Menu

About Us

Cambia is an independent non-profit institute creating new technologies, tools and paradigms to promote change and enable innovation.

Read More

Patents on Yeast Copper-Responsive Promoter

Genentech has a granted United States patent related to inducible transcription control sequences isolated from a yeast metallothionein gene. These transcriptional control sequences are also known as yeast copper chelatin promoter.

The transcriptional control sequences of the invention include the transcriptional promoter and the metal ion regulatory region. As well, in a vector to be replicated in suitable host, a desired gene is under the control of a yeast chelatin promoter, a yeast chelatin transcriptional control sequence, or a metal ion regulatory region from yeast chelatin.

The yeast chelatin transcriptional control sequence contains the chelatin promoter, including transcription initiation and ribosome binding sites. This is a useful promoter in its own right, but to be induced by metal ions, the metal ion regulatory region is needed. This last region is also useful when ligated to other, non-metallothionein promoters, which are recognized by the desired host.

An isolated DNA sequence of a yeast chelatin metal ion regulatory region is also part of the protected invention.

Patent Number Title, Independent Claims and Summary of Claims Assignee
US 4940661

  • Earliest priority – 17 May 1984
  • Filed – 29 September 1987
  • Granted 10 July 1990
  • Expected expiry – 29 September 2007
 Title – Metallothionein transcription control sequences and use thereof

Claim 1
A vector comprising a selection gene, yeast origin of replication or autonomously replicating sequence and DNA encoding a eukaryotic polypeptide other than yeast chelatin, said DNA encoding a eukaryotic polypeptide that is under the control of
(a) a yeast chelatin promoter,
(b) a yeast chelatin transcription control sequence, or
(c) a metal ion regulatory region of the yeast chelatin transcription control sequence which is free of the yeast chelatin promoter, whereby the vector is replicable in a suitable host.
Claim 14
An isolated DNA sequence comprising a yeast chelatin metal ion regulatory region free of the yeast chelatin promoter and free of DNA encoding yeast chelatin.

Genentech Inc.

Note: Patent information was last updated on 19 May 2006. Search terms: “Metallothionein” in abstract and “Genentech” in applicant. Patent database: PatentLens.

Patent on a mouse metallothionein promoter

The granted United States patent of University Patents Inc. (now Competitive Technologies Inc.) relates to the metal-responsive promoter/regulator sequences of the mouse metallothionein-I gene.

The mouse metallothionein-I gene promoter of the invention is operatively linked to a DNA sequence of interest, which is expressed in response to variations in the concentration of metal ions in the environment. The host organism, which stably incorporates the DNA sequence of interest, is a mammalian host cell.

Patent Number Title, Independent Claims and Summary of Claims Assignee
US 4579821

  • Earliest priority – 23 November 1981
  • Filed – 23 November 1981
  • Granted – 1 April 1986
  • Expired – 1 April 2003
 Title – Control of DNA sequence transcription

Claim 1
A process for subjecting the transcription of a selected DNA sequence to external control under given environmental conditions whichcomprises the steps of:
providing a selected isolated structural gene that is transcriptionally responsive to a mouse metallothionein-I promotor/regulator DNA sequence under the given environmental conditions; and
operatively fusing the selected structural gene with said promoter/regulator DNA sequence.
Claim 2
In the genetic engineering process for securing transcription and expression of a selected isolated structural gene sequence in a mammalian host cell wherein said selected structural gene is stably incorporated as a chromosomal or extrachromosomal constituent of the host, the improvement comprising the step of:
operatively fusing with said selected structural gene sequence a mouse metallothionein-I promoter/regulator DNA sequence which is responsive to environmental variations within the host cell in the concentration of ions of metal.
Claim 3
A fusion gene product, suitable for use in genetic transformation of a mammalian host cell, said product comprising: a non mouse metallothionein structural gene sequence to be incorporated in said host cell operatively fused with a mouse metallothionein-I promoter/regulator DNA sequence.

University Patents Inc.

(now Competitive Technologies)

Remarks

 The related granted European patent EP 94428 lapsed in all European contracting states.
Related application filed in Japan (JP 7083715 B4).

Note: Patent information was last updated on 19 May 2006. Search terms: “transcription” in abstract and “University patents” in applicant. Patent database: PatentLens in combination with INPADOC.

Patent on a human metallothionein promoter

The mammalian metallothionein promoter system claimed by the University of California (Berkeley) in a granted United States patent relates to a human metallothionein IItranscriptional regulatory system, which allows for regulated control of expression by heavy metals and glucocorticoids.

Patent Number Title, Independent Claims and Summary of Claims Assignee
US 4601978

  • Earliest priority – 24 November 1982
  • Filed – 24 November 1982
  • Granted – 22 July 1986
  • Expired – July 2003
 Title – Mammalian metallothionein promoter system

Claim 1
A DNA sequence of less than 500 base pairs, said DNA sequence comprising the human MT-II transcriptional regulatory system further comprising the transcription initiation sequence.
Claim 5
A DNA construct capable of regulated expression of an inserted gene in a mammalian host, said construct comprising an extrachromosomal replication system recognized by a mammalian host, which replication system has been joined to a human MT-II gene inducible regulatory system in vitro, said construct having DNA sequence(s) defining at least one restriction site within the transcriptional control of the regulatory region for insertion of the gene.
Claim 10
A DNA construct useful for expression of a structural gene to produce a polypeptide in a mammalian host, said vector comprising
(a) a replicon from bovine papilloma virus and
(b) a regulatory system from a human MT-II gene comprising a promoter and a terminator and having at least one restriction site downstream from the promoter in the direction of transcription.

The claimed invention is drawn to:

    • A DNA sequence encoding the human metallothionein II transcriptional regulatory system, which includes the promoter region, the transcriptional initiation sequence (CAP site) and the regulatory sequences responsible for inducible transcription.
    • A DNA construct where the human metallothionein II transcriptional regulatory sequences are combined with an extra chromosomal replication system that is recognized by a given mammalian host. The combined system regulates the expression of an inserted gene in the mammalian host.
    • A vector containing a replicon from a bovine papilloma virus and a human metallothionein II transcriptional regulatory sequences and a restriction site downstream of the regulatory sequences for the insertion of a gene of interest to be expressed in a mammalian host. The bovine papilloma virus replicon allows the vector to be replicated in the mammalian host.

University of California (Berkeley)

Remarks

 Another United states patent titled ” High efficiency eukaryotic metallothionein promoter system” (US 4511652) also expired.

Note: Patent information was last updated on 19 May 2006. Search terms: “metallothionein” in abstract and “University of California” in applicant. Patent database: PatentLens.