SAN DIEGO, July 13 /PRNewswire/ — Research published in the June 26, 2009 edition of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences provides further evidence for novel roles of tRNA synthetases in disease, validating the therapeutic potential for aTyr Pharma’s new class of naturally occurring protein agents. The aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are universal and essential components of protein synthesis machinery found in all organisms, but human synthetases have naturally occurring resected variants with potent cell signaling activities that are vital to normal functioning of humans. In this recently published study, a model of a human neuropathy was created in the fruit fly (Drosophila) by introducing mutations in the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase which correspond to disease associated mutations in humans. While tRNA synthetases play an essential role in protein synthesis in all forms of life, these dominant mutations in CMT patients did not seem to manifest the disease through disruption of those protein synthesis activities. These novel activities are seen for other members of the tRNA synthetases family as well, and aTyr Pharma’s portfolio capitalizes on this new area of biology by using these naturally occurring resectins with novel signaling activities to treat a wide variety of diseases, such as inflammation, automimmune, hematopoietic and metabolic disorders. read more
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