Description:
Reference #: 1718
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for Nepenthes GDSL Lipase to Treat Gut Lipid Malabsorption and Atrophy.
Background:
The absorption of dietary lipids in the small intestine is a fundamental biological process central to maintaining energy balances in tissues. Atrophy occurs when the energetic demands of tissues are unmet and can occur as a natural consequence of the aging process or due to cancer and cancer-related treatments. While much consideration is currently focused on development of strategies to reduce fat absorption to combat obesity, significantly less attention has been paid to enhancing fat absorption to combat atrophy.
Invention Description:
We have generated data indicating that a GDSL lipase isolated from a single hybrid species is able to promote lipid absorption, improve metabolic function, and alleviate mucosal atrophy in mice. We demonstrate that this is associated with improvements in the intestinal stem cell (ISC) niche that may be explained by GDSL lipases effect on lipid antigen presentation by ISCs. Thus, we believe that Nepenthes GDSL lipase represents a novel therapeutic that promotes energy extraction from the diet and suppresses inflammation
Potential Applications:
The innovation will be used to enhance energy extraction from the diet by enhancing the absorption of dietary lipids. This could prevent cachexia, improve metabolic function, protect against neurodegenerative and gastrointestinal disease, and improve skin and hair health
Advantages and Benefits:
This innovation leverages the acid-resistance and pH-dependence of this lipase to not only survive passage through gastric juice but to become biologically active in this setting. These properties make this protein uniquely adept at being used for oral treatment. This innovation also leverages the bile acid-independence of this lipase to exert its biological activity. Because of this, this lipase may rescue dietary lipid absorption in humans with bile acid disturbances. This innovation leverages the proteins unique stability in aqueous solutions. This means that the protein may have a longer shelf-life and could be delivered in solution form.