Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

John C Morris

Stephen James Russell

Daniel J McCormick

Robert J Ryan

M Cristine Charlesworth

A novel strategy for monitoring the location of a transgene in a mammal is disclosed. A sodium iodide symporter is genetically fused to either the N-terminus or C-terminus of the product of a transgene through a linker peptide which bears the recognition sequence of a host cell protease. Expression of the transgene confers the activity of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) to a host cell which expresses the transgene. Subsequent administration of labeled iodine results in transport of the labeled iodine into the cell bearing the NIS, which can then be localized and measured using standard imaging techniques. The system is particularly useful for monitoring the location of therapeutic transgenes and tissue-specific distribution of the therapeutic gene product.

System for monitoring the location of transgenes

A novel strategy for monitoring the location of a transgene in a mammal is disclosed. A sodium iodide symporter is genetically fused to either the N-terminus or C-terminus of the product of a transgene through a linker peptide which bears the recognition sequence of a host cell protease. Expression of the transgene confers the activity of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS)to a host cell which expresses the transgene. Subsequent administration of labeled iodine results in transport of the labeled iodine into the cell bearing the NIS, which can then be localized and measured using standard imaging techniques. The system is particularly useful for monitoring the location of therapeutic transgenes and tissue-specific distribution of the therapeutic gene product.

Synthetic peptides derived from the beta-subunit of human thyroid

Synthetic peptides corresponding to .alpha.-subunit of human glycoprotein hormone amino acid regions .alpha.31-45, .alpha.21-35, .alpha.26-46 and .alpha.81-92; were found to inhibit binding of 125.sub.I-bTSH to human thyroid. Peptides corresponding to regions .alpha.26-46 and .alpha.31-45 were also found to potently inhibit the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by bTSH in a TSH bioassay using FRTL-5 cells and block the action of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin.

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Rochester, MN, United States of America

John C Morris