Alan Garen PhD

Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry

Research Interests

Development; Genetics; Medical Sciences; Molecular Biology

Research Summary

We constructed a fusion molecule (Icon) composed of factor VII, the natural ligand for Tissue Factor (TF), conjugated to the Fc domain of an IgG1 immunoglobulin. The factor VII domain binds with high affinity and specificity to TF, which is expressed selectively on the luminal surface of pathological angiogenic blood vessels, and the Fc domain activates an immune response that destroys the blood vessels. The Icon can be delivered as a protein, or by an adenoviral or nanoparticle vector carrying the Icon cDNA. The Icon showed efficacy and safety in mouse models of human cancer, and in mouse and pig models of macular degeneration, and is being prepared for a clinical trial. We described a novel mechanism of gene regulation, involving a tumor-suppressor protein (TSP) and a noncoding retroelement RNA (ncRNA). The TSP contains a DNA-binding domain that represses gene transcription, and RNA-binding domains (RBD) that bind a ncRNA, releasing the TSP and activating transcription. This mechanism is involved in embryogenesis, tumorigenesis, and steroidogenesis.

Extensive Research Description

The odd couple: A repressor protein and a retroelement RNA.
We described a novel mechanism for reversible regulation of gene transcription involving PSF, a conserved mammalian tumor-suppressor protein, and mVL30 RNA, a mouse noncoding retroelement RNA (1-4). PSF contains a DNA-binding domain (DBD) that binds to certain genes and represses transcription, and also contains RNA-binding domains (RBD) that bind mVL30 RNA, forming a complex that releases PSF from a gene and reverses repression. This regulatory mechanism has a role in oncogenesis and steroidogenesis, and probably in regulating cell proliferation during development. We isolated human retroelement RNAs that have a similar function as mVL30 RNA, which is not present in human cells. PSF belongs to a family of putative tumor-suppressor proteins containing RBD and DBD, and we are testing whether other members of this family have a similar function as PSF in regulating gene transcription. Other experiments include a molecular analysis of the protein-RNA regulatory mechanism and its normal and pathological roles.

Targeting pathological blood vessels for immunotherapy of cancer and macular degeneration.
We constructed a molecule called an Icon that activates a cytolytic immune response against cells expressing the transmembrane receptor tissue factor (TF). TF is expressed on endothelial cells lining the luminal surface of pathological blood vessels in tumors. The model for the Icon molecule is a Camelid IgG1 antibody composed of two heavy chains without associated light chains, each chain containing a VH targeting domain conjugated to the Fc effector domain. The Icon is similarly composed of two chains, each chain containing fVII, the natural ligand for TF as the targeting domain conjugated to an Fc domain. The Icon binds to TF with stronger affinity and specificity than can be achieved with an anti-TF antibody. Because the Icon is synthesized by recombinant DNA technology, the fVII and Fc domains can be derived from the species of choice. Pre-clinical immunotherapy tests were done by encoding the Icon in an adenoviral vector, which was injected into a tumor in a mouse model of human metastatic cancer (1-3). The infected tumor cells synthesized and secreted the icon into the systemic circulation, and the blood-borne Icon molecules bound to TF, activating an immune response that destroyed the pathological blood vessels without harming normal vessels. A clinical trial of the protocol is being arranged for cancer patients. Similar results were obtained with a mouse model of macular degeneration (4). We are testing a nanoparticle vector as an alternative to an adenoviral vector for delivering the Icon gene

Selected Publications