Vectors for animal cells and utilization thereof
Protein synthesis inhibitor resistance genes (typified by a cycloheximide resistance gene) are capable of imparting resistance to a protein synthesis inhibitor (typified by cycloheximide) to animal cells sensitive to the inhibitor. The genes have a sequence mutated by substitution in a gene encoding a ribosome-constituting protein derived from an animal. The genes may be placed in recombinant vectors, including expression vectors containing the gene together with a foreign protein structural gene.
1. A protein synthesis inhibitor resistance gene that (A) imparts cycloheximide resistance to animal cells that are cyclohemide-sensitive (B) encodes an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or a 99% homologous sequence thereto, wherein said amino acid sequence contains an amino acid other than proline at the position corresponding to position 54 of SEQ ID NO:1.
2. A protein synthesis inhibitor resistance gene according to claim 1 , wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 54 of SEQ ID NO:1 is glutamine.
3. A protein synthesis inhibitor resistance gene according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the 99% homologous sequence encodes the ribosome protein L44 which has an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:2.
4. A recombinant vector containing a gene according to claim 1 or claim 2 .
5. An expression vector containing a gene according to claim 1 or claim 2 and a foreign gene in an expressible state.
6. A isolated transformant cell comprising an animal cell containing the expression vector according to claim 5 .
7. A recombinant vector containing a gene according to claim 3 .
8. An expression vector containing a gene according to claim 3 and a foreign gene in an expressible state.