Bio-Synthesis, Inc.

Bio-Synthesis, Inc.
Company type	Private
Industry	Biotechnology
Founded	1984
Headquarters	Lewisville, Texas, U.S.
Key people	Miguel Castro, PhD - Founder & CEO; Jessica Chen - Co-Founder & VP
Products	custom and catalog peptides, antibodies, organic synthesis, custom oligos, gene synthesis, large scale oligonucleotide synthesis, peptide protein sequencing, analytical services
Website	http://www.biosyn.com/

Bio-Synthesis, Inc. (BSI) is a biotechnology company headquartered in Lewisville, Texas. It is a provider of custom and catalog peptides, custom oligos, antibodies, organic synthesis, and analytical services. Biomedical researchers worldwide in universities, biotech companies, private clinics, and government agencies use products from Bio-Synthesis, Inc. in studies ranging from PCR diagnostics to cancer research and the Human Genome Project.

The DNA Identity Testing Center, a subsidiary of Bio-Synthesis, Inc. (BSI), works with private citizens, legal representatives, and law enforcement providing services in personal and legal paternity tests, family relationship DNA tests, immigration DNA tests, forensic DNA tests, ancestry DNA tests, and identity DNA tests.

History

1984–1994: Founding

Founded in 1984, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. was known as OCS Laboratories and was one of the first companies providing commercially available synthetic oligonucleotides to the biomedical research community worldwide.

It was the first producer of commercially available synthetic DNA and became a producer of synthetic peptides in 1985, and became the only company to provide both synthetic DNA and peptide under one roof. Also in 1985 the process, now known as PCR, was discovered by Mullis et. al. A key activity for Bio-Synthesis was to synthesize large number of PCR primer thus assisting and solidifying the early adoption of this now common and crucial process in biology.

In 1988, Bio-Synthesis helped in the synthesis and characterization of a new class of peptides with novel antimicrobial properties discovered at the NIH.

An early Bio-Synthesis logo used from 1988 to 2008

In 1989, OCS became incorporated as Bio-synthesis, Inc. and moved its laboratories to Lewisville, Texas.

In 1993, Bio-Synthesis was one of the first peptide synthesis companies to acquire a Finnigan MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer for the accurate quality control of synthetic peptides produced in-house.

In 1994, Bio-synthesis pioneered the use of molecular methods for HLA analysis which is applied in organ matching for transplantation purposes. Later in the same year Bio-Synthesis held the first major HLA DNA typing workshop with the attendance of HLA laboratory directors from around the country in conjunction with University of North Texas in Denton Texas.

1995–2006: DNA Identity Testing

In 1995, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. introduced DNA identity testing to its broad range of molecular diagnostic services. Today, the DNA Identity Testing Center of BSI uses state-of-the-art advanced techniques and automated systems to produce the most accurate DNA testing results allowed by current scientific technologies. The DNA Identity Testing Center has a dedicated staff of scientific professionals whose focus is to ensure the quality and integrity of all tests and services.

In 2000, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. perform the genetic analysis close to 500 Chinese nationals that were soliciting, under the right of abode, the right to move to Hong Kong by proving that their biological fathers were Hong Kong residents.

2007–present: Software Tools

In June 2007, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. unveiled a new online software tool called Protein Lounge which brought all of the vital and necessary databases to one place. The Protein Database contained all of the necessary information for proteins, such as datasheets, reviews, signaling pathway relation, disease relation, sequences, publications and reagent links. The database offered the most comprehensive gene/protein sequence pages which have all pertinent information needed to analyze any sequence.¹

In January 2008, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. announced an exclusive scientific collaboration with Dr. Dante Marciani, a world renowned expert in immune agonists. The collaboration was focused on proprietary novel glycosides that stimulate innate immunity while taking advantage of the synergistic effects between innate and adaptive immunity. In addition, the collaboration extended to proprietary compounds that down regulate The immunity, an area of significance in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions. ²

In May 2009, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. began Mitochondrial, or DNA, testing and offered it commercially. The DNA Identity Testing Laboratory at Bio-Synthesis, Inc. (BSI) is currently sequencing DNA samples for maternal lineage and criminal investigations.³

In February 2010, Bio-synthesis has been awarded a 2-year, $590,000, Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The company will use the proceeds to further the development of its proprietary adjuvants or immune agonists that carry in a single molecule the various determinants needed to stimulate both innate and adaptive immunities, causing synergistic effects on T cell immunity.

In March 2010, Bio-Synthesis launched a new custom service, PenetraINS, whereby two different molecules are joined together via selective chemical coupling for the purpose of up or down regulating gene expression in mammalian organisms.

Products and services

Custom Peptide Synthesis
GMP Peptide Manufacturing
Cosmetic Peptides
Antibody Packages
Phosphospecific Antibody Production
Peptide Carrier Protein Conjugation
Antibody Purification and Labeling
Organic Synthesis
Custom Oligos (DNA, RNA, LNA, and PNA)
Gene Synthesis
Large Scale Oligonucleotide Synthesis
siRNA Synthesis
Peptide Protein Sequencing
Amino Acid Analysis
Mass Spectrometry
Cell Authentication Service

DNA testing services

Paternity Disputes
Child Custody
Immigration Claims
Inheritance
Adoption
Insurance Claims
Protection Against Identity Fraud
Establish Kinship for Benefit Claims
Child Safety
Infidelity Detection
Tissue Sample Verification

Free gizmos and resources

Gizmos

Clean Compare - Allows you to compare DNA and protein sequence. Clean compare is based on the algorythm of BLAST
Peptide-Antigen Finder - Tool finds the best antigenic peptides of a protein sequence
Peptide Library Design Tools - Used to screen highly active compounds such as antigenic peptides, receptor ligands, antimicrobial compounds, and enzyme inhibitors
Oligo Design and Analysis Tools - Pack of oligo analysis and design tools such as oligo calculator and analyzer, antisense design, dilution, resuspension
Protein Hydroplotter - Allows for the viewing of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of a protein sequence. View plots for Kyte-Doolittle and Hoppman-Woods
Easy siRNA - Offers an efficient method of finding siRNA targets and cloning them online. The program uses the Tuschl algorithm to siRNA
Peptide Calculator - Eptide tool to calculate the chemical formula and molecular weight of your antigen or other peptide

Resources

Accreditations, affiliations, and recognitions

American Association of Blood Banks Accredited (AABB)
Animal Welfare Assurance
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Disadvantaged Business Certification
Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)
Presenter of “Eyebrow Hairs From Cadavers as a Unique and Reliable Source of DNA for Profiling after Embalmment” poster at the Promega Meeting in October 2006.
Presenter of “Sibling Data Alone Cannot Always Be Used To Determine Full Sibling Relationships” poster at the Promega Meeting in October 2007.
Presenter of “Comparison of Three Different Blood Extraction Methods” poster at the Promega Meeting in October 2009.

Sources

Bio-Synthesis Unveils Online Software ‘Peptide, Oligo, Protein Analysis’

Bio-Synthesis Inc. Announces Exclusive Collaboration in the Area of Immune Agonists and Antagonists

Bio-Synthesis, Inc. Unveils Its Latest Step Into the Future of Forensic Science

Christine Zouki, Sophie Ouellet, and Janos G. Filep. “The anti-inflammatory peptides, antiflammins, regulate the expression of adhesion molecules on human leukocytes and prevent neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells.” The FASEB Journal. Vol. 14 March 2000

Tomoyuki Oe, Jasbir S. Arora, Seon Hwa Lee, and Ian A. Blair. “A Novel Lipid Hydroperoxide-derived Cyclic Covalent Modification to Histone H4.” The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Vol. 278, No. 43, Issue of October 24, pp. 42098–42105, 2003.

Yu Lu, Patricia Bottari, Frantisek Turecek, Ruedi Aebersold, and Michael H. Gelb. “Absolute Quantification of Specific Proteins in Complex Mixtures Using Visible Isotope-Coded Affinity Tags.” Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 76, No. 14, July 15, 2004.

Shigeki Kobayashi, Takeshi Yamamoto, Jerome Parness and Noriaki Ikemoto. “Antibody probe study of Ca2+ channel regulation by interdomain interaction within the ryanodine receptor. Biochemical Society Journal (2004) Vol. 380, 561-569.

Antonio G. Catro, Margaret Neighbors, Stephen D. Hurst, Francesca Zonin, Regina A. Silva, Erin Murphy, Yong-Jun Liu, and Anne O’Garra. “Anti-Interleukin 10 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody Is an Adjuvant for T Helper Cell Type 1 Responses to Soluble Antigen Only in the Presence of Lipopolysaccharide.” The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 27 May 2007.

Silvia I. Garcia, Azucena L. Alvarez, Patricia I. Porto, Victoria M. Garfunkel, Sammuel Finkielman and Carlos J. Pirola. “Antisense Inhibition of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Reduces Arterial Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.” Journal of the American Heart Association, 2001.

James S. Gibbs, Daniela malide, Felicita Hornung, Jack R. Bennink, and Jonathan W. Yewdell. “The influenza A Virus PB1-F2 Protein Targets the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane via a Predicted Basic Amphipathis Helix That disrupts Mitochondrial Function.” Journal of Virology, July 2003, p. 7214-7224.

Susana Sarnago, Ramon Roca, Antonio de Blasi, Alfonso Valencia, Federico Mayor, Jr., and Cristina Murga. “Involvement of Intramolecular Interactions in the Regulation of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2.” Molecular Pharmacology. Vol. 64, p. 629-639, 2003.

Theresa M. Geiman, Umesh T. Sankpal, Andrea K. Robertson, Yue Chen, Manjari mazumdar, Jason T. Heale, John A. Schmiesing, Wankee Kim, Kyoko Yokomori, Yingming Zhao and Keith D. Robertson. “Isolation and characterization of a novel DNA methyltransferase complex linking DNMT3B with components of the mitotic chromosome condensation machinery.” Nucleic Acids Research, 2004, vol. 32, No. 9, p. 2716-2729.

Anuradha Mehta, Michael T. Kinter, Nicholas E. Sherman, and Donna M. Driscoll. “Molecular Cloning of Apobec-1 Complementation Factor, a Novel RNA-Binding Protein Involved in the Editing of Apolipoprotein B mRNA.” Molecular and Cellular Biology, Mar. 2000, p. 1846-1854.

Sarah E. F. D’Orazio, Marisela Velasquez, Nadia R. Roan, Olaia Naveiras-Torres, and Michael N. Starnbach. “The Listeria monocytogenes lemA Gene Product Is Not Required for Intracellular Infection of To Activate fMIGWII-Specific T Cells.” Infection and Immunity, Dec. 2003, p. 6721-6727.

Libuse A. Bobek and Hongsa Situ. “MUC7 20-Mer: Investigation of Antimicrobial Activity, Secondary Structure, and Possible Mechanism of Antifungal Action.” Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Feb. 2003, p. 643-652.

Feng Qian, Sacha Gnjatic, Elke Jager, Darren Santiago, Achim Jungbluth, Cathy Grande, Sally Schneider, Bernadette Keitz, Deborah Driscoll, Gerd Ritter, Shashikant Lele, Ashwani Sood, Lloyd J. Old, and Kunle Odunsi. “Th1/Th2 CD4+ T cell reponses against NY-EXO-1 in HLA-DPB1*0401/0402 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.” Cancer Immunity, Vol. 4, p. 12 (3 November 2004).

Ji Hyung Chung, Eun Kyoung Im, Hyun-Young Park, Jun Hye Kwon, Seahyoung Lee, jaewon Oh, Ki-Chul Hwang, Jong Ho Lee, and Yangsoo Jang. “A novel uracil-DNA glycosylase family related to the helix-hairpin-helix DNA glycosylase superfamily.” Nucleic Acids Research, 2003, Vol. 31, No. 8, p. 2045-2055.

Olga I. Stenina, Earl J. Poptic, and Paul E. DiCorleto. “Thrombin activates a Y box-binding protein (DNA-binding protein B) in endothelial cells.” The Journal of Clinical Investigation, August 2000, Vol. 106, No. 4.

Hung T. Khong and Steven A. Rosenberg. “The Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4 Gene, SOX10, Is a Novel Tumor-associated Antigen Identified in a Patient with a Dramatic Response to Immunotherapy.” Cancer Research 62, p. 3020-3023, June 1, 2002.

Alan K. Meeker, Wesley R. Gage, Jessica L. Hicks, Inpakala Simon, Jonathan R. Coffman, Elizabeth A. Platz, Gerrun E. March, and Angelo M. De Marzo. “Telomere Length Assessment in Human Archival Tissues Combined Telomere Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization and Immunostaining.” American Journal of Pathology, Vol. 160, No. 4, April 2002.

External links