Engineering of Stable Cell Lines Expressing TRPV Cation Channel Proteins

Soricimed Biophma，Inc.是一家总部设在新不伦瑞克省萨克维尔/蒙克顿的公司，开发基于索利菌素的生物药物化合物，索利菌素是一种在北方短尾地鼠唾液中发现的麻痹蛋白质。该公司的先导化合物SOR-C13是一种人工合成的13聚体多肽，其治疗活性基于其与钙通道TRPV6的相互作用，TRPV6在某些细胞类型(如癌细胞)中表达升高。此外，SOR-C13的衍生物(C-肽)也可以作为载体直接将其他药物输送到携带TRPV6的细胞中。这个药物输送平台的优化受到目前缺乏一个重要的内部工具的阻碍，即一个稳定的高表达TRPV6通道的细胞系。根据这项Engage Grant，Weaver博士的实验室将开发这种细胞系，使Soricimed能够确定C肽衍生物的哪些特性可以改善它们与TRPV通道的相互作用，从而提高它们靶向和进入具有这些通道的细胞的能力。这些获得的知识将反过来导致该公司产品线的扩展，推出新的和改进的治疗性C-肽，以及针对特定细胞类型的新型C-肽/药物结合物。用这类产品拓宽和巩固该公司的渠道将导致与更大的生物制药公司建立合作关系，并扩大Soricimed的药品市场。

Soricimed Biopharma, Inc. is a Sackville/Moncton, New Brunswick based company developingbiopharmaceutical compounds based on soricidin, a paralytic protein found in the saliva of the NorthernShort-tailed Shrew. SOR-C13, the company's lead compound, is a synthetic, 13-mer peptide whose therapeuticactivity is based on its interaction with a calcium channel, TRPV6, whose expression is elevated in certain celltypes (e.g. cancer cells). Also, derivatives of SOR-C13 (C-peptides) can be used as vehicles to deliver otherdrugs directly into TRPV6-bearing cells. Optimization of this drug delivery platform is hampered by thecurrent lack of a significant in-house tool; a stable cell line overexpressing the TRPV6 channel. Under thisEngage Grant, Dr. Weaver's lab will develop this cell line, allowing Soricimed to determine what properties ofthe C-peptide derivatives improve their interaction with TRPV channels and hence their ability to target andenter cells bearing these channels. This gained knowledge would in turn lead to expansion of the company'sproduct line with new and improved therapeutic C-peptides, and novel C-peptide/drug conjugates targetingspecific cell types. Broadening and solidifying the company's pipeline with such products will lead topartnerships with larger biopharma companies and expand Soricimed's drug marketability.