NuPotential Proprietary Technology Platform

Introduction

NuPotential produces dedifferentiated cell lines suitable for re-differentiation into multiple lineages and somatic cell nuclear transfer. To accomplish this, NuPotential has developed and validated a novel in vitro system for reprogramming large numbers of cells simultaneously, a process that has yet to be accomplished by any approach to date. As a result, NuPotential's technology should facilitate a variety of applications that have been severely limited by the current state of art, including: 1) reproductive and therapeutic cloning; 2) derivation of embryonic stem cells; 3) proliferation and maintenance of adult and embryonic stem cells, and, 4) the development and validation of research tools required to promote these endeavors. NuPotential’s approach is based on modifying metabolic pathways and related components that regulate the establishment and maintenance of the epigenome. There are several embodiments of this approach, and NuPotential has filed patents on all of them.

NuPotential has demonstrated that in vitro exposure of bovine fibroblasts to various treatments results in restored differentiation and developmental potential. Mouse cells show similar differentiation capability, and early studies with adult human cells have produced very positive molecular data. Treatments include exposure of cells in culture to small molecule effectors, and/or interfering RNAs, separately and in conjunction with altered levels of various nutritional components present in culture media. The primary modification manifests as epigenetic changes including decreased DNA methylation, which in turn restores cell differentiation and developmental potential. The overall result is de-repression of transcriptionally inactive pluripotent genes required for re-differentiation of somatic cells into multiple lineages, or embryonic development after somatic cell nuclear transfer. Such cells can be used to: a) advance development of various cell therapies; b) optimize directed differentiation protocols applicable to human stem cells; c) improve reproductive cloning of value added livestock; and, d) develop and validate research tools broadly applicable to all of these applications.