Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

Novartis Forschungsstiftung Zweigniederlassung Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

Pamela Lagali

Botond Roska

David Balya

Volker Busskamp

The present invention relates to the use of an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for a hyperpolarizing light-gated ion channel or pump gene from an archeon or for a light-active fragment of said gene, or the nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence, for treating or ameliorating blindness. The light-gated ion channel or pump gene can be a halorhodopsin gene.

Therapeutical tools and methods for treating blindness

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a nucleic acid sequence of at least 1000 bp having at least 70% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. The isolated nucleic acid molecule can lead to the expression of a gene in retinal ON bipolar cells when a nucleic acid sequence coding for a gene is operatively linked to the isolated nucleic acid molecule.

Retinal on bipolar cells-specific artificial promoter

The present inventions relates to the use of an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for a hyperpolarizing light-gated ion channel or pump gene from an archeon or for a light-active fragment of said gene, or the nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence, for treating or ameliorating blindness. The light-gated ion channel or pump gene can be a halorhodopsin gene.

Growing community of inventors

Basel, Switzerland

Pamela Lagali