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AMBRYX INC. LICENSES TASTE RECEPTOR TECHNOLOGY FROM UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Receptor Technology Featured In March 17th Issue Of Cell
LA JOLLA (March 16, 2000) – Ambryx Inc. announced today that it has acquired rights to a new family of candidate taste receptors and related technologies from the University of California. Dr. Charles Zuker of the University of California, San Diego and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dr. Nicholas Ryba of the National Institutes of Health, and their coworkers report in the current issue of Cell (March 17, 2000) their discovery of a large novel family of mammalian taste receptors (named the T2Rs). More than 40 genes for T2Rs have been identified in humans and rodents. Their second paper in this issue of Cell demonstrates that T2Rs function as bitter taste receptors. The T2R genes are organized in clusters within the genome and are genetically linked to loci that influence bitter perception in mice and humans. The cover of the current issue of Cell highlights these innovative contributions.
The agreement between Ambryx and the University of California also covers two candidate taste receptors belonging to another gene family (the T1Rs, reported in the February 19, 1999 issue of Cell) and other molecules involved in the biology of taste, to which Ambryx had earlier acquired an exclusive option. The T1R and T2R families of candidate taste receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) found in subsets of taste sensory cells of the tongue and palate epithelia. GPCRs, a major class of receptors, play key signaling roles in a broad range of cellular functions throughout the body. GPCRs are targets for many of the drugs sold by the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Lubert Stryer, Chief Scientific Officer and Chairman of the Board, said "Dr. Zuker and Dr. Ryba's discovery is a landmark in chemosensory biology. Their finding of more than 40 genes in this new taste receptor family is a wonderful surprise. They have clearly demonstrated that several T2Rs function as bitter receptors. Furthermore, they have found that polymorphisms in a mouse T2R receptor are associated with changes in the sensitivity of detection of a bitter tastant. Their two papers in Cell are major contributions to our understanding of taste. Ambryx is pleased to have access to this technology to search for specific bitter blockers and other compounds that modulate taste."
"This technology solidifies our scientific foundation as we accelerate our research efforts. It allows our scientific team to begin unlocking the power of genomics and molecular biology in ways that can benefit a number of large consumer product markets," said Paul A. Grayson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We will continue to strengthen the scientific foundation of the company through licenses, collaborations, and our own research.
Ambryx is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the discovery and commercialization of products and services relevant to the genomics of chemosensation in a broad range of consumer markets including food, fragrance, cosmetic, therapeutic, household, agricultural, and industrial applications.
The Company is assembling a matrix of technologies including proprietary chemoreceptors involved in the detection, quantification, signal transduction, and perception of mediators and modulators of taste, olfaction, and other sensory modalities. Ambryx has exclusive agreements with Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Rockefeller University, and the University of California regarding various enabling technologies in the field of chemosensation. Ambryx will utilize a range of recent advances in cellular and molecular biology, genomics, combinatorial chemistry, biomolecular screening, informatics, and other areas to create the first consumer genomics company. These technologies, developed to their full potential, will enrich the quality of life for consumers.
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