Daniel Allen Harki

US Patent:

20080269138, Oct 30, 2008

Filed:

Nov 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/998446

Inventors:

Peter B. Dervan - San Marino CA, US
Claire S. Jacobs - San Marino CA, US
Nicholas G. Nickols - Van Nuys CA, US
Daniel A. Harki - Pasadena CA, US

International Classification:

C07K 7/06
A61K 38/08
C12N 15/00

US Classification:

514 15, 530328, 435440

Abstract:

The present invention relates to polyamides with a tail comprising a linker and an end-group. A preferred end-group is isophthalic acid and derivatives thereof. Polyamides of the invention are capable of entering the nucleus of cells. Polyamides of the invention are capable of selectively binding DNA. The invention also relates to methods of using the polyamides in therapy and research.

US Patent:

20140275224, Sep 18, 2014

Filed:

Nov 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/883267

Inventors:

Reuben S. Harris - Saint Paul MN, US
Daniel A. Harki - Minneapolis MN, US
Michael A. Carpenter - Minneapolis MN, US
Ming Li - Saint Paul MN, US

Assignee:

Regents of the University of Minnesota - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

C07D 417/14
A61K 31/4709
C07D 417/12
C07D 235/28
A61K 31/4184
A61K 31/4439
A61K 31/428
C07D 235/18
C07D 277/66
A61K 31/433
C07D 285/08
A61K 31/713
C07D 277/74

US Classification:

514 44 R, 546167, 5483071, 544135, 5483107, 548179, 548129, 5462687, 435184

Abstract:

Compounds and methods are provided for enhancing or boosting the transfection rate or efficiency of mammalian cells by foreign DNA, such as bacterial plasmid DNA. Compounds, including natural products and inventive synthetic compounds can increase the effectiveness of uptake and incorporation of foreign DNA by mammalian cells, such as human cells, by suppression of DNA cytosine deamination, which is believed to be a mechanism by which these cells eliminate foreign DNA. Inhibition of the cytosine deaminase enzymes by compounds as described herein serves to provide more effective transfection of eukaryotic cells by plasmids including engineered gene sequences. Transfection can be used to study cellular processes, or to cure genetic diseases in human patients. The inventive materials and methods increase the efficiency and effectiveness of such transfection techniques.