Ecopia BioSciences Inc.

Ecopia BioSciences Inc.

Ecopia has developed technologies that allow it to rapidly
search through the genomes of environmental microorganisms in
order to discover and sequence the genes that are involved in
making natural products without having to sequence entire
bacterial genomes. These technologies include isolation of
genomic DNA from environmental microorganisms, construction of
DNA libraries, and the generation of DNA sequence samples that
are representative of the full bacterial genome ('genome
sampling'). Proprietary computer applications are used to compare
new DNA sequences to the Company's large and rapidly growing
reference database of genes known to be involved in making
microbial natural products in order to rapidly discover new genes
involved in making natural products.
By applying these technologies, the Company has isolated and
sequenced over 60 biosynthetic loci, containing over 4,000
biosynthetic genes, from a variety of environmental bacteria.
Several of these biosynthetic loci encode known medically
important molecules such as antibiotics and anticancer drugs for
which no previous genetic information was available. In addition,
the Company has discovered numerous biosynthetic loci that may
encode new, previously unreported natural products.
The Company's sophisticated computer applications also make it
possible to predict the potential uses of individual genes or
gene clusters. These uses include designing rational methods for
improving production levels, generating novel compounds by
combinatorial biosynthesis, or generating enzymes and
biocatalysts that can be used to alter the structure of natural
product or synthetic drug lead compounds.
In addition, the Company's database and computer applications
allow it to identify unique genetic markers characteristic of
particular natural products or classes of natural product. These
markers provide valuable information that can be used to screen
rapidly through collections of microorganisms to identify those
that may be able to produce particular compounds or make natural
derivatives of compounds of therapeutic interest.
Ecopia has focused its initial efforts on discovering the
biosynthetic loci responsible for making important natural
products of known chemical structure from publicly available
microorganisms. This approach has enabled the Company to develop
sophisticated computer applications that can be used to
recognize
and correlate particular gene sequences with particular chemical
structures. As the number of biosynthetic loci sequenced and
entered into the database increases, so does the Company's
ability to predict the possible chemical structures of natural
products produced by newly discovered loci. For example, the
Company uses this information to determine if a microorganism is
able to produce a potentially new natural product.

Company Details

Year Established: 1998

Number of Employees: 43

Company Information

Yves Quenneville
Title: Director
Area of Responsibility: Management Executive
Telephone: (514) 336-2700
Fax: (514) 336-8827
Email: Click Here

Phillipe Rousseau
Title: Receptionist
Telephone: (514) 336-2700
Fax: (514) 336-8827
Email: Click Here

Karolina Bell
Title: Receptionist
Telephone: (514) 336-2700
Fax: (514) 336-8827
Email: Click Here

Services

Antibiotics, Anti-cancer And Other Natural Products Discovery And Development Using A Bacterial Genomics Platform.