Inventors:
Ted M. Dawson - Baltimore MD, US
Valina L. Dawson - Baltimore MD, US
Yingfei Wang - Baltimore MD, US
International Classification:
A61K 38/17, C12N 15/12, A61P 25/00, A61P 25/28, A61P 3/10, A61P 27/02, A61P 13/12, A61P 9/00, A61P 9/10, A61P 35/00, A61P 9/04, A61P 25/16, A61P 25/14, A61P 19/02, A61P 1/00, C12N 15/63, C12P 21/02, C12N 1/21, C12N 1/19, C12N 5/10, C12Q 1/68, C07K 14/435
US Classification:
514 19, 530324, 530326, 536 235, 514 177, 514 178, 514 179, 514 69, 514 208, 514 154, 514 164, 514 151, 514 193, 514 167, 4353201, 435 691, 43525233, 43525231, 43525234, 4352523, 4352542, 435325, 435348, 435 61
Abstract:
Apoptosis inducing factor (“AIF”) contains a PAR-binding motif (“PBM”) that binds to Poly(ADP-ribose) (“PAR”). Binding of PAR to AIF via the PBM is required for AIF release from the mitochondria to occur, and that this PAR-related release is a key step in the programmed cell death process known as parthanatos, both in vitro and in vivo. Preventing or disrupting this release can inhibit parthanatos and thus be the basis for treatments for patients suffering from diseases or medical conditions during which parthanatos commonly occurs, including Parkinson's disease or diabetes, or patients who have had and are recovering from heart attack, stroke and other ischemia reperfusion-related injuries. Alternatively, agents could be identified that enhance the release of AIF, thereby promoting parthanatos and serving as potential anti-tumor chemotherapeutic agents.