MEDIA RELEASE PR35357
Fruitfly Model of a Neuropathic Disease Demonstrates Novel Role for Proteins in the Family of aTyr
Pharma's Product Class
SAN DIEGO, July 15 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
aTyr Pharma's Naturally Occurring Resected Proteins are Novel
Biotherapeutics
Research published in the June 26, 2009 edition of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences provides
further evidence for novel roles of tRNA synthetases in disease, validating the therapeutic potential for aTyr
Pharma's new class of naturally occurring protein agents. The aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are universal and
essential components of protein synthesis machinery found in all organisms, but human synthetases have naturally
occurring resected variants with potent cell signaling activities that are vital to normal functioning of humans. aTyr
Pharma's proprietary product generating engine consists of these resected proteins (resectins) of human aminoacyl
tRNA synthetases with cell signaling activities distinct from the protein synthesis activities. In this recently published
study, a model of a human neuropathy was created in the fruit fly (Drosophila) by introducing mutations in the
tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase which correspond to disease associated mutations in humans. These dominant mutations
do not cause a loss in the protein synthesis activity, indicating that the neuropathy arises from distinct activities of
this tRNA synthetase. This work provides further proof of noncanonical roles for tRNA synthetases in human
disease.
The large team of scientists on the study included Professors Paul
Schimmel and Xiang-Lei Yang, scientific co-founders of aTyr Pharma, and
Leslie Nangle, Director of Research at aTyr Pharma, and was led by Albena
Jordanova of the University of Antwerp. Other scientists contributing to this
paper are from the University of Antwerp, Universiteit Leuven, and Florida
Atlantic University. Professor Paul Schimmel of The Scripps Research
Institute describes the significance of the work. "Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)
is one of the most common inherited neurological disorders, with typical
symptoms usually emerging in early adulthood, including loss of muscle mass,
pain and sensitivity, foot deformations and difficulties in walking. Human
genome sequencing revealed that some CMT patients have mutations in a gene
encoding tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. While tRNA synthetases play an essential
role in protein synthesis in all forms of life, these dominant mutations in
CMT patients did not seem to manifest the disease through disruption of those
protein synthesis activities. When the mutations found in humans are
introduced into the Drosophila genome, the flies develop neurological defects
that correspond to CMT in humans. While we are still trying to understand how
mutations in the tRNA synthetase gene disrupt the neurological system of a
complex organism, this study showed that there are neurological functions
encoded in this gene."
According to Jeff Watkins, CEO of aTyr Pharma, "In the past few years,
Professor Schimmel has discovered a whole new area of biology: novel
signaling functions for naturally occurring proteins resected from ancient
proteins such as tRNA synthetases. This work in Drosophila illustrates a
surprising disease-causing role for tRNA synthetases that is not related to
the well-studied protein synthesis activities of these enzymes. Instead, in
humans and this fruit fly model, the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase gene encodes a
distinct function involved in the complex neurobiology of an organism. These
novel activities are seen for other members of the tRNA synthetases family as
well, and aTyr Pharma's portfolio capitalizes on this new area of biology by
using these naturally occurring resectins with novel signaling activities to
treat a wide variety of diseases, such as inflammation, automimmune,
hematopoietic and metabolic disorders."
The PNAS publication can be accessed at:
SOURCE: aTyr Pharma
CONTACT: Cheryl Quinn
Director of Business Development of aTyr Pharma
+1-858-731-8390
cquinn@atyrpharma.com
or media, Jennifer James of Alta Partners
+1-415-362-4022
jjames@altapartners.com
for aTyr Pharma
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