ST. LOUIS, April 20 Sigma® Life Science, the innovative biological products and services brand of Sigma-Aldrich® (Nasdaq: SIAL), today announced an extension to its award-winning CompoZr® product offering with the global release of the CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit, AAVS1 (www.sigma.com/aavs1). This kit provides a powerful method for the controlled transgene integration and expression of any gene in any human cell line using Sigma-Aldrich's proprietary CompoZr Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) technology.
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Specifically, the CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit enables users to rapidly integrate their gene of interest into a single locus on human chromosome 19, from where it will be expressed in a stable manner. Unlike other methods for transgene expression in human cells, this kit enables users to study their gene in the cell line of their choice, providing stable, uniform protein expression while eliminating the need to engineer cell lines with transgene landing pads.
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"Our new Targeted Integration Kit provides a valuable tool for scientists working with all types of human cells, including stem cells," said Patrick Sullivan, vice president of Research and Development for Sigma-Aldrich's Research Biotech business unit. "Similar to what the Rosa26 locus has done for transgenic research in mice, we believe the AAVS1 locus will provide a 'safe harbor' site from which to study gene function and expression. The kit, using Zinc Finger Nuclease technology, enables researchers to insert any gene construct into the human genome. This new kit is an exciting addition to our offering of CompoZr products, and will facilitate the construction of isogenic cells with permanent, stable gene expression."
The CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit offers a number of benefits over current methods of transgene expression in human cells. Traditional use of random insertion to introduce a DNA construct into the human genome may lead to gene disruption, variable epigenetic effects on transgene expression and presence of an unknown number of integrants in each cell, making comparisons difficult between isolated single cell clones. The CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit uses a ZFN to target the transgene specifically into the AAVS1 locus in the human genome leading to mono- or bi-allelic insertions enabling the stable expression and study of transgenes in cell lines where the number of integrants and the locus of integration is controlled by the researcher.
More information on Sigma-Aldrich's CompoZr ZFN technology platform can be accessed by visiting www.compozrzfn.com, part of the recently-launched 'Where Bio Begins' brand and website (www.wherebiobegins.com). 'Where Bio Begins' is a leading digital destination where the biological research community can directly access the deep biological knowledge they require for their research, while driving awareness of Sigma-Aldrich's strengths in providing products and technologies that facilitate scientists' understanding of how diseases develop and how molecules function.
Cautionary statement: The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "provides a valuable tool," "will provide a safe harbor site," "enables researchers," "offers a number of benefits" or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential future revenues from products derived therefrom. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that the CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit will continue to meet the demands of the marketplace. Nor can there be any guarantee that any of the CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding the CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit could be affected by, among other things, unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the Company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Company's assets and liabilities as recorded in its consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Sigma-Aldrich's current Form 10-K on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Sigma-Aldrich is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Sigma Life Science: Sigma Life Science is a Sigma-Aldrich brand that represents Sigma's leadership in innovative biological products and services for the global life science market and offers an array of biologically-rich products and reagents that researchers use in scientific investigation. Product areas include biomolecules, genomics and functional genomics, cells and cell-based assays, transgenics, protein assays, stem cell research, epigenetics and custom services/oligonucleotides. Sigma Life Science also provides an extensive range critical bioessentials like biochemicals, antibiotics, buffers, carbohydrates, enzymes, forensic tools, hematology and histology, nucleotides, amino acids and their derivatives, and cell culture media.
About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 38 countries and has 7,700 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning website at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.
CompoZr, Sigma-Aldrich and Sigma are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P. and Sigma-Aldrich Co.
SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich
