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Firm in alliance with U.S. lab to explore proteins
Firm in alliance with U.S. lab to explore proteins
CHICAGO, July 26 (Reuters) - A California biotechnology firm, that
hopes to turn the map of the human genome into useful drugs, said on
Wednesday it will build a facility at a U.S. laboratory to take
advantage of the lab's powerful X-rays.
``The next step in going from human genome sequence to new drugs is
to understand the function of the encoded proteins,'' said George
Poste, chairman of privately-held Structural GenomiX.
``The ability to determine the structure of these proteins is a
critical component of that process,'' Poste said in a statement
announcing a memorandum of understanding between the San Diego-based
company and the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory in
suburban Chicago.
The facility, to be completed next year at an undisclosed cost, is
called a dual undulator beamline.
The company explained the beamline focuses intense X-ray beams
produced by the lab's synchrotron to produce images of thousands of
proteins and potential drug targets with atomic-level precision.
The mapping of the human genome, recently announced with great
fanfare, was the initial step in creating cures for many diseases
that have a genetic blueprint, scientists say. The DNA in genes
dictates the production of proteins by cells, which provide the
engines for life.
Argonne's synchrotron, also called the Advanced Photon Source, is
currently the most brilliant source of radiation in the United
States. The lab, located just outside Chicago, is run by the
University of Chicago for the government.
``Today's agreement is recognition that the Department of Energy's
world class facilities are essential to advancing the next phase of
genomic research,'' Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson said in a
statement.
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Sandy Perle Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100
Director, Technical Extension 2306
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division Fax:(714) 668-3149
ICN Biomedicals, Inc. E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com
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