Cholera toxin gene regulated by tissue-specific promoters

• US 5,416,017 A
• Filed: 03/25/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Scripps Research Institute
• Original Assignee: The Scripps Research Institute
• Inventors: Burton, Frank H., Sutcliffe, J. Gregor
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US08/037,013
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 536/23.4, 536/23.7, 536/23.51, 536/24.1, 435/320.1, 435/252.3, 435/240.2, 435/240.4
• US Class Current: 435/354
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2217/05 Animals comprising random inserted nucleic acids (transgenic)
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/0275 Genetically modified vertebrates, e.g. transgenic
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/28 from Vibrionaceae (F)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/85 for animal cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2830/008 cell type or tissue specific enhancer/promoter combination
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2830/85 mammalian

Abstract

The present invention contemplates a method of physiologic engineering by genetically altering second messenger levels in cells. This method allows the hyperactivation or inhibition of cell function within cells, tissues and animals by introducing a foreign gene that alters a second messenger system. The use of physiologically engineered animals as systems for determining the effectiveness of therapeutic compositions is also contemplated.

Claims

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a tissue specific promoter operatively linked to a non-lethal modulator gene, wherein said non-lethal modulator gene is a cholera toxin gene, and wherein said tissue specific promoter is selected from the group consisting of a growth hormone promoter, an insulin promoter, and a neuron-specific enolase promoter.

2. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 wherein said tissue specific promoter is an insulin promoter.

3. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said promoter is a neuron-specific enolase promoter.

4. A cell containing the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.

5. A vector containing the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.

6. The vector of claim 5, wherein said vector is a virus.

7. The vector of claim 6, wherein said virus is selected from the group consisting of HSV, AAV, and adenovirus.

8. The vector of claim 5, wherein said vector is a retrovirus.