(Ref. No. 223-GE) PDF
Background
The pharmaceutical industry currently uses cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors to target cell proliferation for cancer chemotherapy. Such CDK inhibitors have some off target effects. The protein p16INK4a is a potent cell cycle inhibitor and is a relatively selective CDK inhibitor. Induction of p16 inhibits cell proliferation and thus can help to block the growth of tumors in a specific manner.
Summary of the Invention
Dr. Greg Enders developed TetOp16 transgenic mice which would allow for cell, tissue or organ-specific expression of p16INK4a, thereby allowing a broad control of cell proliferation in mice. TetOp16 transgenic mice allow for the inducible expression of p16INK4a. In these transgenic mice, the nucleic acid sequence encoding human p16INK4a has been linked to an inducible promoter or an operon capable of activation by the reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA), mediating p16 transcription. TetOp16 mice can be mated to mice carrying rtTA transgenes in the tissue of interest. p16 expression can be induced in a regulated fashion in the doubly transgenic mice by administering antibiotic doxycycline or tetracycline.
Applications of the Invention
Studies on cell proliferation are usually associated with deleterious side effects such as DNA damage and inflammation. TetOp16 transgenic mice offer a way to selectively manipulate cell proliferation by allowing for temporal and spatial regulation of p16INK4a expression. Thus, this mouse model is a very useful tool in research studies of cancer, development, tissue renewal, aging, and a variety of chronic diseases that involve cell proliferation.
Patent Status: US Patent # US 8,653,324 B2 issued February 18, 2014
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