CERBERUS AND FRZB-1, SECRETORY MOLECULES WITH A REGENERATIVE FUNCTION AND AN INHIBITORY ACTIVITY ON WNTS, RESPECTIVELY
UCLA Technology Available For Licensing

Soluble growth and neurotrophic factors are valuable for their physiological activities and their utilities in therapeutic, clinical, research, diagnostic, and drug design applications. UCLA researchers have identified the functions of two novel proteins, designated "cerberus" and "frzb-1."

Cerberus is expressed as a secreted peptide during embryogenesis of the Xenopus embryo, and is expressed specifically in the head organizer region. This new molecule has endodermal, cardiac, and neural tissue inducing activity, that should prove useful in therapeutic, diagnostic, and clinical applications requiring regeneration, differentiation, or repair of these and other tissues.

Frzb-1 is a soluble antagonist of growth factors of the Wnt family that acts by binding to Wnt growth factors in the extracellular space. The gene for frzb-1 is expressed in adult tissues from different species, including Xenopus, mouse, and human. Based on its antagonistic activity on Wnts in vivo, frzb-1 is believed to have utility as a tumor suppressor since, since over-expressed Wnt proteins cause cancer. Frzb-1 may also be a useful vehicle for solubilization and therapeutic delivery of Wnt proteins complexed with it.

Related Paper (Selected)
  • "The head inducer Cerberus is a multifunctional antagonist of Nodal, BMP and Wnt signals." Nature 397, 707-710 more...

    • Reference: UCLA Case No. 1996-592 US Patent No.:
    6,133,232
    US Patent Application No.:
    US 2002-128441-A1

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    availability, please contact the following UCLA office:

    UCLA Office of Intellectual Property
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    email: ncd@research.ucla.edu
    NCD URL:   http://www.research.ucla.edu/tech/ucla96-592.htm

    Lead Inventor: Edward De Robertis

    UCLA Technologies Available for Licensing
    http://www.research.ucla.edu/tech

    Copyright © 2002 The Regents of the University of California.

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