Toray, DNA Chip Research to Jointly Develop New DNA Microarrays

Dec. 5, 2005

Toray Industries, Inc.
DNA Chip Research Inc.

Toray, DNA Chip Research to Jointly Develop New DNA Microarrays
-- Aiming for De Facto Standard With Commercialization of High Performance DNA Chips--

Toray Industries, Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Sadayuki Sakakibara; "Toray," hereinafter) and DNA Chip Research Inc. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa; President: Kenichi Matsubara; “DNA Chip Research,” hereinafter) today announced that the two companies agreed to jointly develop high-performance DNA microarrays by combining the high-performance DNA microarray substrate¹⁾ developed by Toray and the synthesis and design technology²⁾ for oligo-DNA , developed by DNA Chip Research in collaboration with Research Institute of Genome-based Biofactory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).
Under the collaboration, the companies, as a first step, plan to commercialize a genome-wide microarray with the entire set of yeast genes (about 6,000) in April next year. Subsequently, the companies plan to significantly expand the DNA microarray business for "research use" by introducing a genome-wide microarray with 10,000 to 30,000 human genes.
Furthermore, by exploiting the high reproducibility and quantification of Toray’s high-performance DNA microarray substrate and the outcome of the research on disease-related genes, the companies plan to jointly develop and introduce DNA microarrays in two years time for "testing/diagnosis applications," targeting cancers and lifestyle-related diseases. The move is aimed at the DNA microarray market, which is expected to generate more than 100 billion yen in sales in 10 years.

<Detailed description>
1. Development of DNA microarrays for "research use"
Yeast³⁾ is expected to play a major role in a wide range of gene analysis, as its methods are well established, and the body function controlling the basic biological phenomena (replication, recombination, repair, transcription, etc. of chromosomes) is similar to that of higher organisms such as humans, allowing for the application of its research results in the human genome research. Toray has newly developed a DNA microarray substrate with about 6,000 pillars on its surface. The company also succeeded in developing a basic technology to manufacture genome-wide DNA microarrays that carry information of entire set of yeast genes by arraying highly functional oligo DNA on to these pillars by utilizing DNA Research’s unique oligo design technology. Going forward, the companies will work on the establishment of mass production technology for the commercialization in April next year along with the development of genome-wide DNA microarrays with human genes.

2. Development of DNA microarrays for "testing/diagnosis applications"
Along with development of ultra-sensitive DNA microarrays, Toray has already embarked on the development of DNA microarrays for diagnosis of mainly cancers such as the ones afflicting digestive and urinary tracts in collaboration with Kyoto University or National Cancer Center. The company expects the DNA microarray to enable diagnosis with an infinitesimal amount of sample obtained from biopsy, etc. In the future, Toray plans to promote the spread of "testing/diagnosis applications" based on its high performance microarray through efforts including the utilization of genome information from other research institutions.
Meanwhile, in addition to its current mainstay product of AceGene⁴⁾, DNA Chip Research is developing a DNA microarray for the diagnosis of lung cancer in collaboration with Chiba University, and a diagnosis DNA microarray for prognosis of colorectal cancer through a joint research on gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis with Osaka University. Furthermore, the company has also initiated development of diagnosis DNA microarrays for lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases in collaboration with other research institutions.

Full-fledged practical application of DNA microarrays for testing/diagnosis was not available until now, as the probability of its usage in testing or diagnosis stagnated due to lack of sufficient hardware (substrate) and contents. However, the companies hope the combination of the aforementioned genomic information obtained through the collaborations with universities and other research institutes is combined with Toray’s high-performance DNA microarray substrate would bring about a revolutionary testing/diagnosis tool that leads to preventive and personal medicine, greatly contributing to improvements in the quality of life of patients. Following the genome-wide DNA microarray for "research use," the companies are planning on the joint development of "testing/diagnosis" DNA microarrays for cancers and lifestyle-related diseases with an eye on commercialization in two years.

<Notes>
1) High-performance DNA Microarray Substrate from Toray
Toray has succeeded in development of a DNA microarray substrate with high sensitivity (100 times that of existing DNA microarray substrate), high reproducibility/quantification and high speed (10 times the existing t substrates) based on its unique technologies such as an agitation method during hybridization using microbeads and a substrate with special configuration and gene spotting technology using nano-level control of molecules.

2) Oligo-DNA Technology Developed by DNA Chip Research
Genes spotted on the microarray substrate highly influences the cost of DNA microarrays. In collaboration with AIST Research Institute of Genome-Based Biofactory (Yasuo Komatsu, Group leader, Nucleic Acid Engineering Research Group), DNA Chip Research succeeded in development of inexpensive, high-grade, special oligo-DNA that could be fixed firmly to the microarray substrate. In addition, the company has been engaged in the development of a technology superior in specificity and reactivity that can markedly improve the accuracy of analysis in the design of oligo-DNA in collaboration with Prof. Shinichi Morita of Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo.

3) Yeast
Yeast, though a unicellular eucaryote, closely resembles higher eucaryotes such as humans in terms of the body function controlling the basic biological phenomena (e.g. replication, recombination, repair, transcription, translation, etc.). Moreover, as the gene analysis method of yeast has already been established, it’s often used as a eucaryote model .
There are primarily two types of yeast used in research: (1) budding yeast, which reproduces by forming buds and (2) fission yeast, which reproduces by direct division. Based on their total chromosomal sequence, both types are known to have about 6,000 genes, of which the functions of about half have yet to be revealed.
We selected budding yeast this time for reasons such as it’s used for fermenting bread, beer, liquor, etc., the body function controlling its basic biological phenomenon is similar to that of higher eucaryotes such as humans allowing for application of its research results in the human genome research and it’s been historically used for research and is one of the fields where Japan can exhibit its strengths. Therefore, the companies expect the microarray carrying the entire set of yeast genes to be utilized in genome research in wide-ranging fields.

4) AceGene
"AceGene" is an oligo-DNA chip from DNA Chip Research bringing together the world’s top quality DNA chip technology and IT. The microarray has the entire set of genes of human or mouse spotted on a slide glass, specially coated with its own technology, and each oligo, inexpensively synthesized with its unique design technology, is covalently bound on the coated slide glass. Moreover, its own inspection method contributes to the realization of a high-quality DNA microarray. The product has the second biggest share in Japan’s DNA microarray market in terms of sales.

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