ST. LOUIS, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Sigma-Aldrich® Corporation (Nasdaq: SIAL) today announced that
Sigma Advanced Genetic Engineering (SAGETM) Labs, an initiative of
Sigma Life Science, in partnership with Autism Speaks, will present
data on the biological and behavioral characterization of the first
rats genetically engineered to model autism. The novel rat models
of autism mimic specific symptoms and pathologies of autism to
provide an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the underlying
biology and therapeutic targets for autism spectrum disorders.
Results of the initial experiments characterizing these models will
be presented by Professor Richard E.
Paylor, Ph.D., from Baylor College of
Medicine with additional details on the importance and
creation of the models by Robert
Ring, Ph.D., Vice President of Translational Research at
Autism Speaks, and Edward Weinstein,
Ph.D., Director of SAGE Labs, on November
15, 2011 at the annual meeting of the Society for
Neuroscience. Details on the symposium are available below, as well
as at www.sigma.com/sfn2011.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050215/CGSIGMAALLOGO)
Autism affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans and tens of
millions more people worldwide, with US government statistics
suggesting diagnoses are increasing annually by 10 to 17%. The
cause and underlying neurobiology of autism remains poorly
understood. Strong evidence does exist for a genetic basis of
autism, prompting development of mice that model the genetic
mutations found in autistic humans. However, the mouse's utility
for autism research is restricted because the species' limited
cognitive abilities and small behavioral repertoire often do not
adequately reflect the behaviors or biology of humans with
autism.
"The robust behavioral repertoire, similarities with human
physiology, and sheer size contrast with mice, making rats an
attractive model species for investigating neurodevelopmental
disorders like autism," said Ring who added, "Developing these
genetic models in rats has additional advantages from a
translational research perspective in that they enable
investigators to study the effects of novel treatments on autism
relevant phenotypes in the same species traditional
pharmacokinetics, metabolism and toxicology are studied to support
the drug development process."
The knockout autism model rats were co-developed in a
collaboration between scientists at SAGE Labs and Autism Speaks.
The rats mimic specific symptoms of autism spectrum disorder
because they are each genetically engineered to lack one of seven
genes associated with the autism spectrum disorders: Fmr1,
Neuroligin 3, Neurexin 1 alpha, Cav1.2, MeCP2, mGluR5, or PTEN.
These rats will be available to all researchers through SAGE Labs
by early 2012.
Scientists at SAGE Labs created the transgenic autism model rats
through the SAGEspeed™ model creation process, which uses Sigma's
proprietary CompoZr® zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology. CompoZr
ZFN technology enables highly efficient, targeted editing of the
genome of any species—previously impossible for complex species
other than mice.
"One can use CompoZr ZFN technology to rapidly generate a
genetic disease model in the species that is the best model for
that condition, instead of relying only upon the mouse," said
Weinstein.
In a separate collaboration with The Michael J. Fox Foundation,
scientists at SAGE Labs created transgenic rats that are the first
animal models of Parkinson's disease to tremor as humans do. Other
transgenic research models created by SAGE Labs include rats for
Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease
research, as well as rats for toxicology testing in drug
development.
SAGE Labs' model generation services are available for rats,
mice, rabbits, and other organisms. For more information, visit
www.sageresearchmodels.com.
Details for the Society for
Neuroscience Symposium
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Title: Knockout
Rats: Our New Allies in the Fight Against Autism
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When: Tuesday,
November 15, 2011 - 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM EST
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Where: Room 152A of
the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
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Speakers:
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Richard E. Paylor, Ph.D.,
Professor, Dept. of Neuroscience, Baylor College of
Medicine
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Robert Ring, Ph.D., V.P. of
Translational Research, Autism Speaks
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Edward Weinstein, Ph.D.,
Director, SAGE Labs
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