October 1, 2012 (Vol. 32, No. 17)
Advancing Its World-Class Collection of cDNA Clones, Human Proteins, Antibodies, and Assays into the Diagnostics Arena
OriGene Technologies was founded in 1996 as a research tool company focused on the creation of the largest commercial collection of full-length human cDNAs in a standard expression vector. OriGene’s mission, to prepare comprehensive sets of gene research tools and technology platforms, has enabled scientists to study complete biological pathways, thus facilitating a better understanding of biological processes and disease regulation, including cancer and stem cell research. The comprehensive expression clone collection (now expanded to mouse and rat) is the core asset of OriGene. Upon this foundation, the company has prepared 17,000 overexpression cell lysates, >7,000 purified recombinant human proteins (HEK293 expressed), and >5,000 highly characterized monoclonal antibodies sold under the TrueMAB™ brand name.
Over the past few years, OriGene has strategically integrated multiple technologies through corporate acquisitions to create a whole-product solution for the life sciences market. Cytomyx (>150,000 high-quality human tissues collected under IRB protocol), Marligen Biosciences (nucleic acid purification and licensed Luminex® assay developer), and Blue Heron (Leader in gene synthesis services) have all been effectively united into one technology portfolio. The recent acquisition of ZSbio (a leading Chinese pathology company) marks the company’s latest venture and entry into the diagnostic testing market.
Markets Served
1) Molecular Biology: As “Your Gene Company”, OriGene has a broad portfolio of biological reagents and services that are of value to both academic research and industry product development. Utilizing high-throughput technologies in molecular cloning, the human cDNA collection is nearing completion with respect to the NCBI RefSeq curated database of unique human transcripts. Such a comprehensive portfolio of cDNA clones is of particular value to laboratories that wish to move their projects along quickly by purchasing “ready-made” clones and where time is of the essence in mission critical research. If not immediately available, OriGene’s Blue Heron synthesis service can conveniently provide any gene, any sequence, in any vector, with add-on services of codon-optimization and large-scale DNA purification. The cDNA clone sets can be used for high-throughput functional screening to identify novel players in biological processes.
2) Protein Assay and Antibodies: OriGene’s 7,000 recombinant human proteins produced in human cells are of high value to researchers that are interested in authentic structure. Proteins with correct post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, glycosylation, etc.) are crucial for biologically relevant structure and functional studies. They are also ideal for assay development, small molecule interaction screening, or as antigens for antibody production.
Taking full advantage of the successful purification of these human proteins, OriGene has created manufacturing capacity to produce over 300 fully validated monoclonal antibodies per month (TrueMAB). This growing catalog of well over 5,000 antibodies is currently supplying leading researchers with highly specific antibodies directed against authentic human protein antigens with validation assurances for critical applications such as Western, flow, IP, IF, IHC, ELISA and for multiplexed assays.
3) Diagnostic Tests: To address the unresolved challenges of antibody cross-reactivity, OriGene has created a new generation of antibodies known as UltraMAB™ Antibodies. Each UltraMAB has been rigorously tested on OriGene’s proprietary high-density 10K protein lysate microarray to validate and confirm its mono-specificity against human protein antigens. (See image for HER2 UltraMAB data.)
This unmatched quality metric and novel approach to antibody validation is crucial for antibody-based applications, especially for diagnostic tests involving IHC and/or flow cytometry. The launch and expansion of the UltraMAB collection have been greatly appreciated by leading diagnostic partners and welcomed by many assay and companion-diagnostics developers challenged by the issues of cross-reactivity. This places OriGene in a unique position to serve as the preeminent partner and collaborator for diagnostic antibody development.
Capabilities
With the largest collections of full-length cDNA clones, human-cell produced purified proteins, TrueMAB antibodies and recently released “mono-specific” UltraMAB antibodies, OriGene is now capable of utilizing its reagent toolbox in the craft of assay development for drug discovery and disease-based diagnostics. OriGene has created a 10K protein lysate microarray in 2011, which is soon to be expanded to 15,000 overexpression protein lysates, which will significantly expand the company’s capabilities for antibody validation. This product is ideal for testing antibody specificity, decoding of monoclonal antibodies (identifying target antigens), and for profiling auto-antibodies in patient sera. Several key projects with these arrays are leading to new cancer diagnostic tests or are aimed at improving those already in use in the clinical setting. For more information, contact [email protected].
OriGene is committed to its mission to be “Your Gene Company”, a high-quality supplier of gene-focused products to biomedical researchers.
OriGene, Your Gene Company
9620 Medical Center Drive, Suite 200 Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 888.267.4436
Website: www.origene.com
Date Founded: 1996
Number of Employees: 400
