Luciferases, fluorescent proteins, nucleic acids encoding the luciferases and fluorescent proteins and the use thereof in diagnostics, high throughput screening and novelty items

• US 6,436,682 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gaussia, LLC, Prolume Limited
• Original Assignee: Prolume Limited
• Inventors: Szent-Gyorgyi, Christopher, Bryan, Bruce J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prouty, Rebecca E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Manjunath N.
• Application Number:
  US09/609,161
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 435/183, 435/189, 536/23.2, 446/473, 42/54, 124/74, 124/76, 222/1, 426/66, 426/104
• US Class Current: 435/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6853 Carcino-embryonic antigens
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6867 the tumour determinant being from a cell of a blood cancer
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0013 Luminescence
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/43595 from coelenteratae, e.g. medusae
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2319/00 Fusion polypeptide
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0069 acting on single donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen, i.e. oxygenases (1.13)

Abstract

Isolated and purified nucleic acid molecules that encode a luciferase from Renilla mulleri, Gaussia and Pleuromamma, and the proteins encoded thereby are provided. Isolated and purified nucleic acids encoding green fluorescent proteins from the genus Renilla and Ptilosarcus, and the green fluorescent proteins encoded thereby are also provided. Compositions and combinations comprising the green fluorescent proteins and/or the luciferase are further provided.

Claims

1. An isolated substantially purified Gaussia, Renilla mulleri or Pleuromamma luciferase protein, where in the protein is encoded by a sequence of nucleotides selected from the group consisting of

a sequence of nucleotides set forth in SEQ ID No. 17, SEQ ID No. 19, or SEQ ID No. 28;

a sequence of nucleotides encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID No. 18, SEQ ID No. 20 or SEQ ID No. 29; and

a sequence of nucleotides that hybridizes under high stringency to the sequence of nucleotides set forth in SEQ ID No. 17, SEQ ID No. 19 or SEQ ID No. 28.

2. The isolated protein of claim 1, wherein the protein has the sequence of amino acids set forth in SEQ ID Nos. 18, 20 or 29.

3. A combination, comprising:

an article of manufacture; and

a bioluminescence generating system, whereby the combination is a novelty item, wherein the bioluminescence generating system comprises a luciferase of claim 1.

4. The combination of claim 3, further comprising a luciferin.

5. The combination of claim 3, further comprising a green fluorescent protein (GFP).

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the GFP is a Renilla GFP or a Ptilosarcus GFP.

7. The combination of claim 3, wherein the article of manufacture is selected from among toys, cosmetics, fountains, personal care items, fairy dust, beverages, soft drinks, foods, textile products, bubbles, balloons, personal items, dentifrices, soaps, body paints, bubble bath, ink and paper products.

8. The combination of claim 7 that is a toy gun, a food, a beverage or a cosmetic.

9. The combination of claim 3, wherein the article of manufacture is selected from among squirt guns, pellet guns, finger paints, foot bags, greeting cards, slimy play material, clothing, bubble making toys, bath powders, cosmetics, body lotions, gels, body powders, body creams, toothpastes, mouthwashes, soaps, body paints, bubble bath, inks, wrapping paper, gelatins, icings, frostings, greeting cards, beer, wine, champagne, soft drinks, ice cubes, ice, dry ice and fountains.