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Metallomix

Science

Metallomics is a multidisciplinary science that merges chemistry, biology, physics, and medicine to explore the functions of metal ions in biological contexts. It explores the function of the metallome, which encompasses the entire range of metals present within organisms. Utilizing sophisticated techniques, it investigates the concentrations, distributions, and interactions of these metals within biological cells, tissues, and organs. 

The Metallome Connects "The Omes"

Led by Oxford Academic, the healthcare industry has started to increasingly recognized the importance of the metallome — the comprehensive study of metal ions within biological systems — beyond just diagnostics and further into advancing cellular nutrition, medical research, and therapeutic treatment. 

The metallome is intricately connected to other "omes" such as the genome, proteome, microbiome, and more, influencing and being influenced by those biological systems through its role in essential metal ion regulation and interactions.

The metallome is critical for a myriad of biological processes, including the synthesis of proteins, maintaining charge balance and electrolyte function, ensuring DNA integrity and facilitating DNA repair, as well as playing a key role in the structure, signaling, and stem cell functionality. 

We lead the isotopic fractionation research in the field metallomcs by studying the isotopic signatures of essential elements. Understanding the interactions of isotopic ratios and their physiological dynamics is essential for deciphering their imbalances, often linked to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and for probing the basic mechanisms underlying vital life processes.

Proprietary Research

Our discovery of isotope-selective modulation is the result of over 10+ years of fundamental research in physics, biochemistry, and biology that may change the understanding of neurodegeneration.

Scientific Hypothesis

Our understanding of the metallome role in neurodegeneration pathogenesis may lead to new ways to create the better therapies that enable halting and preventing neurodegeneration.

Mechanism of Action

Our drug candidates modulate isotopic fractionation and metallome-linked bioprocesses to reduce oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, while improving mitochondrial and lysosomal functions.

The Vanguard in The Isotope-Selective Modulation

Treating life-threatening neurodegenerative diseases and devastating neurological disorders are one of the biggest challenges of modern medicine. While the treatments are very few, there is no cure for most diseases, and their etiology is unknown. This challenge gives our team the biggest opportunity to help over a billion people to have a better and longer life.

We are pioneering the field of Metallomics for over a decade, offering a unique and proprietary scientific approach to understanding disease origins. Our research goes beyond molecular patterns to examine isotopic signatures at the atomic level in cells and tissues, contributing to the study of metalloproteomics.

Unhealthy aging, concurrent with exposure to dietary and environmental factors hazards, can exacerbate the isotopic fractionation in  biological cells, which becomes a driving force in a progress of pathology. 

Current Focus

Zinc finger proteins (“ZNFs”) are a diverse group of proteins characterized by their ability to bind to DNA, RNA, and other proteins through zinc finger domains. ZNFs are involved in the regulation of gene expression at both transcriptional and translational levels, selectively binding to specific DNA or RNA sequences, and influencing the expression of genes critical for neuronal function and survival.
Misfolding and aggregation of α-synuclein and tau proteins, which can interact with zinc finger proteins, are common features across PD, LBD, and AD. The isotopic effects in relation to the folding of zinc fingers refers to the influence that different isotopes of zinc can have on the folding and stability of zinc finger proteins. 
The therapeutic potential of ZNFs is being explored in various neurological diseases. For example, engineered ZFPs are being developed to modulate gene expression in diseases like HD and PD, offering to selectively repress or activate target genes. Different from imposing the “foreign” engineered ZFPs on the body suffering from a pathology, we are developing the therapeutic applications where the wild type folding of natural ZFPs is induced by the isotope-selective modulation to increase the levels of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (“GDNF”) to protect and potentially regenerate dopaminergic neurons, addressing the underlying cause of PD along with alleviating the PD symptoms. The same rationale applies to our approach in the development of therapeutic solutions for other neurological conditions and diseases.    

Developing a deep understanding of isotopic effect on protein folding and cellular functions