Harvard’s lab-on-a-chip breaks protein expression bottleneck
Feb. 1, 2008
Plexera Biosciences is hoping to leave its rivals in its wake following an exclusive option agreement for Auguron Biosciences' DNA-based protein chips.
The nucleic acid programmable protein array (NAPPA) was developed at the Harvard Institute of Proteomics and led to the spin-out of Auguron about a year ago. The firm says this technology enables proteins from any gene in the genome to be generated on microchips from surface printed DNA.
According to the Harvard Institute of Proteomics, existing protein arrays involve the tedious and lengthy process of expressing proteins in living cells followed by purifying, stabilizing, and spotting the samples. This process is a bottleneck in the preparation of the arrays. Moreover, functionally active proteins require careful manipulation, and the less that is needed the better.
The NAPPA method simply spots plasmid DNA. All genes are then simultaneously transcribed/translated in a cell-free system and the resulting proteins are immobilized in situ, minimizing direct manipulation of the proteins and making this approach well suited to high-throughput applications.
With the option deal signed, Plexera—a subsidiary of Lumera—will now test NAPPA with its existing array technology. Together, the two technologies could give life scientists a "virtually unlimited" source of protein content, according to Auguron co-founder and chief executive Jim Richey.
While conventional label-free platforms look at one or several spots at a time, Plexera's platform is designed to monitor thousands of elements simultaneously. This is also done without using labels. According to Richey, combining the two firm's technologies will result in "previously unimagined" opportunities for studying complex biological systems.
Initially, the deal is for one year's access, with an additional year extension possible. In that time, Plexera will test and develop the two technologies together and their CEO, Joe Vallner, has high hopes for the collaboration.
"We believe Auguron's NAPPA technology will allow us to offer a unique and compelling assortment of high quality and unique content to both the life science and pharmaceutical markets giving us a significant competitive advantage and becoming a cornerstone of our content development," he says.
Then, at any time during the period, Plexera may exercise the option to negotiate an exclusive license to NAPPA within the field of detection by, or depending upon SPR, the label free detection method used in Plexera's Kx Array platform. Should the deal be done, the fundamental terms of the license are pre-agreed in the option, according to the companies, although neither would comment further on financial details. If Plexera does exercise the option, the two companies envision Auguron would produce and supply NAPPA enabled microchips to Plexera.
Vallner also said that the firm was on track to launch the Kx5 biosensor instrument this May to the therapeutic antibody development market. This latest option deal builds on the existing relationship between Lumera and Harvard Institute of Proteomics. In January 2006, Lumera began a collaboration with the institute to develop a next generation silicon chip substrate that combines Lumera's NanoCapture technology with NAPPA.
"This option agreement announced today provides us with the protection we need to fully investigate and develop NAPPA and Kx into an integrated solution," says Vallner.
