Invertebrate apoptosis gene `GRIM` and methods of producing the protein encoded thereby
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsJohn M. Abrams, Po Chen, William Nordstrom
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Abstract
Disclosed is a Drosophila grim gene and encoded GRIM polypeptide, an activator of apoptosis. The disclosed nucleic acid sequences are useful in the production of the protein and as hybridization probes and primers. Expression of the GRIM protein causes programmed cell death. Preferred embodiments include expression of grim under the control of an inducible promoter and the use of such a construct in the control of an insect population.
Claims22
An isolated nucleic acid segment or its complement, wherein said segment encodes a Drosophila apoptosis inducing polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or a conservative substitution variant thereof.
An isolated nucleic acid, of a size between about 13 and about 100 bases in length, identical in sequence to a portion of a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or its complement.
An isolated nucleic acid, of a size between 16 and about 100 bases in length, that will bind under high stringency conditions to a nucleic acid having a sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or its complement.
A method of making a Drosophila apoptosis inducing polypeptide comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining an expression vector containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding an apoptosis inducing polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or a conservative substitution variant thereof wherein said nucleic acid sequence is operatively linked to a promoter;
- b) transfecting said vector into a host cell;
- and
- c) culturing said cell under conditions effective to express said apoptosis inducing polypeptide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.