Transgenic non-human mammals carrying rat pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) sequences

Abstract

Disclosed is a transgenic non-human mammal, which carries in its cells an exogenously supplied rat pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) polynucleotide sequence.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A transgenic non-human mammal, wherein the non-human mammal carries in its cells at least one exogenous nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence consisting of: 
 (A) contiguous nucleotide positions 293-889 of SEQ ID NO: 1;    (B) a fragment of contiguous nucleotide positions 293-889 of SEQ ID NO: 1 that is about 10 to 150 nucleotides long;    (C) a splice variant of (A);    (D) a degenerate sequence of (A) or (B); or    (E) a sequence complementary to (A), (B), (C), or (D).    
     
     
         2 . The transgenic non-human mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes a PTTG protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or encodes a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2 that is about 5 to 50 amino acid residues long.  
     
     
         3 . The transgenic non-human mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the non-human mammal is a mouse.  
     
     
         4 . The transgenic non-human mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide is operatively linked to a promoter.  
     
     
         5 . The transgenic non-human mammal of  claim 4 , wherein the promoter is an inducible promoter and/or a tissue specific promoter.  
     
     
         6 . The transgenic non-human mammal of  claim 4 , wherein the polynucleotide is operatively linked to the promoter, such that transcription of the polynucleotide results in an antisense mRNA complementary to contiguous nucleotide positions 293-889 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or complementary to a fragment thereof about 10 to 150 nucleotides long.  
     
     
         7 . The transgenic non-human mammal of  claim 4 , wherein the polynucleotide further comprises a mutation, such that transcription and translation result in inactive rat PTTG protein being produced.