Control of gene expression

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to synthetic genes for modifying endogenous gene expression in a cell, tissue or organ of a transgenic organism, in particular a transgenic animal or plant. More particularly, the present invention provides novel synthetic genes and generic constructs which are capable of repressing delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of an endogenous gene or a target gene in an organism when introduced thereto.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule for use in repressing, delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of a target gene in a non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ, the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising multiple copies of a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a target gene or a region of said target gene or complementary thereto, wherein at least two copies of said multiple copies are in different orientations relative to each other and wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises at least 20 nucleotides.  
     
     
         35 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule is non-endogenous to said non-human eukaryotic cell.  
     
     
         36 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  wherein the target gene is non-endogenous to said non-human eukaryotic cell.  
     
     
         37 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 36  wherein the target gene is a viral gene.  
     
     
         38 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  which comprises RNA.  
     
     
         39 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  which comprises DNA.  
     
     
         40 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  wherein the two copies are separated by a sequence of nucleotides.  
     
     
         41 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 40  wherein the sequence of nucleotides separating said two copies of said multiple copies is an intron.  
     
     
         42 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell is a mammalian cell.  
     
     
         43 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell is an insect cell.  
     
     
         44 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell is a aquatic animal cell.  
     
     
         45 . A genetic construct comprising a promoter that functions in a non-human eukaryotic cell which is operably linked to the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 34  or a nucleotide sequence encoding the isolated nucleic acid molecule.  
     
     
         46 . A non-human eukaryotic cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 45  or the genetic construct of  claim 45 .  
     
     
         47 . The cell of  claim 46  which is a mammalian cell.  
     
     
         48 . The cell of  claim 46  which is an insect cell.  
     
     
         49 . The cell of  claim 46  which is an aquatic animal cell.  
     
     
         50 . A composition comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  or the genetic construct of  claim 45  and a veterinarially acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         51 . A method of repressing, delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of a target gene in a non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ, comprising introducing the isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34  or the genetic construct according to  claim 45  into said non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ is from a mammal.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ is from an insect.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ is from an aquatic animal.  
     
     
         55 . A method of modulating the expression of a target gene in a non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ, comprising the steps of selecting an isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 34 , and introducing said isolated nucleic acid molecule into said non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ for a time and under conditions sufficient for the mRNA product of said target to be modified.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ is from a mammal.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ is from an insect.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the non-human eukaryotic cell, tissue or organ is from an aquatic animal.