Patent ID: 7863430

Claim:
A linear genetic construct comprising in 5â€² to 3â€² linear form a first Rep protein recognition sequence recognizable by a geminivirus Rep protein, the 3â€² end of an intron, the 3â€² end portion of a gene of interest operably linked to a terminator, a promoter operably linked to the 5â€² end portion of the gene of interest, the 5â€² end of the intron and a second Rep protein recognition sequence recognizable by the geminivirus Rep protein; wherein the Rep recognition sequences are compatible with each other to promote circularization, wherein the 3â€² end and the 5â€² end intron sequences are capable of splicing; wherein the 3â€² and 5â€² end portions of the gene of interest together constitute the coding region of the gene of interest; wherein upon circularization, the 3â€² end of the intron and the 5â€² end of the intron form an intronic sequence, and the 5â€² end portion of the gene of interest is separated from said 3â€² end portion of the gene of interest by the intronic sequence; wherein upon excision of the intronic sequence, the 5â€² end portion of the gene of interest is operably linked to the 3â€² end portion of the gene of interest; and wherein upon expression of the gene of interest, the gene of interest exhibits an activity or property or a capacity to exhibit an activity or property not present in the separate portions of the gene of interest prior to circularization of the construct and prior to excision of the intronic sequence.