Description:
Soluble
low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 4 (sLRP4) as a non-invasive
biomarker for age
Princeton
Docket # 13-2884-1
Researchers
at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences have discovered that sLRP4 may be
useful as a biomarker for age determination in commercially fished invertebrates
or vertebrates. Estimating age of
commercially important species is a key part of effective management of
sustainable fisheries. Age data is necessary for stock assessments, and to
develop management or conservation plans.
However current methods of age determination are laborious, affected by
environmental factors and are often detrimental to the
animal.
Background
Sea
urchins are fished commercially and pose many challenges for age estimations. It
is not easy to conduct growth band counting on hard components and although size
is often used as a proxy for age, it has been shown to be affected by food
availability and other extrinsic factors. In an effort to develop alternative
biomarkers of age, proteomic profiles were examined in coelomic fluid from young
and old sea urchins of three species which have very different reported life
spans; short-lived Lytechinus variegatus, long-lived
Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
which has an intermediate life span. Proteins that change consistently with age
in all three species may serve as useful biomarkers for age determination. Among
the proteins that change with age, the ectodomain of low-density lipoprotein
receptor-related protein 4 (sLRP4) is significantly increased in the coelomic
fluid of all three sea urchin species and represents a novel candidate for
development as a biomarker of age. It is envisioned that a diagnostic test could
be developed in which the level of sLRP4 is detected in coelomic fluid samples
by a specific binding molecule (e.g. antibody) coupled to a means of detecting
this entity.
If
it is determined that sLRP4 increases with age in bodily fluids of other
commercially fished invertebrates or vertebrates this method could be widely
used as a convenient and non-invasive technique for age determination for
effective fisheries management.
Applications
·
Biomarker
for the determination of biological age
·
Use in
effective management of sustainable fisheries
·
Tool for
studying age-related disease and therapies
Advantages
·
Novel and
non-invasive biomarker
·
Quantifiable , objective
results
·
Potential
to use readily available assay technology
·
Ease of
use
Publications
Bodnar
A., Proteomic profiles reveal age related
changes in coelomic fluid of sea urchin species with different life spans,
Experimental Gerontology;
in press 8 February 2013
Inventor
Dr. Andrea Bodnar received a PhD in Biochemistry from McMaster
University in 1991. Since then she has studied different aspects of human cancer
and aging in both academic and industry environments. She joined the faculty at
BIOS in 2003 and has pursued research interests in investigating genome
structure and gene expression in marine invertebrates during normal growth and
under conditions of environmental stress with a focus on coral and sea urchins.
Her current research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms underlying
extreme longevity and resistance to cancer in certain marine invertebrates such
as the red sea urchin.
Intellectual Property Status and technology
status
Patent Pending. Princeton is seeking to identify appropriate
partners for the further development and commercialization of this technology.
Contacts
Laurie Tzodikov, Princeton University
Office of Technology Licensing
(609) 258-7256 tzodikov@princeton.edu
Wenting Luo, Princeton University Office of Technology
Licensing
(609) 258-5579 wluo@princeton.edu