PATENT ABSTRACTS 73

4775630 4777240

T R A N S C R I P T I O N A L C O N T R O L E L E M E N T A D A P T E D F O R

R E G U L A T I O N O F G E N E E X P R E S S I O N IN A N I M A L C E L L S

Clark Tibbetts, Pamela Larsen, Stephen Jones, Mary McGrane assigned to Vanderbilt Univer- sity

A novel alteration of a viral DNA sequence, derived from a human adenovirus type 3 mutant (Ad3) designaed Ad3hl5, provides a transcrip- tional control element which can be used to regu- late expression of a selected gene in animal and human cells. The Ad3h 15 control element blocks transcription of a controlled gene in the presence of the products of the Ad3 EIA gene, and am- plifies transcription in the presence of type 5 (Ad5) adenovirus EIA gene products.

S V40 E X P R E S S I O N V E C T O R C O N T A I N I N G H B X A G A S A N

E X P R E S S I O N M A R K E R

Ann Moriarty, Hanna Alexander, Richard Ler- ner assigned to Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation

Cloning and expression vectors for hepatitis B HBxAg, cell cultures containing those vectors, and diagnostic systems and methods for as- saying for the presence of HBxAg and anti- HBxAg in a body sample are disclosed.

4778756

D N A C O M P L E M E N T A R Y T O R N A O F H U M A N L E U K E M I A V I R U S

4777019

B I O S E N S O R

Mitsuaki Yoshida, Haruo Sugano, Tokyo, Japan assigned to Juridical Foundation Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research

A viral genomic DNA and fragments thereof which are complementary to genomic RNA of human leukemia virus and a recombinant DNA molecules containing the genomic DNA or frag- ments thereof. The genomic DNA and frag- ments thereof and the recombinant DNA molecules are useful for the diagnosis, preven- tion and therapy of human leukemia.

Thomas Dandekar, 8000 M40, Federal Republic Of Germana

This invention introduces a new class of devices for detecting the presence of biological molecules. The construction principle of the device involves the direct introduction of small monomers of macromolecules into the surface layer of a semiconductor, for example by doping at the gate-area of a field effect transistor (or any other similar suitable electronic device, also on carbon basis). There are a few biological mono- mers which pair specifically enough for a selec- tive measurement, such as nucleotides (or portions thereof, e.g. adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine and uracil). This invention leads to sub- stantial improvement of biosensors, as there should be: Better signal to noise ratio, and op- tions for: reading of nucleotide sequences, better process control, and new synthesis possibilities (e.g. modified Merrifield Synthesis). The inven- tion also offers the potential to construct cyber- netic systems and true biochips.

4778759

G E N E T I C E N G I N E E R I N G IN C Y A N O B A C T E R I A

Aladar A Szalay, John G K Williams assigned to Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research Inc

A procaryotic microorganism and a method for its production is provided wherein the micro- organism contains at least one stable foreign DNA portion in the chromosome. The disclosed microorganisms and their progeny are substan- tially free of genetic rearrangement involving the foreign DNA. In a preferred embodiment, cyanobacteria are employed. The micro- organisms are produced by introducing into the cell an insertion vehicle that contains foreign DNA ligated between two portions of DNA homologous to adjacent portions of the recipient's chromosome.