Bifunctional genetic markers

摘要

PCT No. PCT/CA92/00139 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 21, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 21, 1994 PCT Filed Mar. 30, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO92/17593 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 15, 1992Genetic markers of this invention provide a biochemically assayable reporter activity and a conditionally selectable growth advantage. They comprise a first gene which encodes a product whose activity can be assdyed biochemically e.g., beta -glucuronidase, to a second gene which confers a conditional growth advantage such as antibiotic resistance in a transformed cell (e.g., neomycin phosphotransferase-II). The marker genes and their translational products are stable in cells. The genetic markers provide for the positive genetic selection and the biochemical and histochemical screening of transformed cells. They can be used as probes for identification and isolation of novel genetic regulatory elements, such as promoters, and the genes they regulate.