Patent ID: 6235526
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: C12N

Abstract:
A nucleic acid construct comprising:(i) a nuclear retention signal selected from the group consisting of a rev-responsive element (RRE) of Human Immune Deficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1), an RRE of Human Immune Deficiency Virus-2 (HIV-2), an RRE-equivalent retention signal of a retrovirus and an RRE-equivalent retention signal of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), wherein said nuclear retention signal is operably linked to a transgene;(ii) a first promoter sequence or enhancer sequence which activates basal transcription of the transgene;(iii) a second promoter or enhancer sequence which activates basal transcription of a nuclear export factor, wherein at least one of said first or second promoter sequences or enhancer sequences is a chimeric promoter which interacts with an adjacent, upstream, cell-specifically, virus-specifically or metabolically activatable activator sequence which influences the expression of said transgene; and(iv) a nucleic acid which encodes a nuclear export factor selected from the group consisting of a rev gene of HIV-1, a rev gene of HIV-2, a rev gene of maedi-visna virus, a rev gene of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus, a rev gene of equine infectious anemia virus, a rev gene of feline immunodeficiency virus, a rev gene of retroviruses and a rev gene of HTLV, wherein said nuclear export factor binds to a transcription product of the nuclear retention signal and thereby mediates transport of said transcription product of the transgene out of a cell's nucleus and into the cell's cytoplasm.