Eukarion announces that it is joining forces with Proteome Systems and the Buck Institute for Age Research in a collaborative programme on the proteomics of ageing
The programme is focused on mitochondrial oxidative stress and the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and degenerative neurological disease.
Eukarion will provide synthetic pharmacological compounds that augment natural antioxidant pathways for studies on longevity in mice.
"Our studies with Simon Melov from the Buck Institute have demonstrated that ageing is a condition that is amenable to pharmacological intervention," said Bernard Malfroy, chief executive of Eukarion.
"Application of Proteome Systems's innovative technology platform and intellectual expertise in proteomics to this research programme will enable the characterisation of the critical proteins and thereby allow us to identify new specific targets relevant to ageing." Simon Melov, one of the founding faculty of the Buck Institute and a project leader of the proteomics project on ageing, created intense international interest when results were published last year in Science showing that Eukarion's proprietary drugs successfully increased life span in the nematode worm.
As published in the November 2001 issue of Journal of Neuroscience, Melov and colleagues have now shown that these drugs can extend the lifespan of genetically modified mice three-fold, demonstrating the effectiveness of these drugs against free-radicals.
He said, "We are now keen to determine if these drugs have the same effects in normal mice, which will give us key insights into mechanisms of ageing and may uncover key regulators of the ageing process in mammals." Keith Williams, chief executive of Proteome Systems said, "We are delighted to expand the partnership set up by Eukarion and the Buck Institute in the area of proteomics. Eukarion has an outstanding team with an exciting library of bioactive compounds, and our technology will enable understanding of the molecular targets of a very interesting group of antioxidants.
The Buck team has done highly creative studies which will be enhanced using proteomics."
