Columbia Technology Ventures

Polyamine metabolites for reprogramming cell fate

This technology is a safer method to generate stem cells and cancer therapeutics using the supplementation and inhibition of polyamines.

Unmet Need: Method of modulating chromatin remodeling for therapeutic applications

Modulating cell differentiation offers a potentially powerful approach to therapeutics, as it can influence tissue regeneration, repair, and disease development. Abnormalities in tissue development or cell turnover are often at the root of various health conditions, including cancer. A crucial step in cell differentiation is chromatin remodeling, which changes the accessibility of certain DNA regions in the cell, thereby regulating gene expression. By developing targeted approaches to manipulate chromatin structure and function, it may be possible to restore normal cellular behavior, improve the effectiveness of existing therapies, and offer new treatments for cancers, autoimmune disorders, and genetic conditions.

The Technology: Supplementation and inhibition of polyamines for regulating cell differentiation

This technology is an approach that utilizes the supplementation of polyamines as a therapeutic tool to regulate cell fate. Polyamines are a class of metabolites abundant in stem and cancer cells that play a key role in chromatin remodeling. Inhibition of polyamines induces cellular differentiation while supplementation facilitates reprogramming of differentiated cells. The metabolites localize in the nuclear and sub-nuclear regions, increasing the activity of enzymes involved in histone modification and interacting with DNA to loosen the compaction of chromatin. This ability to alter chromatin structure offers a novel approach for generating stem cells and cancer therapeutics.

This technology has been validated with polyamine probes in vitro and in vivo.

Applications:

  • Stem cell synthesis protocol
  • Cell lineage vitality analysis
  • Regenerative medicine
  • Precision oncology

Advantages:

  • Demonstrates how polyamines regulate cellular differentiation
  • Provides a technique to monitor polyamine levels in vitro and in vivo
  • Introduces a mechanism of action for cellular development

Lead Inventor:

Juan Manuel Schvartzman, M.D., Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

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