MS2 Array is happy to announce that its first peer-reviewed research paper has now been published in SLAS Discovery and is available online.
The paper describes the use of our high-throughput amenable mass spectrometry platform in the detection of RNA and DNA and the development of a miRNA biogenesis assay for drug discovery. Big thanks to our research collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh, Prof. Alex Deiters, Cole Emanuelson, and Nick Ankenbruck.MS2 Array awarded second US patent for RNA and DNA Arrays
MS2 Array is pleased to announce that on October 15, 2019 the USPTO granted the company it's second patent, US 10,443,093, "Fluorous Oligonucleotides Microarrays". The issued patent claims the formation of nucleic acid arrays using fluorous partitioning on the MS2 Array capture surface, reaction of the nucleic acids, either before or after immobilization with a biomolecule of interest, then detection of the reaction products by mass spectrometry through direct ionization of the nucleic acids from the MS2 Array capture surface. The company has demonstrated that this screening platform can detect nucleic acid substrates from typical complex reaction solutions at nanomolar concentrations that are otherwise very difficult to detect using mass spectrometry. In addition the company has developed analyte capture and enrichment protocols that are significantly simpler than other immobilization methods that have been described thereby increasing its attractiveness in high throughput screening applications.
The technology platform claimed in this issued patent serves as the foundation of MS2 Array's strategy of using an unbiased bottom-up functional screening approach to small molecule-RNA drug discovery which is in contrast to other strategies based on top-down RNA binding strategies. The issuance of this patent is a critical addition to the MS2 Array as it moves forward with its drug disocvery programs in small molecule targeting of RNA.
USPTO grants MS2 Array first patent
MS2 Array is pleased to announce that on May 22, 2018 the USPTO granted the company it's first patent, US 9,977,019, "Fluorous Peptide Microarray, Detection Process Using a Fluorous Peptide Microarray, and Process of Forming a Fluorous Peptide Microarray". The issued patent claims the formation of peptide microarrays using fluorous immobilization, the reaction of the peptides, either before or after immobilization with a biomolecule of interest, then detection of the reaction products by mass spectrometry through direct ionization of the peptides from the surface.
The issuance of this patent is an important addition to the MS2 Array IP portfolio and provides validation of the novelty and utility of the technology. MS2 Array looks forward to expanding it's collection of issued patents as its other applications move forward through the examination process thereby increasing the value of the company.
MS2 Array Awarded a Phase I SBIR Grant from NIH
MS2 Array has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the NIH through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). The project entitled "RNA and DNA analysis and detection by fluorous high-throughput MS" utilizes MS2 Array's technology to expand the capabilities of high-throughput mass spectrometry to the detection of RNA and DNA substrates. The Aims of the grant include optimizing protocols for nucleic acid analysis using fluorous modified MS targets, utilization of the technology for a microRNA biogenesis assay, and detection of microRNAs from cell lysates.
The work will be conducted in collaboration with Prof. Alex Deiters of the University of Pittsburgh. Prof. Deiters was one of the first researchers to report small molecule modulators of a microRNA and provides valuable expertise in microRNAs and nucleic acids and examplifies MS2 Array's commitment to working with scientific leaders.
News from SLAS 2017
High-throughput mass spectrometry as a drug discovery tool was a highlight of SLAS 2017 as it has been over the last few years. In 2013 and 2015 the SLAS Innovation Award for best presentation of the conference went to high-throughput mass spectrometry projects. This year saw important advances in HT-MALDI-MS as Bruker Daltonics continues to make instrumentation improvements to it's MALDI PharmaPulse instrument platform and recognized as the SelectScience Scientist's Choice Awardee for "Best New Drug Discovery & Development Product of 2016". At the same time AMRI announced that they had entered an alliance with Bruker Daltonics and HighRes Biosolutions in implementing HT-MALDI-MS for drug discovery. link
These developments, along with the past awards, demonstrate the appeal, importance, and potential impact of HT-MS in drug discovery. MS2 Array's technology is fully compatible with all MALDI-MS instruments and provides vital enhancements to HT-MALDI-MS such as analyte enrichment, greater sensitivity, full assay design freedom, and complete bio-orthgonality.
SLAS 2017, Feb 5th-8th
MS2 Array CEO & Co-Founder Marvin S. Yu will be attending SLAS 2017 in Washington D.C. from Sunday, Feb 5th to Wednesday, Feb 8th.
If you are also attending SLAS 2017 and would like to learn more about how we can help improve your HTS efforts then please contact Marvin at msyu@ms2array.com.