Method of inducing cellular differentiations and altering cell phenotype using ceramide analogs
Patent Number: 5369030
Date of First Priority Issue: Friday September 11th, 1992
Date Issued: Saturday November 19th, 1994
Assignee: Duke University (Durham, NC)
Inventors: Hannun, Yusuf A. (Chapel Hill, NC); Bielawska, Alicja (Apex, NC)
From Class: Differentiation
Comments: No comments
Ceramides are generated from membrane components by the enzyme sphingomyelinase. The importance of ceramides in cell biology is noted by their pro-apoptotic activity in certain cells, as well as ability to induce differentiation. This patent teaches that certain ceramides may be used to guide differentiation of stem cells into various lineages. It may be possible the through taking the concepts from this patent further, dietary manipulations that alter membrane content of cells may be used to modify naturally occuring diffentiation processes.
View this patent on the USPTO website.
Added to StemCellPatents.com on Monday October 16th, 2006
Social & Bookmarking:
Add Comment
You must be signed-in to add your comments.
Sign-in now or Join the StemCellPatents.com Community for free.