Orotate transporter encoding maker genes

Abstract

A recombinant marker gene encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2, a polynucleotide construct comprising at least one copy of the recombinant marker gene, a cell comprising at least one exogenous copy of the marker gene, and a method of selecting or identifying a cell comprising at least one copy of the recombinant marker gene, and/or selecting or identifying a cell which has been cured of the recombinant marker gene.

1 - 36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . A recombinant marker gene encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         38 . The marker gene of  claim 37 , which is a selection marker, a screening marker, a counter-selection marker, and/or a bi-directional selection marker.  
     
     
         39 . The marker gene of  claim 37 , wherein the encoded orotate transporter polypeptide also transports one or more orotate analogues.  
     
     
         40 . The marker gene of  claim 37 , wherein the encoded orotate transporter polypeptide also transports the orotate analogue 5-fluoroorotate (FOA).  
     
     
         41 . The marker gene of  claim 37 , which is transcribed from at least one heterologous and/or artificial promoter.  
     
     
         42 . The recombinant marker gene of  claim 37  encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         43 . The recombinant marker gene of  claim 37  encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         44 . The recombinant marker gene of  claim 37  encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         45 . The recombinant marker gene of  claim 37  encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         46 . A polynucleotide construct comprising at least one recombinant marker gene encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         47 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one recombinant marker gene is a selection marker, a screening marker, a counter-selection marker, or a bi-directional selection marker.  
     
     
         48 . The polynucleotide construct of claim  claim 46 , wherein the encoded orotate transporter polypeptide also transports one or more orotate analogues.  
     
     
         49 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 46 , wherein the encoded orotate transporter polypeptide also transports the orotate analogue 5-fluoroorotate (FOA).  
     
     
         50 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 46 , wherein the marker gene is transcribed from at least one heterologous and/or artificial promoter.  
     
     
         51 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 46 , wherein the polynucleotide is DNA.  
     
     
         52 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 46 , wherein the construct is extrachromosomal and comprises one or more sequence(s) providing autonomous replication and/or autonomous maintenance in a host cell.  
     
     
         53 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 46 , which is integrated into the genome of a host cell.  
     
     
         54 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 46 , which is a plasmid, a linearized plasmid, or a multimerized plasmid.  
     
     
         55 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 54 , wherein the plasmid comprises at least one origin of replication that is functional in a host cell.  
     
     
         56 . The polynucleotide construct of  claim 46 , which further comprises at least one selection marker gene which encodes a polypeptide which in turn confers resistance to an antibiotic when expressed in a host cell.  
     
     
         57 . The recombinant marker gene of  claim 46  encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         58 . The recombinant marker gene of  claim 46  encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         59 . The recombinant marker gene of  claim 46  encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         60 . The recombinant marker gene of  claim 46  encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.