Sign up to our technology alerts and be the first to hear about any new technology opportunities from Scotland's universities
Please select the market sector you are interested in.
Please select the university you are interested in.
Show only Easy Access opportunities.
Narrow your search with a few keywords.
University: University of St Andrews
Sector(s): Life Sciences
About Opportunity:
L-rhamnose is a 6-deoxyhexose that is found on the cell wall of many pathogenic microorganisms, however it is absent from mammals. In Gram-negative bacteria L-rhamnose is one of the important residues of the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide, a factor which is a key determinant for the virulence of these species. Gram-positive bacteria such as streptococci and mycobacteria utilise L-rhamnose in the arabinogalactan (AG) that attaches the lipid mycolic acid layer to the peptidoglycan layer which is of vital importance to mycobacteria. Four enzymes; RmlA, RmlB, RmlC and RmlD are required for the synthesis of L-rhamnose. Significantly, these proteins are highly conserved amongst microorganisms and therefore conclusions drawn from the structure of a protein from one species will have strong implications for the corresponding enzyme of another origin. As RmlA catalyses the first of four steps resulting in the synthesis of L-rhamnose, it is an attractive target in the development of novel antibiotics.
Key Benefits:
Our invention provides a purified and crystallised form of RmlA and its X-ray structure. In addition, it also provides a method of selecting agents which inhibit the enzyme RmlA, such as, providing a model of the active or regulatory site (s) of RmlA; reviewing the structure of a potential inhibitory agent for at least one of these sites; analysing the potential interaction of said agent in said site (s).
Applications:
This technology may prove to be of substantial benefit to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, to select for anti-microbial compounds for further development. For example, an anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agent which binds to an active or regulatory site of RmlA sufficiently tightly to impede the biosynthesis of rhamnose and thus growth of the micro-organism.
IP Status:
The University of St. Andrews has applied for a European Patent (Application No. 01949689.2) and has applied for International patent protection (Canadian Patent Application No. 2416064, US Patent Application No. 10/332935). As yet, there are no commercial parties involved. The University would welcome enquiries from commercial parties interested in entering into a licensing arrangement.
Easy Access Documents:
Please enter your name.
Please enter the name of the company you work for.
Is your company an SME?
Please select the country you are in.
Please enter your email address.
Please enter your telephone number.
To help us process your enquiry faster please enter some details about the information you are interested in.
Please prove you are a human by completing this simple image recognition task.
The University of Glasgow has developed Soluble Polymer Catalysts, using organocatalysts for chiral chemical production...
University of Glasgow scientists have borrowed techniques employed in the semi-conductor industry to pattern the surfaces of either hard or soft materials and render these surfaces less adhesive to cells.
Scientists at the University of Glasgow have pioneered a new sensor technology, Lab-in-a-Pill, that could have major impact on the cost and effectiveness of bowel cancer treatment.
The Thermoelectric Sensor technology is a Nano-Calorimetric Sensor which measures very small changes in temperature. The IP provides a route to making the most sensitive calorimetric measurements (with a resolution of 0.1 mK).
The University of Glasgow is offering an exciting new model for the evaluation of new treatments for Parkinsons disease