BPS Bioscience, Inc. Announces Methyl-Lysine Reader Proteins and Assays for Drug Discovery Research

SAN DIEGO - March 28, 2013 - PRLog -- SAN DIEGO -- BPS Bioscience, Inc. (“BPS”) announces the release of proteins, assay kits, and an inhibitor for methyl reader research.  

Lysine methylation of histones plays an important role in epigenetic regulation during cellular differentiation, development, and gene transcription. Methyl readers are domains within epigenetic effector proteins that recognize methylated lysines or arginines. This recognition regulates gene expression through recruitment and stabilization of chromatin complexes. There are a wide range of methyl readers including PWWP, Agenet, plant homeodomains (PHD), malignant brain tumor (http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Brain-Tumor.aspx) (MBT), WDR5 repeats and Tudor domains.

The importance of aberrant methylation in cancer and other diseases has been well established, and numerous researchers are focusing on methyltransferases and demethylases as key epigenetic drug targets.  Methyl readers are emerging as a promising new class of druggable targets.  However, research has been limited by a lack of commercially available reagents for these studies.  

“BPS is the first company to provide these leading edge products and reagents for studying methyl readers”, said Henry Zhu, President and CEO of BPS Bioscience.  "We believe methyl readers are important targets for cancer drug discovery and for the identification of new treatments for neurological and inflammatory diseases.  BPS will continue to be a pace setter, providing key reagents for researchers as they develop a more thorough understanding of the role of methyl readers in human disease and development.”

BPS’s portfolio of methyl reader products includes chromodomains (CBX1, CBX2, CDY1, and CHD2), Tudor domains (UHRF1), and MBT domain proteins (L3MBTL1 and L3MBTL3).  In addition to MBT proteins, BPS also offers assay kits for L3MBTL inhibitor screening and the inhibitor UNC 1215.  This inhibitor, developed in the laboratory of Stephen Frye at the UNC School of Pharmacy, is a potent and selective chemical probe for the methyl-lysine reading functions of L3MBTL3.

BPS is a global leader in epigenetics, pioneering new and innovative research tools for the study of methylation, acetylation, parylation, and other post-translational modifications.  BPS offers the largest available portfolio of bromodomains, methyltransferases, demethylases, deacetylases, PARPs, and other tools for epigenetic drug discovery.   BPS Bioscience plans to release additional methyl lysine and methyl arginine reader proteins and assays in the coming months.

To learn more about BPS Bioscience’s methyl-lysine products, please visit http://bpsbioscience.com/images/Flyers/Methyl-lysine_Flyer.pdf, and to learn more about all the methyl reader products BPS offers, please visit http://www.bpsbioscience.com/methyl-lysine-reader.

About BPS Bioscience
BPS Bioscience, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of Bromodomains, Cytokines, HATs, HDACs, HDMs, HMTs, Kinases, Methyl-Lysine Readers, Phosphatases, Phosphodiesterases, Poly ADP Ribose Polymerases (PARPs), Proteases, and Ubiquitin Enzymes. BPS offers one of the largest selections of recombinant enzymes and assay kits for drug discovery and continues to expand its portfolio of innovative drug discovery products. BPS also provides custom protein expression, biochemical and cell-based assays, and compound screening and profiling services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, BPS has provided products and services to pharmaceutical companies and academic institutes in over 45 countries worldwide. By being at the forefront of technology development, BPS focuses on providing quality life science products and services in a timely manner that will help our customers to accelerate drug discovery and development for treatment of human diseases. Visit BPS’s website for more information: http://www.bpsbioscience.com.