K. lactis pyruvate-decarboxylase promoter and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention concerns DNA sequences comprising all or part of the K. lactis promoter gene PDC1 or a derivative thereof, and having transcriptional promoter activity. The invention also relates to the use of the sequences for the expression of recombinant genes.

We claim:  
     
       1. A  An isolated DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
       (a) the sequence presented in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:4;  
       (b) a complementary strand of the sequence presented in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:4; and  
       (c) a fragment of the sequence of (a) or (b); wherein said DNA sequence possesses transcriptional promoter activity.  
     
     
       2. A recombinant DNA comprising a DNA sequence according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       3. A recombinant DNA according to  claim 2 , further comprising one or more structural genes. 
     
     
       4. A recombinant DNA according to  claim 3 , further comprising signals enabling secretion of expression products of said one or more structural genes. 
     
     
       5. A recombinant DNA according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more structural genes encode proteins of pharmaceutical or food-processing interest. 
     
     
       6. A recombinant DNA according to  claim 2 , wherein said recombinant DNA is an autonomous or integrative replication vector. 
     
     
       7. A recombinant cell containing a DNA sequence according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       8. A recombinant cell according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said cell is a yeast. 
     
     
       9. A recombinant cell according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said cell is a yeast of the genus Kluyveromyces. 
     
     
       10. A process for the production of recombinant proteins, comprising culturing a recombinant cell according to  claim 7  and recovering the proteins produced. 
     
     
       11. A process according to  claim 10 , wherein said proteins are of pharmaceutical or food-processing interest. 
     
     
       12. A process according to  claim 10 , wherein the protein is human serum albumin or a natural variant of human servin albumin resulting from polymorphism.