CaSR Animal Research
MariCal's calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) technology applied to food and companion animal applications provides a platform technology that enables a new understanding of animal nutrition for all species.
This CaSR technology, now in laboratory testing and live animal field trial phases of development, consists of modulating CaSRs that are present in the epithelial cells that line the developing gastrointestinal tract (GI) of young animals. From their locations on the mucosal surfaces of various GI tract segments, these CaSRs are continuously exposed to ions and nutrients that are ingested by neonatal animals as they make the transition from living on energy reserves provided by yolk (fish and avian species) or colostrum and milk (in mammals) and finally exogenous nutrient sources in either liquid, semisolid or solid form. During this same interval, the developing GI tract of all of these species undergoes extensive remodeling and growth where it responds to the presence of nutrients and ions to facilitate their absorption and utilization as well as secreting fluid and mucous that forms a protective barrier to prevent invasion or colonization by opportunistic organisms and bacteria. Such activities of the GI tract in developing animals are intimately connected to multiple aspects of gut physiology including motility, acid and enzyme secretion as well as local and systemic hormone release.
Extensive research has been performed to investigate both the structure and function of CaSRs, their specific signal transduction pathways, as well as their localization and physiological roles in various tissues of mammalian, avian and fish species. This research verifies the key roles of CaSR and its interaction with extracellular fluid composition, salinity regulation, ion transport, nutrient sensing and cellular proliferation and differentiation in both terrestrial and aquatic species. Importantly, the ability of CaSR's to sense specific classes of L-amino acids has been demonstrated using cultured cells that express recombinant CaSR protein. This work has been further supported by comparative physiology and embryology studies that have provided insights into the role of CaSRs in specific tissues that are evolutionarily related.
Experimental data obtained from both GI tract tissues as well as cultured cell lines transfected with CaSR derived from the GI tract have established a key role for CaSRs as ion and nutrient sensors as well as modulators of GI proliferation and differentiation.
MariCal's research approach is unique in the animal health and nutritional product development field in that the Company has thoroughly characterized and can modulate the molecular target, the CaSR protein, with which nutritional or pharmacological compounds can be screened and identified to have an effect. Unlike the traditional process of new feed additive or nutritional formulation research where the affect is based on anecdotal results, MariCal's technology is based on having defined the mode of action that can be targeted to stimulate or reduce its downstream activity.
The Company is pursuing CaSR technology applications for performance enhancement, prophylactic and therapeutic treatment, and general health in food and companion animals.
