Sequencing and Analysis of the Hydra Genome
Chapman, Kirkness et al., Nature
An international research collaboration reports their sequencing and analysis of the Hydra magnipapillata genome, and compare it to the genomes of several other organisms. "The Hydra genome has been shaped by bursts of transposable element expansion, horizontal gene transfer, trans-splicing, and simplification of gene structure and gene content that parallel simplification of the Hydra life cycle," the authors write. They team suggests that comparisons of the Hydra genome to the reported sequences of other animals have helped them to elucidate the evolution of several of the organism's characteristics.
EMD Chemicals, MitoSciences to Co-develop Assays
October 23, 2009
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Merck KGaA subsidiary EMD Chemicals yesterday said that it will work with MitoSciences to develop assays for drug toxicity and mitochondrial bioactivity.
The firms intend to co-develop multiplex immunoassay products for EMD's WideScreen BeadPlex assay platform for detecting and profiling mitochondrial toxicity and activity. The WideScreen assays run on a Luminex xMAP system.
Under the agreement, MitoSciences has granted EMD exclusive tights to a family of monoclonal antibodies used for monitoring mitochondrial activity and bioactivity. MitoSciences also will work with EMD to validate the WideScreen assays for use in drug screening applications.
"To develop safer drugs and save time and resources in the process, the evaluation of toxicity is a clear focus in pre-clinical drug development," Christina Shasserre, VP and head of global biosciences for Merck KGaA and EMD Chemicals, said in a statement. "Testing the effect of drug candidates on mitochondrial processes such as metabolism and replication is as an important aspect of toxicity profiling."
The firms expect to launch the first set of assays in early 2010, targeting the pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research markets.
