Background

Nonsense mutations, alterations in the DNA or RNA sequence that produce a premature termination codon (PTC), result in the production of incomplete, nonfunctional proteins. These mutations have profound implications, being associated with roughly 10% of genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. The accumulation of nonsense mutations have been implicated in age-related diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. Particularly common is the mutation that changes a CGA codon into an opal-stop codon. To combat the negative effects of these mutations, several strategies have been employed. These include the inhibition of Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay (NMD) using drugs and the process of pseudouridylation. While these methods have shown some success, they are not without drawbacks, including potential low efficiency and the risk of creating aberrant proteins.

Aims, Hypothesis & Results

ARTAN Bio aims to engineer and validate a nonsense suppression system that can effectively and specifically target nonsense codons without competing with normal tRNA, aiming to restore proper protein translation in genes affected by these mutations.

Their hypothesis includes creating a bio-inspired nonsense suppression system can recognize the premature stop codon introduced by nonsense mutations and replace it with its correct amino acid. This action would restore normal protein translation without significantly impacting natural termination codons or generating aberrant proteins.

Initial ribosome profiling data from experiments using a cancer cell line, which has anonsense mutation in a tumor suppressor gene, indicates that the nonsense suppression system can effectively restore protein levels. The nonsense suppression system demonstrated better specificity compared to existing interventions like G418, as it did not show significant read-through at natural termination codons. Furthermore, AAV was identified as a promising vector for delivering the nonsense suppression system, given its efficiency in transducing various tissues and its previous clinical successes.

Timeline

ARTAN Bio begins with a project kickoff meeting following approval of the proposal.
Phase 1 involves designing and generating a nonsense suppression construct for use in an AAV vector. Upon completion, phase 1 results are presented in a meeting or quarterly review, and a "go/no-go" decision is made. If the project progresses, phase 2 commences, focusing on in vitro testing of selected vectors and oligos.
Phase 2 concludes with a presentation of results and a proposition for further funding. At this stage, a provisional patent may be filed.‍

Accelerated Gene Therapy Development Process
Required Funding: $91,300
Duration: 6 Months

VitaDAO Board Evaluation Writeup

The emerging nonsense suppression therapeutic strategy offers a promising approach to suppress nonsense mutations. Led by a seasoned drug developer, preliminary results show potential in rescuing vital tumor-suppressor genes, providing a versatile "pipeline in a pill" solution due to its shared mechanism across diseases. Its compact payload size further streamlines delivery, addressing a nuanced aspect of aging. However, the approach treads on uncharted grounds, presenting challenges like potential toxicity, delivery issues, and uncertainties in biology that might yield off-target effects.

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