Stem Cell Related Patent Number US6139833

Targeted gene discovery

Lexicon Genetics Incorporated, The Woodlands, TX, USA

This invention describes a comprehensive system for targeted gene discovery employing the use of infectious viruses. Such viruses are composed of a recombinant viral genome and a chimeric integrase, thus affording a retrovirus that has been engineered to exhibit increased accessibility to genomic DNA. Alternately, the retrovirus may mutate and identify the chromosomal target sequences of DNA binding proteins. Employed is the combination of retroviral integrase/DNA binding protein fusion constructs and gene-trapping methodologies, which provide the ability to establish proviral integration at any location within the genome. Also described is the generation of a collection of eukaryotic cells in which each cell contains a mutation in a target gene or sequence for a known DNA binding protein which also allow for rapid in vivo functional analysis.

Application Number: US1997000907598

Date Filed: 08/08/97

Dated Published: 10/31/00

Assignee: Burgess, Rob; Houston, TX, USA
Friedrich, Glenn; The Woodlands, TX, USA
Zambrowicz, Brian; The Woodlands, TX, USA
Sands, Arthur; The Woodlands, TX, USA