University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Atsushi Ohshima

Masayori Inouye

Sumiko Inouye

Shohei Miyata

A method of synthesis of new and useful single-stranded DNAs which have a stem-loop configuration (ss-slDNA). The method is an in vivo or an in vitro synthesis. Replicating vehicles which produce these ss-slDNAs. The ss-slDNAs are described. Uses for these slDNAs are disclosed. They can be used for introducing random mutations, they lend themselves for replication by a variant of the PCR method. They can also be used for regulating gene function. Other uses are disclosed.

Method for synthesizing single-stranded stem-loop DNA's the products and

Eucaryotic cells like mammal and plant cells transfected with genes, called retrons, which code for stable single-stranded hybrid molecules (msDNA) containing RNA and DNA portions are disclosed. The retrons producing said linked RNA and DNA portions of the msDNAs also contain a gene encoding a reverse transcriptase (RT), which is necessary for the synthesis of the msDNAs. The msDNAs may contain foreign nucleic acid fragments which may be antisense fragments. These msDNA antisense vectors are useful for targeting genes of target proteins.

Eukaryotes expressing single stranded hybrid molecules

The invention provides a method for synthesizing new and useful single-stranded DNAs which have a stem-loop configuration (ss-slDNA). The method is an in vivo or in vitro synthesis. Replicating vehicles are provided which produce these ss-slDNAs. The slDNAs can be used for introducing random mutations in a selected gene, and they lend themselves for replication by a variant of the PCR method.

Method for synthesizing single-stranded stem-loop DNAs, the products and

A method for producing in vivo stable single-stranded DNAs in eucaryotic cells. The DNAs are multicopy single-stranded DNA (msDNA) structures constituted by a RNA and a DNA portion. The group of genes (retrons) producing said coupled RNA and DNA portions of the msDNAs and the gene encoding reverse transcriptase (RT). The transformed eucaryotes harboring these retrons. The new msDNAs which are encoded by the new retrons. The msDNAs can be used as vectors for antisense DNA and for amplification of inserted genes.

Growing community of inventors

Highland Park, NJ, United States of America

Atsushi Ohshima