Methods to promote homologous recombination in eukaryotic cells and organisms

摘要

The invention concerns genes encoding recombinases that can be used to promote homologous recombination in eukaryotic cells. The application teaches methods by which a recombinase of one species can be used to isolate a homologous recombinase of a different species and methods to identify the isolated homologs. Recombinases from Ustilago maydis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and humans are specifically included in the invention. The invention encompasses the method of producing an isolated recombinase protein in a prokaryotic cell and recovering the product in an active form. The invention also encompasses a genetically engineered gene which encodes a non-naturally occurring recombinase that causes a greater rate of recombination than does the naturally occurring recombinase. The invention further encompasses the use of recombinase proteins and of recombinase genes to promote homologous recombination, including recombination between a host cell genome and a chimeric oligonucleotide, i.e., an oligonucleotide having both RNA and DNA bases.