In vitro sorting method
First Claim
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1. A method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of:
- (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules;
(b) expressing said genetic elements to produce, within said microcapsules, gene products encoded by said genetic elements; and
(c) sorting said genetic elements which produce a gene product or products having the desired activity.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; (b) expressing the genetic elements to produce their respective gene products within the microcapsules; (c) sorting the genetic elements which produce the gene product having a desired activity. The invention permits the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of:
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(a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules;
(b) expressing said genetic elements to produce, within said microcapsules, gene products encoded by said genetic elements; and
(c) sorting said genetic elements which produce a gene product or products having the desired activity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
(d) introducing one or more mutations into said genetic element or elements sorted in step (c).
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23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising iteratively repeating at least one of steps (a) to (d).
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24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising amplifying said genetic elements.
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25. The method of claim 1 wherein a reportoire of genetic elements encoding a respective repertoire of gene products is isolated by:
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(a) compartmentalizing the elements into microcapsules;
(b) expressing the genetic elements to produce their respective gene products; and
(c) sorting the genetic elements.
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26. The method according to claim 25, wherein a library of genetic elements encoding a repertoire of gene products is encapsulated and each genetic element expressed to form its gene product within a microcapsule.
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27. The method according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein microencapsulation is achieved by forming a water-in-oil emulsion of the aqueous solution in an oil-based medium.
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28. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (c), the genetic elements are sorted by affinity purification.
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29. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (c), the genetic elements are sorted by selective ablation of genetic elements which do not encode the desired gene product.
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30. A method for preparing a gene product, comprising the steps of:
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(a) preparing a genetic element encoding said gene product;
(b) compartmentalising said genetic element into a microcapsule;
(c) expressing said genetic element to produce, within the microcapsules, the gene product encoded by said genetic element;
(d) sorting said genetic element which produces said gene product; and
(e) expressing said gene product.
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Specification