MEDIA RELEASE PR36331
Professor Osamu Nureki Joins aTyr Pharma's Scientific Advisory Board
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Protein Expert Adds Structural Biology Insight on aTyr Pharma's
Proprietary Protein Drug Candidates
aTyr Pharma announced today that Professor Osamu Nureki, Department of
Basic Medical Sciences of the Institute of Medical Science at the University
of Tokyo, has joined their scientific advisory board. A globally-recognized
expert in protein crystallography, Professor Nureki is well known for his
contributions in elucidating the structures of aminoacyl tRNA synthetases.
The tRNA synthetases are key enzymes in protein synthesis, but have recently
been shown to have additional functions that can be exploited for development
as biotherapeutics. aTyr Pharma is the exclusive developer of this naturally
occurring family of resected proteins, or "resectins," of the tRNA
synthetases.
According to Leslie Nangle, Ph. D. and head of aTyr Pharma's discovery
group, "aTyr Pharma's resectins have diverse biological activities with
applications in a number of therapeutic areas such as inflammation,
cardiovascular, hematology, neurology and metabolism. Professor Nureki's
extensive knowledge and expertise in structural biology, particularly with
the structures of tRNA synthetases, will add keen insights to our
understanding of resectin biology."
Professor Nureki has had a long history of collaborations with Professor
Paul Schimmel, co-founder of aTyr Pharma and Professor at the Scripps
Research Institute. Professor Schimmel points out, "Professor Nureki has been
a leader in the tRNA synthetases field with significant publications in
highly respected journals, including Science and Nature. Utilizing
Professor's Nureki's experience and knowledge will not only accelerate our
understanding and development of aTyr Pharma's novel class of therapeutic
proteins, it will help expand our resectin identification to other protein
families."
Professor Nureki obtained his Ph. D. in Biophysics and Biochemistry from
the University of Tokyo. After postdoctoral research studies at the Protein
Engineering Research Institute and the Crystallography Laboratory in RIKEN in
Tokyo, Professor Nureki went on to a series of increasingly senior positions
at the University of Tokyo. He has been the recipient of numerous awards
recognizing his contributions to the understanding of protein structure, such
as the Promoting Award of the Crystallographic Society of Japan, and two
Teshima Memorial Research Awards from the Teshima Commemorative Foundation.
In addition, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology has awarded Professor Nureki Prizes for Science and Technology, as
well as the Commendation for Science and Technology. In 2008, Professor
Nureki was awarded the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Prize.
Professor Nureki has published over 100 peer reviewed articles in highly
respected journals such as Science, Nature, EMBO, and Cell.
About aTyr Pharma
aTyr Pharma, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery
of an entirely new class of biologics. aTyr Pharma's discovery engine for new
biotherapeutics consists of novel proteins in the family of tRNA synthetases
with cell signaling activities distinct from the protein synthesis activities
commonly associated with the tRNA synthetases. These proteins are being
developed as novel therapeutics to treat cancer, neurodegenerative diseases,
inflammation, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders.
SOURCE: Alta Partners
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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