PARIS, July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cellectis bioresearch, a specialist in genome customization and a subsidiary of Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS), today announced the publication of a scientific study describing a novel method, based on meganuclease-driven targeted integration, for the generation of stable cell lines compatible with high throughput screening (HTS)(1). The study demonstrated Cellectis bioresearch’s technology to be faster, more reliable and efficient in deriving cell-based assays for HTS studies than classical methods. The study has been published online by Journal of Biomolecular Screening http://jbx.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/1087057110375115v1.
The development of cell-based assays for HTS approaches is important to screen molecules on pharmaceutical targets and often requires the generation of stable cell lines. However, these cell lines are essentially created by random integration of a gene of interest (GOI) with no control over the level and stability of gene expression. In this study, scientists from the Servier Research institute used Cellectis bioresearch’s cellular Genome Positioning System, or cGPS®, in CHO-K1 cells, to accomplish targeted integration of different GOIs. Five different GOIs representing 3 major drug target classes were stably integrated at the same locus in cGPS® CHO-K1 cells. Characterization of the targeted clones revealed that the cGPS® CHO-K1 system was more rapid (2-week protocol), efficient (all selected clones expressed the GOI), reproducible (GOI expression level variation of 12% maximum), and stable over time (no change in GOI expression after 23 weeks of culture) than classical random integration.
“Achieving a physiological level of expression compatible with the relevant functional assay is important in testing pharmaceutical targets”, explained Jean Boutin, Director of the Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Division of the SERVIER Research Institute. “We found that proteins expressed in the cGPS® CHO-K1 cells are biologically active and have enzymatic constants, localization and function close to the published values of their wild-type endogenous counterparts. This fast and robust method opens the door for creating large collections of cell lines expressing therapeutically relevant GOIs, enhancing the productivity of HTS”.
About Cellectis bioresearch
Cellectis bioresearch was incorporated as a subsidiary of Cellectis SA (Alternext: ALCLS) in June 2008. It provides life science researchers with ready-to-use research tools for genome customization. These tools, based on meganucleases, enable the customization of cells with optimized features for drug discovery, protein production and gene function study.
More information at www.cellectis-bioresearch.com
About Cellectis
Cellectis is a pioneer in the field of genome engineering. The company designs and markets innovative tools -meganucleases. These molecular scissors enable targeted modifications to DNA, with applications in the research, biomanufacturing, agrobiotechnology and therapeutic sectors.
To date, Cellectis has formed over 20 academic research partnerships and has established more than 50 agreements with pharmaceutical laboratories, seed producers and biotech companies across the world. The company holds exclusive rights to a portfolio of over 260 patents granted or pending.
Since 2007, Cellectis has been listed on the NYSE-Euronext Alternext market (code : ALCLS) in Paris and has secured over euro 70 million in funding since inception.
More information at www.cellectis.com
Disclaimer
This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe, shares in Cellectis in any country. This press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to the Company’s objectives. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management only and involve risk and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, whether the Company will be successful in implementing its strategies, whether there will be continued growth in the relevant market and demand for the Company’s products, new products or technological developments introduced by competitors, and risks associated with managing growth. Unfavorable developments in connection with these and other risks and uncertainties described, in particular, in the Company’s prospectus prepared in connection with its IPO and on which the French Autorite des marches financiers (“AMF”) granted its visa n° 07-023 on January 22, 2007, could cause the Company to fail to achieve the objectives expressed by the forward-looking statements above.
(1) JP Cabaniols et al. Meganuclease-driven targeted integration in CHO-K1 cells fort he fast generation of HTS compatible cell-based assays. Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2010, doi:10.1177/1087057110375115
SOURCE Cellectis bioresearch
