Oxford, May 24, 2006. Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) has launched its first microarray product, an Escherichia coli K12 Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) on chip. The OGT Chip² E. coli K12 microarray has been developed in collaboration with Professor Steve Busby at the University of Birmingham, UK and is the first ChIP microarray product to be launched as part of a OGT’s Prokaryotic Chip² family.  

OGT Chip² microarrays can be used to identify the binding positions of any DNA binding proteins in a cell; analyse specific changes under various environmental conditions; as a model system to further understand gene regulation; or to reveal potential therapeutic targets against a prokaryotic species.            

Each OGT Chip² microarray is fabricated using OGT’s ink-jet in-situ synthesis (IJISS) platform and interrogates the whole E. coli K-12 genome with a probe density of 22,000 oligonucleotide features. ChIP microarray data generated can then be analysed in relation to its relative gene position using an OGT developed ChIP browser, reducing the time taken to analyse the data.           

Dr Mike Evans, CEO of OGT, said: “This is a very exciting time for OGT. We have expanded our business focus to include the development of microarray based products and Chip² E.coli K12 is the first of our family of chip products that we are developing. This is the only E.coli ChIP on chip product available on the market, proven by leading scientists, that provides a rapid way of identifying novel genomic data”.  
           
Professor Steve Busby, Principal Investigator, University of Birmingham, said: “We are delighted that our collaboration with OGT has led to the development of a ChIP product. The ChIP on chip method means that we can analyse much more information in a cost-effective and efficient way.”               

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For further information, please contact:  

At Oxford Gene Technology: 

Nicola Booton-Mander, Marketing Manager – nicola.booton-mander@ogt.co.uk

Oxford Gene Technology
Begbroke Science Park,
Sandy Lane, Yarnton
Oxford OX5 1PF

T: +44 1865 856352
F: +44 1865 842116
E: products@ogt.co.uk

W: www.ogt.co.uk 

Media Enquiries: 

Sarah Jeffery, 0207 886 8150 / s.jeffery@northbankcommunications.com

Annabel Entress, 0207 886 8150 / a.entress@northbankcommunications.com
 

Notes to editors

About ChIP

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is a well-established and reliable method used to identify the DNA binding site of a protein of interest.  Chip² microarray products combine the strengths of OGT microarrays with chromatin immunoprecipitation.  Chip² microarrays provide a powerful technique that can be used to analyse and identify the precise positions on the genome where DNA: protein interactions occur.

Chip² microarray products from OGT offer:

• The ability to screen whole prokaryotic genomes on one array at high resolution
• High sensitivity resulting from the use of validated 60mer oligonucleotide microarrays
• High quality microarrays at a cost effective price due to fabrication using ink jet in-situ synthesis (IJISS)
• Reduced preparation time as the sample requires no PCR amplification 
• Two colour microarrays enabling test and control samples to be hybridised on the same array saving valuable time and experimental costs

About Oxford Gene Technology

Oxford Gene Technology is a privately owned company founded in 1995 by Professor Sir Edwin Southern. The mission of the company is to develop advanced molecular tools for biologists and to make them widely available through licensing, products and service activities.  

The key business areas of OGT include: 

·          licensing which has successfully provided access for a number of companies to OGT’s fundamental intellectual property, particularly in the area of microarrays. OGT's intellectual property covers three general areas that are relevant to the biological sciences; these incorporate microarrays, genomics and electrochemistry 

·          application products and services for life science research and molecular diagnostics. OGT is committed to the development of a portfolio of products to cover important, high-growth applications, including comparative genome hybridisation (CGH) and ChIP on chip. OGT also provides a flexible and cost-effective, customised DNA microarray service and offers specialist support to assist customers with every aspect of their research

·          development of innovative platform products. Current development projects include:

o        Multisample arrays for clinical research and diagnostics

o        Analysis of genomic events at the single cell level

·          scientific collaborations to generate diagnostic marker intellectual property 

OGT’s management team brings a unique combination of world-recognised science, combined with a strong track record in licensing intellectual property, product development and commercialisation of technology.  A key element of the company’s business model is to collaborate with leading scientific centres and commercial partners to bring new products and services to market.