- Production of human a-GAL A protein in microalgae could reduce reliance upon the current high cost methods of production in human and animal cells
REHOVOT, Israel, July 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rosetta Green Ltd. ("Company") (TASE:RSTG), which develops improved crop traits for the agriculture and alternative fuels industries using unique genes called microRNAs, announced the production of human a-GAL A protein in microalgae. The Company plans to test the biological activity of a-GAL A protein in the future.
a-GAL A is a protein used to treat Fabry disease, a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme alpha galactosidase A (a-GAL A). The genetic disorder can cause a wide range of systemic symptoms including pain, kidney, heart and dermatological complications. Treatment is based on Enzyme Replacement Therapies and the market for these drugs is projected to reach approximately $850 million by 2019, according to industry analysts.
Production of human a-GAL A in microalgae could reduce reliance upon the current high cost methods of production in human and animal cells.
Microalgae are a highly promising resource for the sustainable production of a wide variety of biomaterials that can be used in an extensive range of applications. One of the advantages of producing proteins from algae is that they are free from the toxins and viral agents that may be present in preparations derived from mammalian cell cultures.
Amir Avniel, Rosetta Green's CEO said, "Algae can successfully produce recombinant proteins suitable for pharmaceutical applications. Rosetta Green's expertise in plant genomics can be used to identify specific microRNA genes and develop algae with an improved trait for the production of a-GAL A. We strongly believe that microRNAs have a substantial advantage in the ability to improve various traits in algae and plants."
About Rosetta Green
Rosetta Green Ltd. (www.rosettagreen.com) develops improved plant traits using innovative genes called microRNAs for the agriculture and biofuel industries. The Company specializes in the identification and use of these unique genes that function as "main bio-switches" to control key processes in major crops such as corn, wheat, rice, soybean, cotton, canola and algae. Rosetta Green's current trait development portfolio includes improved abiotic stress tolerance, increased yield, improved nitrogen use efficiency, improved cotton fiber quality, increased yield for canola and soybean, increased oil content in algae, castor bean and canola for the biofuel industry and improved algal traits for various industrial applications. Rosetta Green completed an IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in February 2011 (TASE:RSTG). For additional information please visit Rosetta Green's website at www.rosettagreen.com.
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This press release contains "forward-looking statements." These statements include words like "may," "expects," "believes," "scheduled," "potentially" and "intends," and they describe opinions about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rosetta Green Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.