Patent ID: 6410257
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: A61K,C12N

Abstract:
A method of determining the functional properties of a cellular gene product, which method comprises:a) contacting a host cell with a vector comprising at least a first and second nucleotide sequences wherein: (i) said first nucleotide sequence comprises or encodes, in which case it also expresses, a ribozyme capable of cleaving native RNA encoding said cellular gene product; (ii) the vector replicates in said host cell only upon complementation with a helper virus or a helper vector; (iii) the vector is selectively replicated over said helper virus or helper vector; and (iv) genetic recombination between said vector and said helper virus or helper vector is reduced by the presence of said second nucleotide sequence; b) expressing said first nucleotide sequence in the host cell; and c) determining the functional properties of the cellular gene product.