A DNA sequence and a mutator
insertion sequence for increasing
mutation rate
Company Name: Academia Sinica
Contact Person: Dr. Tung-Ying Lu (Licensing Associate)
Tel: +886-2-27872552
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: No.128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei
11529, Taiwan.
Website: http://otl.sinica.edu.tw/en/
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Technology content:
Inventors: Dr. Leu JY and Dr. McDonald M. J.
Application Area: Biological mutator ∕ Fermentation strains amelioration.
Stage: Prototype
Patent Status: US provisional filed
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Technology content:
Abstract:
The invention for the targeted increase in mutation rate to individual genes or
operons is achieved through the usage of a unique DNA sequence, 14
consecutive Guanine nucleotides, G14. The G14 can increase the mutation rate
over a specific region of DNA (~3kb) downstream, making it to cause a local
increase in mutation rate, other than manipulating same over the whole
organism. According to the G14 characteristics, we design a G14 landing pad
construct to make use of it, as shown in Fig. 1.
The advantage of this invention over other methods is that it can be employed
within cells for extended periods of evolution, without having to extract DNA
for mutagenesis and reintroduce via transformation, thus saving time and
cost. The full spectrum of mutational possibilities induced by G14 can be
explored. The invention can be used as a biological mutator, for selecting
better strains of crops, or of fungi/bacteria for fermentation industry.
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Features:
Fig. 1. A G14-landing pad construct.
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