In vitro zinc bioavailability (Univ. of Wisconsin/Vanderbilt Univ.)
NutrienTech LLC scientists currently are working with scientists at the University of Wisconsin and Vanderbilt University to develop a cell-based biosensor that can detect biologically-available concentrations of zinc in various media. This is being done using transgenic strains of S. cerevesiae (yeast) that have been developed by Dr. David Eide at the University of Wisconsin, and are being adapted and developed for specific applications by NutrienTech LLC. In April of 2006, a proposal was submitted to NIH to fund the development of this technology under their small business technology transfer research (STTR) program. This cell-based biosensor will be used initially to evaluate calprotectin-zinc interactions. To facilitate this work, recombinant calprotectin protein will be provided by Dr. Walter Chazin at Vanderbilt University, who has developed a transgenic strain of the E. coli bacterium which contains the genes that produce human calprotectin.
NutrienTech LLC
