Stable TatIII cell lines, TatIII gene products, and assay methods
US4981790A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jan 1, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12N2740/16322
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention describes stable tat.sub.III cell lines. It is disclosed that by transfecting a preselected tat.sub.III cell line with a vector containing a sufficient amount of the HTLV-III LTR responsive to tat.sub.III gene products for trans-activation and an enhancer upstream of the tat.sub.III responsive segment, it is possible to express high levels of the tat.sub.III gene products. By including a preselected heterologous gene on this vector, it is also possible to express high levels of a desired gene product. A substantially pure protein comprising 86 amino acids and having an apparent molecular weight of about 14,000 dalton and exhibiting trans-activating activity is also disclosed. This protein and polypeptides having trans-activating ability, which is also disclosed, can be used to produce high levels of a desired gene product. A method of detecting the presence of HTLV-III/LAV virus in an individual is also disclosed and comprises the step of: PA0 (a) incubating whole blood or lymphocytes from the invididual to be tested with tat.sub.III cell lines of the present invention in a culture medium; and PA0 (b) screening for cytopathic effects on the cells is also disclosed. A…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.