Appeal No. 2001-1436 Page 4
Application No. 08/422,612
The specification discloses that when genes encoding a mammalian
membrane receptor are expressed in unicellular hosts “under the control of a
promoter recognized by the polymerases of [the] unicellular host,” the expressed
product is transported into the membranes of the host cell and is configured such
that the receptor proteins can be bound by the appropriate ligands. See id.,
page 3 The specification also discloses that the preferred host cell is E. coli, but
other unicellular organisms can also be used. Other specifically disclosed
systems are S. cerevisiae host cells carrying a 2µ or PBM 258 plasmid and
expressing the mammalian gene under the control of the alcohol dehydrogenase
I or galactokinase promoter. See page 4.
The specification discloses that unicellular hosts expressing mammalian
membrane receptors are useful for “study[ing] the affinity of various types of
molecules for a specific membrane receptor.” Page 7. See also page 10:
The present invention also relates to a procedure for the detection
of the capacity of a molecule to behave as a ligand for a membrane
receptor, this process comprising:
a/ the placing in contact of the molecule with a unicellular organism
previously transformed by a vector, itself modified by an insert
coding for this membrane receptor, . . . [and]
b/ the detection of the possible formation of a complex of the
ligand-receptor type.
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