[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6789-6790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3528]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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    The invention referenced below is owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and is available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance 
with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results 
of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent 
applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage 
for U.S. companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and a copy of the U.S. patent 
application referenced below may be obtained by contacting Stephen 
Finley, Ph.D., at the Office of Technology Transfer, National 
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852-3804; Telephone: 301/496-7735 ext 215; Fax: 301/402-
0220. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to 
receive a copy of the patent application.

Allelic Variation of the Serotonin 5HT7 Receptor

U Pesonen, M Koulu, M Linnoila, D Goldman, and M Virkkunen (NIAAA)
Serial No. 08/745,269 filed 08 Nov 96 (claiming priority date of 
November 09, 1995

    The 5HT7 serotonin receptor is structurally distinct from 
known serotonin receptors and exhibits a high affinity for serotonin 
and several antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs. The 
neurotransmitter serotonin has a variety of functions in the CNS, and 
disruption of serotonergic systems may be a factor in a number of 
clinical disorders or conditions including schizophrenia, depression, 
obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, sleep disorders, migraine 
headaches, and pain. This invention identifies a rare nonconservative 
mutation of the human 5HT7 serotonin receptor. The mutation from 
Pro279, a common amino acid found in the helical turns of 
proteins, to Leu279 in the third cytoplasmic loop may alter the 
secondary and tertiary structure of the receptor and create changes in 
binding affinities. The 5HT7 Leu279 receptor may prove valuable 
for studying the function of this neurotransmitter in the CNS and make 
it possible to find biochemical and genetic variables that predict 
vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, including antisocial 
personality, and therefore predict these behaviors and also facilitate 
implementation of preventative and therapeutic measures. The receptor 
may also be used in medication development and screening for ligands 
that may bind to the receptor,as well as in receptor inhibition 
studies.

(Portfolios: Central Nervous System--Research Materials receptors 
and cell lines; Central Nervous System--Research Materials, cDNA 
clones and probes)


[[Page 6790]]


    Dated: February 4, 1997.
Barbara M. McGarey,
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 97-3528 Filed 2-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M