DNA sequences involved in neuronal degeneration, multicellular organisms containing same and uses thereof
AssigneeThe Trustees of Columbia University
InventorsMarin Chalfie, Eve Wolinsky, Monica Driscoll
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Abstract
This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a wild-type animal protein associated with neuronal degeneration and an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutated animal protein associated with neuronal degeneration. Also provided are strains of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans containing the nucleic acid molecules encoding a mutated C. elegans protein associated with neuronal degeneration. The invention also provides methods for detecting such nucleic acid molecules, for diagnosing degenerative disease, for causing a diseased human cell to degenerate, and for screening drugs to identify drugs which prevent or decrease neuronal degeneration.
Claims7
An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a wild-type C. elegans protein, wherein the C. elegans protein is encoded by the deg-1 gene which has the DNA sequence shown in FIG. 7 and, when mutated, is the genetic basis of neuronal degeneration associated with a neurodegenerative disorder.
An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutated C. elegans protein, wherein the mutated C. elegans protein is encoded by a mutated deg-1 gene which forms the genetic basis of neuronal degeneration associated with a neurodegenerative disorder.
A Caenorhabditis elegans strain containing an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutated C. elegans protein, wherein the mutated C. elegans protein is encoded by a mutant of the deg-1 gene designated u38, the deg-1 gene having the cDNA sequence shown in FIG. 7, with said strain designated TU38 and deposited with the ATCC under Accession No. 40818.
A Caenorhabditis elegans strain containing an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutated C. elegans protein, wherein the mutated C. elegans protein is encoded by a mutant of the deg-1 gene designated uIn1, the deg-1 gene having the cDNA sequence shown in FIG. 7, with said strain designated TU1191, and deposited with the ATCC under Accession No. 40817.
A Caenorhabditis elegans strain containing an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutated C. elegans protein, wherein the mutated C. elegans protein is encoded by a mutant of the mec-4 gene designated e1611, the mec-4 gene having the cDNA sequence shown in FIG. 9, with said strain designated CB1611, and deposited with the ATCC under Accession No. 40820.
A Caenorhabditis elegans strain containing an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutated C. elegans protein, wherein the mutated C. elegans protein is encoded by a mutant of the mec-4 gene designated u214, the mec-4 gene having the cDNA sequence shown in FIG. 9, with said strain designated TU214 and deposited with the ATCC under Accession No. 40819.
A Caenorhabditis elegans strain containing an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutated C. elegans protein, wherein the mutated C. elegans protein is encoded by a mutant of the mec-4 gene designated u231, the mec-4 gene having the cDNA sequence shown in FIG. 9, with said strain designated TU231 and deposited with the ATCC under Accession No. 40821.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.