# Availability for Non-Exclusive, Exclusive, or Partially Exclusive Licensing of U.S. Patent Application Concerning Angiogenesis Inhibitors Specific for Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 as Antiparasitic Drugs
**AGENCY:**
Department of the Army, DoD.
**ACTION:**
Notice.
**SUMMARY:**
In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/354,280 entitled “Angiogenesis Inhibitors Specific for Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 as Antiparasitic Drugs” and, filed January 29, 2002. The United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army has rights in this invention.
**ADDRESSES:**
Commander, U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, ATTN: Command Judge Advocate, MCMR-JA, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21702-5012.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
For patent issues, Ms. Elizabeth Arwine, Patent Attorney, (301) 619-7808. For licensing issues, Dr. Paul Mele, Office of Research & Technology Assessment, (301) 619-6664, both at telefax (301) 619-5034.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
Methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2) is responsible for hydrolysis of the initiator, methionine residues from the majority of newly synthesized proteins. A malaril MetAP2 gene has been cloned from *Plasmodium falciparum* (GenBank accession number AF34820). The cloned *P. falciparum* MetAP2 (PfMetAP2) has a length of 1544 bp and encoded a protein of 354 amino acid residues. A multiple sequence alignment shows that the *P. falciparum* MetAP2 has 40% homology with human MetAP2 and 45% homology with yeast MetAP2. The gene of *P. falciparum* MetAP2 locates in chromosome 14. The 3D structure of *P. falciparum* MetAP2 has been modeled based on human MetAP2 crystal structure. The specific MetAP2 inhibitors, fumagillin and TNP-440 have been found to potently block the in vitro growth of *P. falciparum* and to a lesser degree against that of *Leishmania donavani.*
Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Resister Liaison Officer.