NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES, METHODS AND KITS FOR SELECTING A NUCLEIC ACID HAVING A DESIRED FEATURE

摘要

This invention relates to the use of a virus or of a viral genome for screening/selecting exogenous nucleic acids having a desired feature. More particularly, the present invention provides a dysfunctional viral genome capable of both expressing libraries of exogenous nucleic acids and selecting the sequences having a predefined characteristic or function within the cell, such as as nucleic acids encoding signal peptides, secreted proteins, membrane bound proteins, proteases, protease cleaving site and drug-resistance proteins. The invention further provides methods and kits for selecting nucleic acids having a desired feature. According to one embodiment, production of a viral particle is dependent on insertion of an exogenous nucleic acid having the desired feature into a dysfunctional viral genome or into a viral genome exposed to a substance inhibiting viral packaging function(s).