Delta Biotechnology Limited

Edward Hinchliffe

Mark J Wilson

David J Ballance

Susan Mary Kingsman

Michael J Geisow

Peter J Senior

Simon A Chinery

Christine J Fleming

Diane Joan Cousens

A hybrid yeast promoter comprising constituents of the 5' non-coding PGK region and, as an upstream activation sequence, the upstream activitation sequence of the GAL10 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and which does not contain the endogenous PGK upstream activation sequence. Preferably the GAL10 upstream activation sequence is provided at a site from which the PGK upstream activation sequence has been deleted. The hybrid promoter confers galactose regulation of gene transcription.

Hybrid GAL10/pgk yeast promoter

A 2 .mu.m plasmid vector for transforming yeast, especially brewing yeast, much which comprises a DNA sequence allowing propagation of the plasmid in bacteria, two copies of the 74 base pair FLP recombination site of the 2 .mu.m plasmid in direct orientation and a DNA sequence coding for a protein or peptide of interest. The plasmid is so constructed that in yeast the bacterial DNA sequence is between the two recombination sites which are in direct orientation and is spontaneously lost following recombination. A 'gene of interest' is preferable inserted at the SnaBI site.

Stable yeast 2 .mu.m vector

Polypeptides corresponding to mature human serum albumin residues 1 to n, where n is between 369 and 419 inclusive, are useful as substitutes for albumin in the treatment of burns and shock in humans, the clearance of undesirable compounds, (such as bilirubin) from human blood, in laboratory growth media and in HSA assays. The polypeptides may be produced by recombinant DNA techniques, especially in yeast.

Truncated human serum albumin polypeptides as plasma expanding agents

Yeast is genetically modified by transformation with an integration vector comprising two copies of a homologous 2 .mu.m plasmid DNA sequence in direct orientation relative to one another and encompassing the said DNA sequence, and then isolating, from the transformed yeast obtained, cells containing the endogenous 2 .mu.m plasmid modified by incorporation of the said DNA sequence but not containing the said vector. The resulting yeast can be maintained under non-selective growth conditions.

Growing community of inventors

Burton Joyce, United Kingdom

Edward Hinchliffe