Vectors and methods for generating vector-free induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using site-specific recombination

摘要

The present invention relates to a DNA molecule comprising: (a) a first DNA sequence comprising: (aa) a coding sequence giving rise upon transcription to a factor that contributes to the reprogramming of a somatic cell into an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell; (ab) a promoter mediating the transcription of said coding sequence; and (ac) two sequence motifs that mediate excision of (aa) and/or (ab) from the DNA molecule, wherein one sequence motif is positioned 5' and the other sequence motif is positioned 3' of the sequence to be excised; (b) a second DNA sequence comprising a sequence motif that mediates site-specific integration of (a) into another DNA molecule. Further, the invention relates to DNA molecule comprising: (a) a first DNA sequence comprising: (aa) a coding sequence giving rise upon transcription to a factor that contributes to the reprogramming of a somatic cell into an induced pluripotent stem cell; and (ab) a promoter mediating the transcription of said coding sequence; (b) a second DNA sequence comprising: (ba) a sequence motif that mediates extrachromosomal self-replication of the DNA-molecule; and (bb) two sequence motifs that mediate excision of at least said sequence motif of (ba) from the second DNA sequence (b), wherein one sequence motif is located 5' of (ba) and the other sequence motif 3' of (ba). Also, the invention relates to a vector comprising the DNA molecule of the invention, a method for assembly of said vector and a somatic cell comprising said DNA molecule or said vector vector of the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods to generate an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell, an induced pluripotent stem cell obtainable by said methods, to a kit comprising the DNA molecule of the invention, to a cell line or cell culture collection comprising the induced pluripotent stem cell of the invention, to the use of said cell or cell line as a research tool, to a method to generate a transgenic non-human animal and to a non-human animal generated by said method. Finally, the invention relates to a composition for gene therapy, regenerative medicine, cell therapy or drug screening.