Deborah J Marshall

US Patent:

20020086427, Jul 4, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/815980

Inventors:

Jeffrey Leiden - Glencoe IL, US
Deborah Marshall - Brookline MA, US

International Classification:

A61K031/70
C12N015/63

US Classification:

435/455000

Abstract:

A system for regulating the expression of a gene in a eukaryotic cell is provided, in which the expression of a desired gene can be activated or deactivated according to deliberate intentions (i.e., via an inducible signal) and in which regulation of gene expression occurs at the level of translation of the gene. This regulation is accomplished by, first, the introduction of at least one mutation into the coding sequence of the gene of interest. This mutation(s) causes a decrease or alteration of translation, and, hence, a decrease or alteration of expression of the desired gene. The method of the invention further involves contacting the eukaryotic cell containing the now mutated gene of interest with an agent that is able to suppress the effect of the mutation, thus allowing translation, and, hence, expression of the desired gene. Preferably, the method involves introduction of a stop codon mutation, which is suppressed by an aminoglycoside. Nucleic acid compositions for use in the system of the invention, and kits for carrying out the methods of the invention, are also provided.