Synthetic genes and genetic constructs

摘要

The present invention relates generally to synthetic genes for modifying endogenous gene expression in a cell, tissue or organ of a transgenic organism, in particular a transgenic animal or plant. More particularly, the present invention provides novel synthetic genes and genetic constructs which are capable of repressing delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of an endogenous gene or a target gene in an organism when introduced thereto.

主权项

1. A double-stranded DNA construct comprising a first structural gene sequence comprising about 20-30 consecutive nucleotides identical in sequence to a region of a target gene in a mammalian cell; a second structural gene sequence comprising about 20-30 consecutive nucleotides identical in sequence to, and in an inverted orientation relative to, the about 20-30 consecutive nucleotides of the first structural gene sequence, such that a repeating sequence which is only about 20-30 consecutive nucleotides in length identical to the region of the target gene is present in the DNA construct; a stuffer fragment which consists of nucleotides other than the nucleotides of the repeating sequence, and which separates and links the first and second structural gene sequences; a promoter and a transcription termination sequence, wherein the repeating sequence within the DNA construct is only about 20-30 nucleotides in length, and wherein the first structural gene sequence, the stuffer fragment and the second structural gene sequence are all operably connected to the promoter and the transcription termination sequence.