication Date: 18 Nov 2010
IPC Current: A61K003512 | A61K003816 | A61P003500 | C12N0005071 | C12Q000168
US Class: 4240937 | 43500613 | 43500618 | 435375 | 5140193 | 435006
Title: Lunasin-induced regulation of disease-related gene expression
Usefulness: Lunasin-induced regulation of disease-related gene expression
Summary: The methods are useful for screening a test compound for anti-neoplastic activity, upregulating the expression of one or more chemopreventative genes in a cell or in a subject, screening putatively cancerous biopsy tissue, using a test compound for staging a cancer tissue, and using a test compound for measuring the degree of the test compound's anti-neoplastic activity upon a cancer tissue (all claimed).
Novelty: Screening a test compound for anti-neoplastic activity by measuring acetylation of Lys 16 of the N-terminal tail of histone H4, exposing the cell to the test compound, and re-measuring the acetylation of Lys 16

Industry

Disease Diagnostic/Treatment

Sub Category

Cancer/Tumor

Application No.

9678060

Others

Related Technologies

• A Soy-peptide to Prevent Cancer

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

• A Soy-peptide to Prevent Cancer
• Crop Improvement And Production Of Value-Added Compound Using The Rice Beta-Glucanase Genes, Gns2-Gns9

Tech ID/UC Case

11236/2008-254-0

Related Cases

2008-254-0

*Abstract

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered a dietary peptide capable of reducing cancer risk by epigenetic modification of mammalian chromatin.

*IP Issue Date

Jun 13, 2017

*Principal Investigator

Name: Alfredo Galvez

Department:

Name: Raymond Rodriguez

Department:

Country/Region

USA