NEOCENTROMERE-BASED MINI-CHROMOSOMES OR ARTIFICIAL CHROMOSOMES

摘要

The present invention is directed generally to a defined or isolated nucleic acid molecule encompassing a neocentreomere or a functional derivative there of or a latent, synthetic or hybrid form thereof and its use inter alia in developing a range of eukaryotic mini-chromosomes and artificial chromosomes including mammalian (e.g. human) and non-mammalian mini-chromosomes and artificial chromosomes. The present invention further provides a telomere- associated chromosome truncation (TACT) approach to develop mini-chromosomes , but is not limited to this approach. It is directed to any truncation approa ch that produces a neocentromere-containing mini-chromosome, or any transfectio n approach using cloned or pre-fabricated DNA that provides neocentromere function in the construction of artificial chromosome. Such mini-chromosomes and artificial chromosomes are useful in a range of genetic therapies.