Mutant S. pombe Strains Carrying a Human gamma-tubulin Gene or a Multicopy S. pombe gamma-tubulin Plasmid
Description of Invention:
This technology describes two strains of Schizosaccharomyces pombe that have been genetically modified to affect the expression of gamma-tubulin, a protein required for initiation of microtubule formation and mitosis. One strain carries a null mutation for expression of its gamma-tubulin gene but has been transformed with DNA encoding human gamma-tubulin. The second strain carries the S. pombe gamma-tubulin gene on a multicopy plasmid and thus overexpresses S. pombe gamma-tubulin. Since microtubules are involved in a myriad of cell processes such as cell division, cell motility, and intracellular transport, these mutant strains could be useful in the study of these and other processes, in particular by screening to discover compounds of medical and agricultural use. Specifically, the S. pombe strain carrying the human gamma-tubulin gene could be used to identify potential antineoplastic agents, since compounds that specifically inhibit the growth of this strain will target human gamma-tubulin. Compounds that inhibited growth of the strain overexpressing fungal gamma-tubulin but not human gamma-tubulin would be potential antifungal agents.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Susan Ano Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5515
Email: anos@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
