# US 8,771,982 B2 · Chimeric molecule and nucleic acid encoding same

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,771,982 B2
- Document ID: US8771982B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/554,295
- Filed: 2004-04-30
- Published: 2007-01-25
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2003-04-30
- Assignees: Duke University
- Applicants: Christopher M. Counter; Blaine N. Armbruster
- Inventors: Christopher M. Counter; Blaine N. Armbruster
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771982B2

## CPC

- C12N 9/1241: {Nucleotidyltransferases (2.7.7)}
- C07K 2319/09: containing a nuclear localisation signal
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00)

## Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to telomeres, and, in particular, to a method or effecting telomere elongation in mammalian cells. The invention further relates to a protein suitable for use in such a method and to nucleic acid sequences encoding same.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a chimeric molecule comprising a polypeptide having telomerase catalytic activity fused to a telomere binding polypeptide wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An expression construct comprising said nucleic acid sequence according to claim 1 operably linked to a promoter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence according to claim 1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vector according to claim 3 wherein said vector is a viral vector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vector according to claim 4 wherein said viral vector is a retroviral vector, adeno-associated viral vector, lentiviral vector or adenoviral vector.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A liposome comprising the nucleic acid sequence according to claim 1.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A composition comprising the nucleic acid sequence according to claim 1 encapsulated in a polymer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An isolated cell comprising the nucleic acid sequence according to claim 1.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The cell according to claim 8 wherein said cell is a stem or progenitor cell.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The cell according to claim 8 wherein said cell is an epithelial cell or a fibroblast.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The cell according to claim 8 wherein said cell is a muscle cell, nervous system cell, or keratinocyte.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The cell according to claim 8 wherein said cell is a human cell.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The cell according to claim 8 wherein said cell is immortal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

A method of producing a protein comprising culturing said cell according to claim 8 under conditions such that said nucleic acid sequence is expressed and said molecule is thereby produced.