Evolution of whole cells and organisms by recursive sequence recombination
AssigneeMaxygen, Inc.
InventorsStephen delCardayre, Matthew Tobin, William P. C. Stemmer, Jon E. Ness, Jeremy Minshull, Phillip Patten
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Abstract
The invention provides methods employing iterative cycles of recombination and selection/screening for evolution of whole cells and organisms toward acquisition of desired properties. Examples of such properties include enhanced recombinogenicity, genome copy number, and capacity for expression and/or secretion of proteins and secondary metabolites.
Claims12
A method of evolving a cell to acquire a desired function, comprising:
- (a) providing a population of different cells in culture;
- (b) culturing the cells under conditions whereby DNA is exchanged between cells by fusion of protoplasts of the cells, the fusion of protoplasts forming cells with hybrid genomes;
- (c) screening or selecting the cells for cells that have evolved toward acquisition of a desired property;
- (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) with the selected or screened cells forming the population of different cells until a cell has acquired the desired property.
A method of evolving a cell to acquire a desired function, comprising:
- (a) providing a population of different cells in culture;
- (b) culturing the cells under conditions whereby DNA is exchanged between the cells by sexual recombination of the cells, forming cells with hybrid genomes;
- (c) screening or selecting the cells for cells that have evolved toward acquisition of a desired property;
- (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) with the selected or screened cells forming the population of different cells until a cell has acquired the desired property.
A method of evolving a cell to acquire a desired function, comprising:
- (a) providing a population of different cells in culture, wherein at least a subset of the population of different cells are recD−;
- (b) culturing the cells under conditions whereby DNA is exchanged between cells, forming cells with hybrid genomes;
- (c) screening or selecting-the cells for cells that have evolved toward acquisition of a desired property;
- (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) with the selected or screened cells forming the population of different cells until a cell has acquired the desired property.
A method of evolving a cell to acquire a desired function, comprising:
- (a) providing a population of different cells in culture, wherein the recipient cells are treated with a recD inhibitor;
- (b) culturing the cells under conditions whereby DNA is exchanged between cells, forming cells with hybrid genomes;
- (c) screening or selecting the cells for cells that have evolved toward acquisition of a desired property;
- (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) with the selected or screened cells forming the population of different cells until a cell has acquired the desired property.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.