Patent ID: 6632980
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N

Abstract:
A binary viral expression system comprising:(i) a chromosomally-integrated inactive replicon, derived from viruses selected from the group consisting of geminiviruses and single-stranded RNA viruses, the inactive replicon comprising: a) cis-acting viral elements required for viral replication; b) a target gene comprising at least one regulatory sequence; and c) site-specific sequences responsive to a site-specific recombinase; and (ii) a chromosomally-integrated chimeric transactivating gene comprising a regulated plant promoter operably-linked to a site-specific recombinase coding sequence; wherein expression of the chimeric transactivating gene in cells containing the inactive replicon results in site-specific recombination which releases the inactive replicon from the chromosome, activates replicon replication, and increases expression of the target gene.