ENHANCER-CONTAINING GENE TRAP VECTORS FOR RANDOM AND TARGETED GENE TRAPPING

摘要

The present invention relates to a novel class of gene trap vector (enhanced gene trap vectors, eGTV) for efficiently identifying silent or weakly expressed target genes in mammalian genomes, methods of their production and methods for identifying and mutating target genes by using the enhanced gene trap vectors. The gene trap vectors of the present invention can also be used for inducing the expression of silent genes and enhancing the expression of weakly expressed genes. The use of the enhanced gene trap vectors for creating transgenic organisms to identify gene function and to validate pharmaceutical compounds prior to clinical applications is a further aspect of the present invention.