Patent · US Expired

Protoplast fusion method for high-frequency DNA transfection in human cells

US4608339A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
0References
7Claims
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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 25, 1983
Grant dateAug 26, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC12N2730/10122
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A modified protoplast fusion method and cell line is disclosed that stably transfects human cells with pSV2-derived plasmids at frequencies greater than 10.sup.-3. This procedure makes it possible to test the biological effect of individual genes (i.e., oncogenes and other cellular genes, and viral genes). To demonstrate the utility of this invention, a pSV2gpt.sup.+ plasmid constructed to carry a subgenomic fragment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) that contained the core antigen gene (HBc gene) is transfected into human cells. Human cell lines are stably transfected with the HBC.sup.+ gene by selecting recipient cells for expression of guanine phosphoribosyl transferase expression; other selective markers, i.e., neomycin resistance, can also be used. Conditions for enhancing the expression of the transfected gene(s) have also been developed. For example, with this gpt.sup.+ /HBc.sup.+ cell line it is shown that growth in serum-free medium or treatment with 5'-azacytidine stimulates the production of the HBV core antigen.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.