Merck Serono S. A.

University of Lausanne

Selexis S.a.

Merk Serono S.a.

Philippe Chatellard

Christine Power

Markus Imhof

Nicolas Mermod

Markus O Imhof

Monique Zahn-Zabal

Pierre-Alain Girod

Vincent Dechavanne

George Feger

Nigel Jenkins

Peter Hjelmstrom

Renata Pankiewicz

Gian Battista Bozzato

The invention relates to an expression vector comprising the promoter of the mCMV-IE2 gene, or a functional expression promoting fragment thereof, and/or an enhancer of the mCMV-IE2 gene, or a functional expression enhancing fragment thereof, wherein the expression vector does not contain any complete gene of the mCMV.

Expression vectors comprising the mCMV IE2 promoter

The invention relates to expression vectors comprising a DNA sequence of 146 bp capable of acting as chromatin insulator, to host cells containing such vectors, to a method of producing a desired polypeptide by using vectors containing said sequence and to the use of said DNA sequence.

Minimal DNA sequence acting as a chromatin insulator and its use in protein expression

The invention relates to an expression vector comprising the promoter of the mCMV-IE2 gene, or a functional expression promoting fragment thereof, and/or an enhancer of the mCMV-IE2 gene, or a functional expression enhancing fragment thereof, wherein expression vector does not contain any complete gene of the mCMV.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for transfecting eukaryotic cells with nucleic acid vectors. In particular, the invention relates to the uses of Matrix Attachment Region (MAR) elements to increase stable and transient transfection efficiency.

Matrix attachment regions and methods for use thereof

The present invention provides a system for controlled transgene transcription using chimeric activator and repressor proteins functioning in a novel regulatory network. The target transgene is actively silenced in non-inducing conditions by a novel class of chimeric proteins consisting of the DNA-binding tetracycline repressor fused to distinct multimerized eukaryotic transcriptional repression domains. In the presence of a tetracycline &ldquo;inducer&rdquo;, the repressor does not bind to the promoters for both the target gene and for another regulatory gene encoding a transactivator (e.g., GAL4-VP16). Under these inducing conditions, the transactivator activates expression of the target transgene and of its own gene, in an additional autoregulatory positive feedback loop.

Potent genetic switch allowing regulated gene expression in eukaryotic cells

The present invention provides a system for controlled transgene transcription using chimeric activator and repressor proteins functioning in a novel regulatory network. The target transgene is actively silenced in non-inducing conditions by a novel class of chimeric proteins consisting of the DNA-binding tetracycline repressor fused to distinct multimerized eukaryotic transcriptional repression domains. In the presence of a tetracycline 'inducer', the repressor does not bind to the promoters for both the target gene and for another regulatory gene encoding a transactivator (e.g., GAL4-VP16). Under these inducing conditions, the transactivator activates expression of the target transgene and of its own gene, in an additional autoregulatory positive feedback loop.

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Lausanne, Switzerland

Philippe Chatellard