CIStem Molecular Appoints Leading Transcription Regulation Experts to Science Board.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 13, 2000

CIStem Molecular Corp., the first Systems Biology company, today announced the appointment of two leading transcriptional regulation experts, Keith R. Yamamoto, Ph.D. and James T. Kadonaga, Ph.D.

Dr. Yamamoto is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Kadonaga is Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of California, San Diego. Both experts have made significant contributions in the area of gene regulation, according to Anne Crossway, Ph.D., MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of CIStem.

"We are extremely pleased to have two of the world's top transcription experts on our science board," added Dr. Crossway. "Their expertise will be crucial as we continue to develop our technologies to characterize and commercialize genetic regulatory circuits that control gene expression in humans, plants and other organisms. Understanding the key genes and their regulatory elements will expedite the discovery of new and improved therapies and other biomedical products."

CIStem is pioneering a new post-genomic approach called Regulomics, the study of gene expression at the level of genetic network regulatory mechanisms. By using proprietary molecular technologies, CIStem is identifying and characterizing the regulatory elements (CIS sites and Trans factors) important in determining which genes are expressed from one cell type to another, e.g., diseased vs. normal cells. This technology can therefore define those elements that regulate entire genetic circuits comprised of differentially expressed genes important in diseases and normal metabolic processes.

"Dr. Yamamoto and Dr. Kadonaga each bring unique expertise to our Systems Biology approach for determining how key genes and regulatory elements are interrelated, which will allow us and our partners to identify superior gene targets for further development," said Mary Harper, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of CIStem. "In addition, CIStem is applying its technology to regulatory element activity profiling (REAP(TM)), a novel assay for testing drug compounds for important activities, such as mechanism of action and toxicity. Dr. Yamamoto's work focuses on the mechanisms of signaling and gene regulation by intracellular receptors, while Dr. Kadonaga has greatly contributed to the understanding of transcriptional regulation and chromatin structure."

Dr. Yamamoto is renowned for his work on the mechanisms of signaling and gene regulation by intracellular receptors that mediate the actions of several classes of essential hormones. His research has focused on understanding hormone response elements, receptor domains for hormone and DNA binding, interactions with cellular factors, and transcriptional regulation. Dr. Yamamoto is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has received numerous honors, including the Vanderbilt Medal of Merit and the Gregory Pincus Medal. He is the outgoing Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the NIH Center for Scientific Review, and serves on various editorial boards and national committees focused on public and scientific policy. Dr. Yamamoto holds a Ph.D. in Biochemical Sciences from Princeton University.

Dr. Kadonaga has made many fundamental contributions to the areas of transcriptional regulation and chromatin structure, including the development of sequence-specific DNA affinity chromatography, cloning of transcription factor Sp1, discovery of the downstream core promoter element (DPE), the use of chromatin templates to recreate ligand-regulated transcription by nuclear factors in vitro, and the cloning of factors that mediate chromatin assembly. Dr. Kadonaga has received various honors and awards, including the Presidential Faculty Fellow Award, Miller Fellow Award, and Lucille P. Markey Scholar Award. He is also an Editorial Board member of numerous journals, including Genes & Development, Molecular Cell, and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Dr. Kadonaga received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University.

CIStem Molecular Corp., incorporated in 1999, was founded to capitalize on the growing need for a Systems Biology approach, one that examines entire genetic circuits within the genetic regulatory network. While most genomics efforts are focused on single gene approaches, CIStem is focused on Regulomics, the study and application of regulatory elements that control gene expression, that is, the CIS sites and the Trans factors that bind to them, and the coordinately expressed genes that they regulate. This molecular approach is a short cut to the critical disease-causing genes that obviates the need for extensive gene expression analysis. CIStem will identify genes that are key mediators in medically important genetic circuits and, thus, the best drug discovery targets. CIStem's Regulomics approach has the potential for multiple commercial applications, such as faster gene target discovery for the pharmaceutical industry, rational engineering of cells for cell-based therapies, and applications in the diagnostic and agbiotech arenas. CIStem is currently pursuing collaborations and partnerships with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.