Domainex Collaborates with Sigma-Aldrich to Advance the Study of Epigenetic Proteins Involved in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology

Domainex Ltd., the Contract Research Organization committed to excellence in drug discovery, today announced a collaboration with Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL) that will provide essential tools, including biochemical assays and monoclonal antibodies, for the study of proteins involved in the rapidly developing field of epigenetics. These epigenetic proteins regulate DNA expression and can be critical to cancer and stem cell biology research. Funding from the UK Government-backed Technology Strategy Board will support this work.

Under the collaboration, Domainex will use its proprietary Combinatorial Domain Hunting (CDH) technology, which enables researchers to clone and express challenging proteins, to produce soluble domains of a number of proteins that have key roles in epigenetics. Domainex will use those proteins to construct biochemical assays for the target enzymes, and Sigma-Aldrich will use the proteins as antigens to raise specific monoclonal antibodies. The assays and monoclonal antibodies, which will be distributed by Sigma-Aldrich, will be used by researchers to identify the target proteins and allow their function to be characterized and studied in detail.

Dr. Eddy Littler, CEO of Domainex, said, "The Domainex research pipeline contains several projects aimed at proteins involved in epigenetics and cancer. With the support of the Technology Strategy Board we will be able to develop useful biochemical assays for these targets. We are particularly excited about our collaboration with Sigma-Aldrich, as it is a leading company in the development of monoclonal antibodies for commercial use. It is very rewarding to be able to make a contribution to the study of proteins involved in epigenetics and disease."

About the Technology Strategy Board

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the government. Its role is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. It is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). For further information please visit www.innovateuk.org.