Outline:

This symposium will discuss the dynamic gene expression control for a whole-genome. Global Determinants, Inc. has identified DNA sequences that flank sets of genes in prokaryotic, archea and eukaryotic genomes. Other examples of these sequences occur in the 3'UTR of some genes and are expressed as single-stranded RNA. The RNA and the flanking DNA sequences form a tetradic complex that permits stable chromatin structure to form thus removing sets of genes from promotion and expression. The tetradic complexes are called Connectrons. Two years of scientific work have lead to the discovery and patenting of many of the mechanisms governing connectron occurrence, formation and utilization in a variety of genomes. Experiments leading to the physical proof of the existence of connectrons are being developed in E. coli in collaboration with Dr. Sankar Adhya in the NCI and in yeast in collaboration with Dr. Jeff Strathern in the NCI and Dr. Eric Eastman at GeneLogic. Some connectron sequences are directly connected with genes and the high-level regulation of their expression. In the human genome where 90% of the genome is non-genic DNA, we have found MANY instances of the tetradic connectron sequences. These non-genic connectrons are most probably the SNRPs (Small Nuclear RNA Particles) that do not contain ORFs. We call these sequences geneless connectrons or perhaps more properly ORF-less connectrons. We are in the process of showing that these OFR-less connectrons are responsible for differentiation and development in higher eukaryotes. Clearly there are gene-defect diseases where the ORF of a gene has been mutated and the resultant protein is no longer functional. We have identified the first instances of connectron diseases where the hierarchy of connectron control structure has been mutated but the underlying ORFs are perfectly functional. We believe that the determination, simulation and manipulation of connectrons structure will be the dominant form of investigation of biological systems. A provisional US Patent was submitted on June 2nd, 2000 and the formal US and PCT patent applications were filed on May 30th 2001. These patent applications are modeled on our successful patent application (US 6,205,404) for the design of zinc-finger DNA binding proteins for any sequence. Computational determination of the connectron structure of the bacterial and small eukaryotic genomes has been accomplished. In the last three months we have filed provisional patent applications claiming the complete connectron structure of 41 bacterial, archeal and eukaryotic genomes. Connectron determination has been done in the available chromosomes of Arabadopsis thaliana showing that plants have connectrons. Chromosome 22 of Human has been processed showing that connectrons exist in higher eukaryotes.

Speaker: Richard J. Feldmann, Global Determinants, Inc.
(rjfeldma@erols.com)

Other Speakers: TBA

This page last updated Monday, 10-Dec-2007 17:58:04 EST