Orion Genomics describe DNA's 'second code'

Orion Genomics, from St Louis, US, has said that research conducted by the company's scientific co-founder Rob Martienssen has advanced understanding of the epigenetic code or 'second genetic code' and the relationship between epigenetic changes and diseases including cancer.

As described in Nature, Martienssen related epigenetic information to gene expression patterns over large parts of the Arabidopsis genome, a plant model system.

His work validates the role of epigenetic information in determining gene activity, and debuts a powerful new microarray-based methylation profiling technology invented in his laboratory.

In the paper titled: 'Role of Transposable Elements in Heterochromatin and Epigenetic Control' Professor Martienssen and his colleagues at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory investigated how chromosomal modifications, including epigenetic information encoded in DNA as methylation patterns, are related to gene expression.

The researchers found that changes in DNA methylation and associated modifications result in changes in gene expression.

Such control of gene expression by methylation is carried out at the level of specific regions of repeated DNA, rather than over large chromosomal regions as previously believed, since even in strongly methylated regions, active genes were found in unmethylated 'islands' of DNA.

These modifications are correlated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) that may guide epigenetic modifications to the DNA sequence.

'Our research concerns the mechanism by which methylated DNA and other epigenetic information determines gene activity,' said Martienssen, a Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and co-founder of Orion Genomics. 'Because of this "second code", epigenetic changes are emerging as important defects in childhood diseases, as well as in cancer.

The profiling technology described in this paper will help to uncover these epigenetic defects, providing biomarkers and leads for potential therapy.'

The technology used to determine methylation patterns was invented by Martienssen and his collaborators, exclusively licensed by Orion Genomics, and is marketed under the name MethylScope for the discovery of proprietary cancer biomarkers and the development of oncology diagnostic products. Abnormal methylation patterns are associated with the majority of all cancers, and the ability to determine them on a genome-wide basis has resulted in Orion's ongoing development of early noninvasive tests for cancer, which may enable earlier and more effective treatment and improve the cost, power and efficiency of clinical trials.

About Orion Genomics

Orion Genomics is a "second code" biotechnology company developing oncology diagnostic products and generating revenue through commercialisation of existing products and services. Orion addresses two independent market segments - human health and agricultural biotechnology - through proprietary core technologies that leverage epigenetic information written on top of DNA sequence to detect abnormal patterns responsible for human disease, and to sequence gene rich regions of plant genomes. Orion creates value by forging alliances with pharmaceutical, diagnostics, and agricultural research partners, as well as by building an intellectual property portfolio.

About Orion Genomics

Orion Genomics is a "second code" biotechnology company developing oncology diagnostic products and generating revenue through commercialisation of existing products and services. Orion addresses two independent market segments - human health and agricultural biotechnology - through proprietary core technologies that leverage epigenetic information written on top of DNA sequence to detect abnormal patterns responsible for human disease, and to sequence gene rich regions of plant genomes. Orion creates value by forging alliances with pharmaceutical, diagnostics, and agricultural research partners, as well as by building an intellectual property portfolio.