The Biomedical Group of Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd. has entered into a strategic collaboration with GeneFormatics Incorporated (abbreviated by GFI) of San Diego, CA. Under the terms of the agreement, the Biomedical Group has received the exclusive right to commercialize GFI's proprietary technologies and services for the rapid analysis and prediction of protein structure and function in Asia (Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan). Takara has also made an investment in GFI as part of the collaboration. This collaboration gives the Biomedical Group a complete portfolio for genome analysis, "gene to protein function".

1. What is a final goal of genomics ?
Proteins regulate most biological processes, and thus have been the target of the majority of drug discovery efforts. The Human Genome Project and other genome sequencing efforts generate only information of amino acid sequences of a large number of proteins, providing little information about a protein's physical structure or biological function. Without knowledge of a protein function, its potential as a target of drug discovery remains normally unclear. Accordingly, huge data of genome analyses will become meaningful after functions of encoded proteins are determined. GFI can provide technologies and services to quickly and accurately determine the physical structures and functions of encoded proteins.

2. What is "shotgun proteomics" ?
One of GFI's proprietary technologies creates quickly a protein three-dimensional structure from its primary amino acid sequence using proprietary software. And then proprietary Fuzzy Functional Form^TM (abbreviated by FFF) technology, that is developed at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, rapidly identifies specific function-correlated sites of interest in the structure in these models. Moreover, the predicted three-dimensional structures are experimentally confirmed using high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy technologies that GFI has incorporated into its operations through the recent merger with Structure Function Genomics LLC (SFG) and the exclusive commercial license from Rutgers University. The technologies also include the advanced software for rapid, automated analysis of NMR spectroscopy data. The NMR-related technologies have been developed by Professor Montelione, who is a founder of SFG and also one of the scientific advisors of GFI. By combining the in silico technologies including FFF with the high-throughput NMR technology and X-ray crystallography, truly high-throughput proteomics capability is created. GFI calls its comprehensive structural genomics "shotgun proteomics".

3. What is the collaboration for Takara ?
Takara Biomedical Group has recently expanded into the field of genomic analysis by forming its new subsidiary, Dragon Genomics Co., Ltd., which is the biggest center for high-throughput DNA sequencing in Asia. In addition to the subsidiary, the Biomedical Group has already incorporated novel technologies for genomics such as DNA microarray technologies and microbead technology for gene cloning and expression analysis into its operations through the partnerships with Affymetrix and Lynx. Through the agreement with GFI, the Biomedical Group has come to hold the whole technology portfolio of "gene to protein function". Takara's Biomedical Group plans to construct a unique, comprehensive database of gene sequences generated by Dragon Genomics, expression profiles by a functional DNA microarray technique in combination of Affymetrix and Lynx technologies, and protein structures and functions by GFI technologies. The Group also expects to present a solution to identify targets of great commercial potential.

Outline of GeneFormatics, Inc.
President and CEO: John Chiplin, Ph. D.
Location: 5830 Oberlin Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA92121, USA
Founding year: 1998
Undertakings: Development of technologies and services for structural genomics such as Fuzzy Functional Form(tm) and high-throughput NMR technologies to determine a protein physical structure and its function.
Website: http://www.geneformatics.com/

Outline of Lynx Therapeutics, Inc.
President and CEO: Norrie J. W. Russell
Location: 25861 Industrial Blvd, Hayward, CA94545, USA
Founding year: 1992
Employees: About 100 persons
Undertakings: Development and application of novel genomics
technologies based on Megaclone^TM technology
Website: http://www.lynxgen.com/

Outline of Dragon Genomics Co., Ltd.
President: Ikunoshin Kato, Ph. D.
Location: 7870-15 Sakura-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie, Japan
Founding year: July 2000
Employees: 30 persons in the fiscal year 2001
Undertakings: Services of genome analysis mainly based on high
throughput DNA sequencing
Website: http://www.takara-bio.co.jp/english/

Outline of Affymetrix, Inc.
President: Susan E. Siegel
Location: 3380 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, CA95051, USA
Founding year: 1991
Employees: About 315 persons
Undertakings: Development, manufacturing and marketing of DNA chips and its related instruments.
Website: http://www.affymetrix.com/