[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42859-42860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12132]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and are 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 companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent 
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated 
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National 
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: 301-496-7057; fax: 301-402-0220. A 
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive 
copies of the patent applications.

On-Demand Protein Microarrays: In Vitro Assembly of Protein Microarrays

    Description of Technology: Protein microarrays are becoming an 
indispensable biomedical tool to facilitate rapid high-throughput 
detection of protein-protein, protein-drug and protein-DNA interactions 
for large groups of proteins. The novel Protein Microarray of this 
invention is essentially a DNA microarray that becomes a protein 
microarray on demand and provides an efficient systematic approach to 
the study of protein interactions and drug target identification and 
validation, thereby speeding up the discovery process. The technology 
allows a large number of proteins to be synthesized and immobilized at 
their individual site of expression on an ordered array without the 
need for protein purification. As a result, proteins are ready for 
subsequent use in binding studies and other analysis.
    The Protein Microarray is based on high affinity and high 
specificity of the protein-nucleic acid interaction of the Tus protein 
and the Ter site of E. coli. The DNA templates are arrayed on the 
microarray to perform dual function: (1) synthesizing the protein in 
situ (cell-free protein synthesis) in the array and (2) at the same 
time capturing the protein it synthesizes by DNA-protein interaction. 
This method utilizes an expression vector containing a DNA sequence 
which serves a dual purpose: (a) encoding proteins of interest fused to 
the Tus protein for in vitro synthesis of the protein and (b) encoding 
the Ter sequence, which captures the fusion protein through the high 
affinity interaction with the Tus protein.
    Applications: (1) Simultaneous analysis of interactions of many 
proteins with other proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, lipids, drugs, 
etc, in a single experiment; (2) Efficient discovery of novel drugs and 
drug targets.
    Development Status: The technology is in early stages of 
development.
    Inventors: Deb K. Chatterjee, Kalavathy Sitaraman, James L. 
Hartley, David J. Munroe, Cassio Baptista (NCI).
    Patent Status: U.S. Patent Application No. 11/252,735 filed 19 Oct 
2005 (HHS Reference No. E-244-2005/0-US-01).
    Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive and exclusive 
licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Cristina Thalhammer-Reyero, Ph.D., M.B.A.; 301-
435-4507; [email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute 
Protein

[[Page 42860]]

Expression Laboratory is seeking statements of capability or interest 
from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, 
evaluate, or commercialize in vitro assembly of protein microarrays. 
Please contact Betty Tong at 301-594-4263 or [email protected] for 
more information.

    Dated: July 24, 2006.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
 [FR Doc. E6-12132 Filed 7-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P