UBC researchers unveil 'toolbox of MiniPromoters' for gene research and therapy

MiniPromoters are small segments of human DNA with the ability to turn genes on and off at specific times and locations. They're important tools used by scientists and clinicians to mark cells, explore function and deliver therapeutic genetic medicine.

Gene therapy, or targeted gene replacement, is being investigated as potential therapy for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Huntington Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Aniridia and cancer.

Led by Elizabeth M. Simpson, UBC Medical Genetics Professor and Senior Scientist at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the Child & Family Research Institute, an international team of 64 researchers are making available 27 new MiniPromoters, greatly expanding the current limited pool of these vital tools for research and treatment of these disorders.

Using genome analysis, the research team identified new regions of human DNA that can activate a gene in certain brain regions but not others. Further research will focus on refining the gene expression patterns and optimizing gene delivery methods in animal models.

Details of the project, called the Genome Canada Pleiades Promoter Project, are scheduled to be published online in PNAS Early Edition this week.

The Pleiades Promoter Project includes scientists highly specialized in bioinformatics, high throughput genomics, transgenic mouse technology, and neuroimaging to create a unique pipeline capable of producing and characterizing large numbers of MiniPromoters. These and other research resources are being made available at www.pleiades.org and by not-for-profit distributors to enable research worldwide.

The study's co-authors come from UBC, the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the Child & Family Research Institute, the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at BC Cancer Agency, Simon Fraser University and the University of Tennessee. The study was funded by Genome Canada, Genome British Columbia, GlaxoSmithKline R&D Ltd., BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, Child & Family Research Institute, and the UBC Institute of Mental Health.