AU777754B2 - A method for in vitro molecular evolution of protein function - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

/S

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: A method for in vitro molecular evolution of protein function The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- A METHOD FOR IN VITRO MOLECULAR EVOLUTION OF PROTEIN FUNCTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a method for in vitro molecular evolution of protein function, in particular by shuffling of DNA segments obtained using an exonuclease.

Backcround of the invention Protein function can be modified and improved in vitro by a variety of methods, including site directed mutagenesis (Alber et al, Nature, 5; 330(6143):41-46, 1987) combinatorial cloning (Huse et al, Science, 246:1275-1281, 1989; Marks et al, Biotechnology, 10: 779-783, 1992) and random mutagenesis combined with appropriate selection systems (Barbas et al, PNAS. USA, 89: 4457-4461, 1992).

The method of random mutagenesis together with selection has been used in a number of cases to improve protein function and two different strategies exist.

Firstly, randomisation of the entire gene sequence in combination with the selection of a variant (mutant) protein with the desired characteristics, followed by a new round of random mutagenesis and selection. This method can then be repeated until a protein variant is found which is considered optimal (Schier R. et al, J. Mol. Biol. 1996 263 551-567). Here, the traditional route to introduce mutations is by error prone PCR (Leung et al, Technique, 1: 11-15, 1989) with a mutation rate of Secondly, defined regions of the gene can be mutagenized with degenerate primers, which allows for mutation rates up to 100% (Griffiths et al, EMBO. J, 13: 3245-3260, 1994; Yang et al, J. Mol. Biol. 254: 392-403, 1995). The higher the mutation rate used, the more limited the region of the gene that can be subjected to mutations.

Random mutation has been used extensively in the field of antibody engineering. In vivo formed antibody genes can be cloned in vitro (Larrick et al, Biochem. Biophys. Res.

Commun. 160: 1250-1256, 1989) and random combinations of the genes encoding the variable heavy and light genes can 2 be subjected to selection (Marks et al, Biotechnology, 779-783, 1992). Functional antibody fragments selected can be further improved using random mutagenesis and additional rounds of selections (Schier R. et al, J. Mol. Biol. 1996 263 551-567) The strategy of random mutagenesis is followed by selection. Variants with interesting characteristics can be selected and the mutated DNA regions from different variants, each with interesting characteristics, are combined into one coding sequence (Yang et al, J. Mol.

Biol. 254: 392-403, 1995). This is a multi-step sequential process, and potential synergistic effects of different mutations in different regions can be lost, since they are not subjected to selection in combination. Thus, these two strategies do not include simultaneous mutagenesis of defined regions and selection of a combination of these regions. Another process involves combinatorial pairing of genes which can be used to improve eg antibody affinity (Marks et al, Biotechnology, 10: 779-783, 1992). Here, the three CDR-regions in each variable gene are fixed and this technology does not allow for shuffling of individual gene segments in the gene for the variable domain, for example, including the CDR regions, between clones.

The concept of DNA shuffling (Stemmer, Nature 370: 389-391, 1994) utilizes random fragmentation of DNA and assembly of fragments into a functional coding sequence.

In this process it is possible to introduce chemically synthesized DNA sequences and in this way target variation to defined places in the gene which DNA sequence is known (Crameri et al, Biotechniques, 18: 194-196, 1995) In theory, it is also possible to shuffle DNA between any clones. However, if the resulting shuffled gene is to be functional with respect to expression and activity, the clones to be shuffled have to be related or even identical with the exception of a low level of random mutations. DNA shuffling between genetically different clones will generally produce non-functional genes.

Selection of functional proteins from molecular libraries has been revolutionised by the development of the phage display technology (Parmley et al, Gene, 73: 305-391 1988; McCafferty et Nature, 348: 552-554, 1990; Barbas et al, PNAS. USA, 88: 7978-7982, 1991). Here, the phenotype (protein) is directly linked to its corresponding genotype (DNA) and this allows for directly cloning of the genetic material which can then be subjected to further modifications in order to improve protein function.

Phage display has been used to clone functional binders from a variety of molecular libraries with up to 1011 transformants in size (Griffiths et al, EMBO. J. 13: 3245-3260, 1994). Thus, phage display can be used to directly clone functional binders from molecular libraries, and can also be used to improve further the clones originally selected.

Random combination of DNA from different mutated clones in combination with selection of desired function is a more efficient way to search through sequence space as compared to sequential selection and combination of selected clones.

Summary of the invention Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating a polynucleotide sequence or population of sequences from a parent polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs, comprising the steps of: a) digesting the parent polynucleotide sequence with an exonuclease to generate a population of fragments comprising fragments of different sizes; b) contacting said fragments with a template polynucleotide sequence under annealing conditions; c) amplifying the fragments that anneal to the template in step b) to generate at least one polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs having altered characteristics as compared to the one or more protein motifs encoded by said parent polynucleotide.

The parent polynucleotide is preferably double-stranded and the method further comprises the step of generating single-stranded polynucleotide sequence from said double-stranded fragments prior to step Further, the template polynucleotide is preferably the parent polynucleotide sequence or at least a polynucleotide sequence having sequence in common with the parent nucleotide sequence so that the fragments will hybridise with the template under annealing conditions. For example, if the parent polynucleotide is an antibody, the template may be a different antibody having constant domains or framework regions in common.

In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a method for generating a polynucleotide sequence or population of sequences from a parent polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs, in which said polynucleotide sequence has altered sequence at its termini as compared to said parent polynucleotide sequence comprising the steps of: a) digesting said parent polynucleotide sequence with an exonuclease to generate a population of fragments comprising fragments of different sizes; b) contacting said fragments with a template polynucleotide sequence being a variant of said parent polynucleotide sequence, under annealing conditions; c) amplifying the fragments that anneal to the template in step b) to generate at least one polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs encoded by said parent polynucleotide.

In a third aspect, the invention is directed to a method for generating a polynucleotide sequence or population of sequences from a parent polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs, in which said polynucleotide sequence has altered sequence at its centre as compared to said parent polynucleotide sequence comprising the steps of: a) digesting a population of variant polynucleotide sequences with an exonuclease to generate a population of fragments comprising fragments of different sizes; b) contacting said fragments with said parent polynucleotide sequence under annealing conditions; c) amplifying the fragments that anneal to the parent in step b) to generate at least one polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs encoded by said parent polynucleotide.

Preferably, the fragments of different sizes are produced by different digestion reactions. Preferably, the digestion reactions differ in that the parent polynucleotide sequence is digested with an exonuclease for different periods of time and/or different exonuclease concentrations.

Further, there is provided a method of combining polynucleotide fragments to generate a polynucleotide sequence or population of sequences of desired characteristics, which method comprises the steps of: a) digesting a linear parent double-stranded polynucleotide encoding one or more protein motifs with an exonuclease to generate a population of double stranded fragments of varying lengths; b) obtaining single-stranded polynucleotides from said double-stranded fragments; and c) assembling a polynucleotide sequence from the sequences derived from step Preferably the method further comprises the step of expressing the resulting protein encoded by the assembled polynucleotide sequence and screening the protein for desired characteristics.

Prior to assembling the polynucleotide sequence in step the double stranded sequences are preferably purified and then mixed in order to facilitate assembly. By controlling the reaction time of the exonuclease the size of the polynucleotide fragments may be determined. Determining the lengths of the polynucleotide fragments in this way avoids the necessity of having to provide a further step such as purifying the fragments of desired length from a gel.

Further, as some exonuclease digests polynucleotide sequences from both the 3' and the 5' ends, the fragments selected may center around the middle of the gene sequence if this particular region of sequence is desired. This sequence from the middle of a gene may be mutated randomly by, for example, error prone PCR and desirable for the shuffling process.

However, in some cases it may be desirable not to shuffle the sequence from the middle of the gene. This may be prevented by choosing long fragments after exonuclease treatment. Conversely, if it is desirable to shuffle the middle of the gene sequence short exonuclease treated fragments may be used.

In order to generate a polynucleotide sequence of desired characteristics the parent double-stranded polynucleotide encoding one or more protein motifs may be subjected to mutagenesis to create a plurality of differently mutated derivatives thereof. Likewise, a parent double-stranded polynucleotide may be obtained already encoding a plurality of variant protein motifs of unknown sequence.

Random mutation can be accomplished by any conventional method as described above, but a suitable method is error-prone PCR.

It is preferable to use PCR technology to assemble the single-stranded polynucleotide fragments into the doublestranded polynucleotide sequence.

The polynucleotide sequence is preferably DNA although RNA may be used. For simplicity the term polynucleotide will now be used in the following text in relation to DNA but it will be appreciated that the present invention is applicable to both RNA and DNA.

Any exonuclease that digests polynucleotide from the 3' prime end to the 5' prime end or from both the 3' and the 5' end may be used. Examples of a suitable exonuclease which may be used in accordance with the present invention include BAL31 and Exonuclease III.

BAL31 is a exonuclease that digests and removes nucleotide bases from both the 3' and the 5' ends of a linear polynucleotide molecule. The enzyme uses Ca2+ as a co-factor which can be bound in complex with EGTA (Ethylene Glycol bis (0-amino ethyl Ether) N,N,N',N'-tetra acetic acid). EGTA does not bind Mg2+ which is necessary for the subsequent PCR process. Linear DNA sequences are digested with BAL31 and the reaction stopped at different time points by the addition of EGTA. The individual digested fragments are purified, mixed and reassembled with PCR technology. The assembled (reconstituted) gene may then be cloned into an expression vector for expressing the protein. The protein may then be analyzed for improved characteristics.

The PCR technique uses a template, which may be the wild type sequence or a reconstituted sequence in accordance with the present invention. The fragments hybridize with the template at the appropriate regions where the homology between the two strands is at its highest) and the remaining sequence is generated by elongation of the fragment using the template in accordance with the PCR technique.

The method of the present invention provides several advantages over known shuffling techniques. For example, in other DNA shuffling techniques the process itself introduces mutations over the entire gene sequence. The present invention allows for the concentration of mutations on i) the flanking regions after recombination of wild type fragments. on either an already recombined template created by the method of the present invention, a template mutated in any other way or a gene (or gene combination, for example, a combination of antibody genes) having a desired sequence; or ii) the middle region after recombination of mutated fragments created by the method of the present invention on a wild type template.

In other words, if it is desirable to provide a gene having mutations concentrated in its flanking regions, a wild type fragment relating to the middle region of the gene may be used in conjunction with a reconstituted and/or mutated template sequence for the PCR process. In this way, the PCR process generates complementary sequence to the reconstituted/mutated template sequence as it elongates the wild type fragment. Therefore, the resulting sequence will have substantially a middle region corresponding to the wild type sequence and flanking regions with incorporated mutations.

Conversely, if it is desirable to provide a gene having mutations concentrated in its middle region, a reconstituted and or mutated fragment corresponding to the middle region of the gene may be used in conjunction with a wild type template in the PCR process. In this way, the PCR process, by elongating the mutated fragment using the wild type template, generates a sequence having substantially a mutated middle region and wild type flanking regions.

Further, the method of the present invention produces a set of progressively shortened DNA fragments for each time point a DNA sample is taken from the BAL31 treatment.

The DNA samples may be collected and pooled together or, optionally, individual samples may be chosen and used in the method. Thus the present invention allows a selection of what DNA samles are to be used in the recombination system and thereby offers a further degree of control.

The method of the present invention may be carried out on any polynucleotide which codes for a particular product for example any protein having binding or catalytical properties e.g. antibodies or parts of antibodies, enzymes or receptors. Further, any polynucleotide that has a function that may be altered for example catalytical RNA may be shuffled in accordance with the present invention.

It is preferable that the parent polynucleotide encoding one or more protein motif is at least 12 nucleotides in length, more preferably at least 20 nucleotides in length, even more preferably more than 50 nucleotides in length.

Polynucleotides being at least 100 nucleotides in length or even at least 200 nucleotides in length may be used. Where parent polynucleotides are used that encoded for large proteins such as enzymes or antibodies, these may be many hundreds or thousands of bases in length. The present invention may be carried out on any size of parent polynucleotide.

The present invention also provides polynucleotide sequences generated by the method described above having desired characteristics. These sequences may be used for generating gene therapy vectors and replication-defective gene therapy constructs or vaccination vectors for DNAbased vaccinations. Further, the polynucleotide sequences may be used as research tools.

The present invention also provides a polynucleotide library of sequences generated by the method described above from which a polynucleotide may be selected which encodes a protein having the desired characteristics. It is preferable that the polynucleotide library is a DNA or cDNA library.

The present inventions also provides proteins such as antibodies, enzymes, and receptors having characteristics different to that of the wild type produced by the method described above. These proteins may be used individually or within a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as vaccines or medicaments for therapy, for example, as immunogens, antigens or otherwise in obtaining specific antibodies.

They may also be used as research tools.

The. desired characteristics of a polynucleotide generated by the present invention or a protein encoded by a polynucleotide generated by the present invention may be any variation in the normal activity of the wild type (parent) polynucleotide or the polypeptide, protein or protein motifs it encodes. For example, it may be desirable to reduce or increase the catalytic activity of an enzyme, or improve or reduce the binding specificity of an antibody. Further, if the protein, or polynucleotide is an immunogen, it may be desirable to reduce or increase its ability to obtain specific antibodies against it. The parent polynucleotide preferably encodes one or more protein motifs. These are defined by regions of polynucleotide sequence that encode polypeptide sequence having or potentially having characteristic protein function. For example, a protein motif may define a portion of a whole protein, i.e. an epitope or a cleavage site or a catalytic site etc. However, within the scope of the present invention, an expressed protein motif does not have to display activity, or be "correctly" folded.

It may be desirable to modify a protein so as to alter the conformation of certain epitopes, thereby improving its antigenicity and/or reducing cross-reactivity. For example, should such a protein be used as an antigen, the modification may reduce any cross-reaction of raised antibodies with similar proteins.

Although the term "enzyme" is used, this is to interpreted as also including any polypeptide having enzyme -like activity, i.e. a catalytic function. For example, polypeptides being part of an enzyme may still possess catalytic function. Likewise, the term "antibody" should be construed as covering any binding substance having a binding domain with the required specificity. This includes antibody fragments, derivatives, functional equivalents and homologues of antibodies, including synthetic molecules and molecules whose shape mimics that of an antibody enabling it to bind an antigen or epitope. Examples of antibody fragments, capable of binding an antigen or other binding partner are Fab fragment consisting of the VL, VH, C1 and CHI domains, the Fd fragment consisting of the VH and CHl domains; the Fv fragment consisting of the VL and V-H domains of a single arm of an antibody; the dAb fragment which consists of a VH domain; isolated CDR regions and F(ab')2 fragments, a bivalent fragment including two Fab fragments linked by a disulphide bridge at the hinge region. Single chain Fv fragments are also included.

In order to obtain expression of the generated polynucleotide sequence, the sequence may be incorporated in a vector having control sequences operably linked to the polynucleotide sequence to control its expression. The vectors may include other sequences such as promoters or enhancers to drive the expression of the inserted polynucleotide sequence, further polynucleotide sequences so that the protein encoded for by the polynucleotide is produced as a fusion and/or nucleic acid encoding secretion signals so that the protein produced in the host cell is secreted from the cell. The protein encoded for by the polynucleotide sequence can then be obtained by transforming the vectors into host cells in which the vector is functional, culturing the host cells so that the protein is produced and recovering the protein from the host cells or the surrounding medium. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are used for this purpose in the art, including strains of E. coli, yeast, and eukaryotic cells such as COS or CHO cells. The choice of host cell can be used to control the properties of the protein expressed in those cells, e.g. controlling where the protein is deposited in the host cells or affecting properties such as its glycosylation.

.The protein encoded by the polynucleotide sequence may be expressed by methods well known in the art.

Conveniently, expression may be achieved by growing a host cell in culture, containing such a vector, under appropriate conditions which cause or allow expression of the protein.

Systems for cloning and expression of a protein in a variety of different host cells are well known. Suitable host cells include bacteria, eukaryotic cells such as mammalian and yeast, and baculovirus systems. Mammalian cell lines available in the art for expression of a heterologous polypeptide include Chinese hamster ovary cells, HeLa cells, baby hamster kidney cells, COS cells and many others. A common, preferred bacterial host is E.

coli.

Suitable vectors can be chosen or constructed, containing appropriate regulatory sequences, including promoter sequences, terminator fragments, polyadenylation sequences, enhancer sequences, marker genes and other sequences as appropriate. Vectors may be plasmids, viral e.g. 'phage, or phagemid, as appropriate. For further details see, for example, Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory Manual: 2nd edition, Sambrook et al., 1989, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Many known techniques and protocols for manipulation of polynucleotide sequences, for example in preparation of polynucleotide constructs, mutagenesis, sequencing, introduction of DNA into cells and gene expression, and analysis of proteins, are described in detail in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel et al. eds., John Wiley Sons, 1992.

The FIND system can be used for the creation of DNA libraries comprising variable sequences which can be screened for the desired protein function in a number of ways. Phage display may be used for selecting binding (Griffith et al., EMBO J. 113: 3245-3260, 1994); screening for enzyme function (Crameri A. et al, Nature 1998 15; 391 (6664):288-291; Zhang J. H. et al, PNAS. USA 1997 94 4504-4509; Warren M.S. et al, Biochemistry 1996, 9; 35(27): 8855-8862).

A protein provided by the present invention may be used in screening for molecules which affect or modulate its activity or function. Such molecules may be useful in a therapeutic (possibly including prophylactic) context.

The present invention also provides vectors comprising polynucleotide sequences generated by the method described above.

The present inventions also provides compositions comprising either polynucleotide sequences, vectors comprising the polynucleotide sequences or proteins generated by the method described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or a carrier suitable for research purposes.

The present invention also provides a method comprising, following the identification of the polynucleotide or polypeptide having desired characteristics by the method described above, the manufacture of that polypeptide or polynucleotide in whole or in part, optionally in conjunction with additional polypeptides or polynucleotides.

Following the identification of a polynucleotide or polypeptide having desired characteristics, these can then be manufactured to provide greater numbers by well known techniques such as PCR, cloning a expression within a host cell. The resulting polypeptides or polynucleotides may be used in the preparation of medicaments for diagnostic use, pharmaceutical use, therapy etc. This is discussed further below. Alternatively, the manufactured polynucleotide, polypeptide may be used as a research tool, i.e. antibodies may be used in immunoassays, polynucleotides may be used a hybridization probes or primers.

The polypeptides or polynucleotides generated by the method of the invention and identified as having desirable characteristics can be formulated in pharmaceutical compositions. These compositions may comprise, in addition to one of the above substances, a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, buffer, stabilizer or other materials well known to those skilled in the art. Such materials should be non-toxic and should not interfere with the efficacy of the active ingredient. The precise nature of the carrier or other material may depend on the route of administration, e.g. oral, intravenous, cutaneous or subcutaneous, nasal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal routes.

Pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration may be in tablet, capsule, powder or liquid form. A tablet may include a solid carrier such as gelatin or an adjuvant.

Liquid pharmaceutical compositions generally include a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, animal or vegetable oils, mineral oil or synthetic oil.

Physiological saline solution, dextrose or other saccharide solution or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol may be included.

For intravenous, cutaneous or subcutaneous injection, S or injection at the site of affliction, the active ingredient will be in the form of a parenterally acceptable aqueous solution which is pyrogen-free and has suitable pH, isotonicity and stability. Those of relevant skill in the art are well able to prepare suitable solutions using, for example, isotonic vehicles such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, Lactated Ringer's Injection.

Preservatives, stabilizers, buffers, antioxidants and/or other additives may be included, as required.

Whether it is a polypeptide, e.g. an antibody or fragment thereof, an enzyme, a polynucleotide or nucleic acid molecule, identified following generation by the present invention that is to be given to an individual, administration is preferably in a "prophylactically effective amount" or a "therapeutically effective amount" (as the case may be, although prophylaxis may be considered therapy), this being sufficient to show benefit to the individual. The actual amount administered, and rate and time-course of administration, will depend on the nature and severity of what is being treated. Prescription of treatment, e.g. decisions on dosage etc, is within the responsibility of general practitioners and other medical doctors, and typically takes account of the disorder to be treated, the condition of the individual patient, the site of delivery, the method of administration and other factors known to practitioners. Examples of the techniques and protocols mentioned above can be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16th edition, Osol, A. 1980.

Alternatively, targeting therapies may be used to deliver the active agent more specifically to certain types of cell, by the use of targeting systems such as antibody or cell specific ligands. Targeting may be desirable for a variety of reasons; for example if the agent is unacceptably toxic, or if it would otherwise require too high a dosage, or if it would not otherwise be able to enter the target cells.

Instead of administering these agents directly, they could be produced in the target cells by expression from an encoding gene introduced into the cells, e.g. in a viral vector (a variant of the VDEPT technique). The vector could be targeted to the specific cells to be treated, or it could contain regulatory elements which are switched on more or less selectively by the target cells.

Alternatively, the agent could be administered in a precursor form, for conversion to the active form by an activating agent produced in, or targeted to, the cells to be treated. This type of approach is sometimes known as ADEPT or VDEPT; the former involving targeting the activating agent to the cells by conjugation to a cellspecific antibody, while the latter involves producing the activating agent, e.g. an enzyme, in a vector by expression from encoding DNA in a viral vector (see for example, EP-A- 415731 and WO 90/07936) A composition may be administered alone or in combination with other treatments, either simultaneously or sequentially dependent upon the condition to be treated.

As a further alternative, the polynucleotide identified as having desirable characteristics following generation by the method of the present invention could be used in a method of gene therapy, to treat a patient who is unable to synthesize the active polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide or unable to synthesize it at the normal level, thereby providing the effect provided by the corresponding wild-type protein.

Vectors such as viral vectors have been used in the prior art to introduce polynucleotides into a wide variety of different target cells. Typically the vectors are exposed to the target cells so that transfection can take place in a sufficient proportion of the cells to provide a useful therapeutic or prophylactic effect from the expression of the desired polypeptide. The transfected nucleic acid may be permanently incorporated into the genome of each of the targeted tumour cells, providing long lasting effect, or alternatively the treatment may have to be repeated periodically.

A variety of vectors, both viral vectors and plasmid vectors, are known in the art, see US Patent No. 5,252,479 and WO 93/07282. In particular, a number of viruses have been used as gene transfer vectors, including papovaviruses, such as SV40, vaccinia virus, herpes viruses, including HSV and EBV, and retroviruses. Many gene therapy protocols in the prior art have used disabled murine retroviruses.

As an alternative to the use of viral vectors other known methods of introducing nucleic acid into cells includes electroporation, calcium phosphate coprecipitation, mechanical techniques such as microinjection, transfer mediated by liposomes and direct DNA uptake and receptor-mediated DNA transfer.

As mentioned above, the aim of gene therapy using nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide, or an active portion thereof, is to increase the amount of the expression product of the nucleic acid in cells in which the level of the wild-type polypeptide is absent or present only at reduced levels. Such treatment may be therapeutic in the treatment of cells which are already cancerous or prophylactic in the treatment of individuals known through screening to have a susceptibility allele and hence a predisposition to, for example, cancer.

The present invention also provides a kit for generating a polynucleotide sequence or population of sequences of desired characteristics comprising an exonuclease and components for carrying out a PCR technique, for example, thermostable DNA (nucleotides) and a stopping device, for example, EGTA.

The present applicants have termed the technology described above as FIND (Fragment Induced Nucleotide Diversity) As outlined above, the FIND programme, in accordance with the present invention conveniently provides for the creation of mutated antibody gene sequences and their random combination to functional antibodies having desirable characteristics. As an example of this aspect of the invention, the antibody genes are mutated by error prone PCR which results in a mutation rate of approximately The resulting pool of mutated antibody genes are then digested with an exonuclease, preferably BAL31, and the reaction inhibited by the addition of EGTA at different time points, resulting in a set of DNA fragments of different sizes. These may then be subjected to PCR based reassembly as described above. The resulting reassembled DNA fragments are then cloned and a gene library constructed. Clones may then be selected from this library and sequenced.

A further application of the FIND technology is the generation of a population of variable DNA sequences which can be used for further selections and analyses. Besides encoding larger proteins, e.g. antibody fragments and enzymes, the DNA may encode peptides where the molecules functional characteristics can be used for the design of different selection systems. Selection of recombined DNA sequences encoding peptides has previously been described (Fi-sch et al PNAS. USA 1996 Jul 23; 93 7761-7766). In addition, the variable DNA population can be used to produce a population of RNA molecules with e.g. catalytic activities. Vaish et al (PNAS. USA 1998 Mar 3; 95 2158-2162) demonstrated the design of functional systems for the selection of catalytic RNA and Eckstein F (Ciba Found. Symp. 1997; 209; 207-212) has outlined the applications of catalytic RNA by the specific introduction of catalytic RNA in cells. The FIND system may be used to further search through the sequence space in the selection of functional peptides/molecules with catalytic activities based on recombined DNA sequences.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents S mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 shows the principle steps in the shuffling of specific DNA sequences between different clones; Figure 2 shows the principle steps in the PCR elongation of exonuclease treated gene sequences; Figure 3 shows the principle steps in the PCR elongation of long fragments of exonuclease treated gene sequences. The use of long fragments results in the middle region of the gene not being recombined. This region may however contain random mutations and the middle of the gene sequence may thus differ form other clones. The middle region of the sequence may differ in length, but by using longer primers the middle region may be covered; Figure 4 shows the principle steps in the PCR elongation of short fragments of exonuclease treated gene sequences. The use of short fragments results in the middle region of the gene being recombined. If a longer reaction time is used for the exonuclease digestion a set of fragments of differing lengths are produced. If the fragments are short, some fragments will be located away from the middle region of the gene sequence thereby allowing reconibination of the middle sequence; Figure 5 shows the appearance of DNA at different fixed time intervals after digestion with BAL31 Nuclease.

The DNA was mixed with the enzyme and incubated at 30 0 C. At different time points samples were removed and the enzymatic activity stopped by addition of 20mM EGTA. The samples from the different time points were purified and analyzed on a 2% agarose gel. The samples are indicated as follows: 1Kb DNA molecular marker 1; 2 10m 2 to minutes BAL31 incubation samples; Figure 6 shows A) the theoretical insert after restriction digestion of the fragment resulting from the primer combination FIND 1, pBR322 NheI-forward -STOP primer with pBR322-EagI-reversed-primer. This is termed FIND 1 and SEQ ID and B) the theoretical insert after restriction digestion of the fragment resulting from the primer combination pBR322 HindIII forward primer and pBR322 SalI reverse stop primer. This is termed FIND 3 and SEQ ID and Figure 7 shows the experimentally determined sequences of the 2 first FIND clones after automated sequencing. A) shows FIND 1 sequence with the STOP codon marked in bold (SEQ ID and B) shows the FIND 3 sequence with the STOP codon shown in underline text (SEQ ID Figure 8 shows the sequence of pEXmide V (4055bp) NcoI- and Sal I- sites are marked in underlined text (SEQ ID Detailed description and exemplification of the invention One aspect of the DNA shuffling procedure can be illustrated by the steps shown in Figure 1. The gene encoding the tetracycline-resistance (Tet-R) in the plasmid pBR322 is used in this example. Two clones were generated by-site directed mutagenesis: one with an engineered stop codon close to the 5' terminus and one with a stop codon close to the 3' terminus of the Tet-R gene. The phenotype of these two genes is tetracycline sensitive. By mixing the two clones in equimolar amounts and digesting with BAL31 revertants were selected. After cloning the reassembled genes (with combination between the two genes carrying the two stop codons) revertants with a frequency of 16% were detected, i.e. 16% of the clones were tetracycline resistant. The experiment used the ampicillin-resistance in pBR322 for primary selection and then individual Amp-R clones were tested under tetracycline selection (see the overview in Fig. 1 and the theoretical view in Fig. 2).

A more detailed description of examples of the present invention are given below.

Reagents: AmpliTaq® polymerase was purchased from Perkin-Elmer Corp., dNTPs from Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica (Mannheim, Germany), and BAL31 Nuclease from New England Biolabs Inc.

(Beverly, USA). Klenow enzyme was purchased from Amersham.

All restriction enzymes were purchased from Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica (Mannheim, Germany). Ethidium bromide was purchased from Bio-Rad Laboratories (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). T4 DNA Ligase was purchased from Appligene Inc. (Pleasanton, CA, USA).

All primers were designed in the laboratory and synthesized with an Applied Biosystems 391 DNA-synthesiser.

PCR:

All Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) were carried out in a automatic thermocycler (Perkin-Elmer Cetus 480, Norwalk, CT,USA). PCR techniques for the amplification of nucleic acid are described in US Patent No. 4,683,195. The PCR reactions were run at varying amounts of cycles consisting of following profile: denaturation (94°C, 1 minute), primer annealing (55 0 C, 1 minute) and extension (72 0 C, 1 minute) using a 1 second ramp time. The PCR reactions contained, unless otherwise noted, 5Sl of each primer (20gM), 81 of dNTP (1.25mM each of dTTP, dATP, dCTP and dGTP), 10l 10x reaction buffer, 0.5l AmpliTaq® thermostable DNA polymerase (5U/l) (Perkin-Elmer Corp.), and water to a final volume of 1001l. In all PCR experiments these parameters were used and the number of reaction cycles was varied. References for the general use of PCR techniques include Mullis et al, Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol., 51:263, (1987), Ehrlich PCR technology, Stockton Press, NY, 1989, Ehrlich et al, Science, 252:1643-1650, (1991), "PCR protocols; A Guide to Methods and Applications", Eds. Innis et al, Academic Press, New York, (1990).

Sequencing: All constructs have been sequenced by the use of a Taq Dyedeoxy" Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit. The sequencing was performed on a ABI Prism 373 DNA Sequencer.

Agarose electrophoresis: Agarose electrophoresis of DNA was performed with 2% agarose gels composed of 1% NuSieve® GTG® Low Melting AGAROSE (FMC Bioproducts, Rockland, ME, USA) and 1% AMRESCO® Agarose (AMRESCO, SOLON, OH, USA) with 0.25g/ml ethidium bromide in Tris-acetate buffer (TAE-buffer 0.04M Tris-acetate, 0.001M EDTA). Samples for electrophoresis were mixed with a sterile filtrated loading buffer composed of 25% Ficoll and Bromphenolic blue and loaded into wells in a the 2% agarose gel. The electrophoresis was run at V for 45 minutes unless otherwise stated in Tris-acetate buffer with 0.25gg/ml ethidium bromide. Bands of appropriate size were gel-purified using the Qiaquick Gel Extraction Kit (Qiagen GmbH, Hilden, Germany). As molecular weight standard, DNA molecular weight marker 1 (Boehringer Mannheim GmbH, Germany) was used. The DNA-concentration of the gel extracted products were estimated using a spectrophotometer (see Fig. Bacterial Strains: The Escherichia coli-strain E.coli BMH71-18 (supE thi A(lac-proAB) F' [proAB* lacI" A(lacZ)M15]), was used as a bacterial host for transformations. Chemically competent cells of this strain were produced basically as described Hanahan, D. 1983. Studies on transformation of Escherichia coli with plasmids. J. Mol. Biol. 166: 557-580.

Electrocompetent cells of this bacterial strain were produced (Dower, J. F. Miller, and C.W. Ragsdale.

1988: High efficiency transformation of E.coli by high voltage electroporation. Nucleic Acids Res. 16:6127).

Plasmids: The tetracycline resistance-gene of pBR322 is 1191 bp (basepairs) long. A deleted tetracycline resistance-gene variant of plasmid pBR322 was constructed by cleaving the plasmid with the restriction enzymes SalI and BamHI. This resulted in removal of a 276 bp fragment inside the tetracycline gene. A cleavage reaction with HindIII and EagI and the deleted plasmid would theoretically lead to a 634 bp cleavage-product, whereas a wildtype pBR322 cleaved with these enzymes produces a 910 bp product. The resulting protruding single stranded overhangs on the deleted plasmid after cleavage were treated with Klenow enzyme to generate double-stranded ends at both ends of the plasmid. These ends were then blunt-end ligated according to Molecular cloning; A LABORATORY MANUAL (Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989). The resulting plasmid was transformed into chemically competent E.coli BMH71-18 and plated onto ampillicin-containing plates (100 yg/ml) When replated onto tetracycline-containing agarplates (10 pg/ml) the colonies were tetracycline sensitive.

External primers: Two external primers surrounding the tetracycline gene of pBR322 were designed with the following sequences including designated unique restriction sites: pBR322 HindIII forward primer: -CAGCTTATCATCGATAAGCTTTAATGCGGTAGTTTAT-3' (SEQ ID #1) and pBR322-EagI-reversed-primer: 5'-CGTAGCCCAGCGCGTCGGCCGCCATGCCGGCGATAATG-3' (SEQ ID #2) To show that the two external primers covers the functional parts of the tetracycline-gene, a PCR reaction with the above mentioned profile was used for a 30 cycles- PCR with pBR322 (250 ng) as a template and the external primers described above. This yielded a PCR-product of 910 bp after subsequent cleavage with HindIII and EagI. When this restriction product was cloned in a likewise restriction-digested pBR322 plasmid, the plasmid encoded a tetracycline resistant phenotype. This was detected after transformation of a ligation of plasmid and 910 bp PCRproduct into E.coli host BMH 7118 plated on tetracycline containing agar-plates (10 jg/ml).

STOP-containing primers: Two pBR322 forward mutagenic primers and two pBR322 reversed primers containing unique restriction-sites and one STOP codon each at various sites were constructed.

These were: pBR322 NheI forward STOP:

CACTATGGCGTGCTGCTAGCGCTATATGCGTTGATGCAATTTCTATGAGCACCCGTT

CT (SEQ ID #3) pBR322 SalI reversed STOP:

TCTCAAGGGCATCGGTCGACGCTCTCCCTTATGCGACTCCTGCATTAGGAATCAGCC

CAGTAGTA (SEQ ID #4) Generation of STOP-codon containing variants of pBR322 plasmids.

Four different variants of the tetracycline gene were constructed. A combination of one mutated forward or reversed primer with the corresponding external forward or reversed primer was used in PCR-reactions to generate mutated inserts. Plasmid pBR322 was used as a template (250 ng) in 40 PCR-cycles. The resulting restriction digested fragments were then cloned into tetracycline deleted pBR322, and the resulting clones were called FIND 1 and FIND 3 The following primer combinations were used: FIND 1, pBR322 NheI-forward-STOP-primer with pBR322-EagIreversed-primer. This combination gave the insert after restriction digestion as shown in Figure 6A; and FIND 3, pBR322 HindIII forward primer and pBR322 SalI reversed STOP primer. This combination gave the insert after restriction digestion as shown in Figure 6B.

The amplified PCR-products were analysed on a 2% agarose gel. The electrophoresis was run at 90V for minutes as described above. Bands of appropriate size (1000bp), as compared to the molecular weight standard, were cut out and gel-purified using the Qiaquick Gel Extraction Kit. The four different STOP-containing inserts were then cleaved with the restriction-enzymes designated in the primers above. For each insert a pool of plasmid pBR322 was cleaved with the same enzymes, and these four combinations were then ligated and transformed into chemically competent E coli BMH 71-18 according to the modified protocol of Detlef (Modified Hanahan, revised M.

Scott, F. Hochstenbach and D. Gussow 1989). The transformants were plated onto ampicillin containing agarplates (50 pg/ml). When replated on tetracycline containing agar-plates (10 pg/ml) no colonies survived, confirming the functional effect of the introduced STOP-codon in the tetracycline-gene. Plasmids of the four different FINDclones were prepared with Qiagen Plasmid Midi Kit (Qiagen Inc., Chatsworth, CA, USA). The plasmids of the four clones were sequenced by the use of a Taq Dyedeoxy" Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit. The sequencing was performed on a ABI Prism 373 DNA Sequencer. The STOP-codons were confirmed and the inserts to be correct.

FIND EXPERIMENT I: Generation of FIND-fragments for BAL31 Nuclease digestion.

PCR-fragment of FIND 1 and FIND 3 were generated by running PCR-reactions with FIND 1 and FIND 3-plasmids as templates (500 ng) and with the two external primers, pBR322 HindIII forward primer and pBR322-EagI-reversedprimer. PCR-cycles were as described above for 30 cycles.

The amplified PCR-products were mixed with 20 fl of loading buffer (25% Ficoll and Bromphenolic blue) and analysed on a 2 agarose gel. The electrophoresis was run at 90V for minutes as previously described. Bands of appropriate size were cut out and gel-purified using the Qiaquick Gel Extraction Kit. The DNA-concentration was estimated to 112.25 jg/ml for the FIND-1 PCR-fragment and to 110 Ag/ml for the FIND-3 PCR-fragment.

BAL31 Nuclease treatment: ig each of FIND 1 and FIND 3 PCR-fragments (Fig. 7 A and B) were mixed in equimolar amounts together with 100l of 2x BAL31 buffer and 10l sterile water to a final volume of 200l. A smaller volume of 22.5pl was prepared to be used as an enzymatically untreated blank. This consisted of 4.5Al FIND 1-fragment and 4.5Al of FIND 3, 11.

2 5Al 2x BAL31 nuclease buffer and 2.25Il sterile water. sterile eppendorf tubes with DNA and 2x BAL31 nuclease buffer and water as described were pre-incubated in a water-bath in a cold-room of +4 0 C for 10 minutes. Meanwhile five sterile eppendorf tubes were prepared with 4A1 each of a 200mM solution of EGTA. These were marked 1-9 minutes. In the.same way a tube with 2.5Al 200 mM EGTA was prepared for the blank untreated DNA-solution. The working concentration of EGTA is 20mM. After the 10 minutes pre-incubation BAL31 Nuclease was added to the tube with the larger volume to a final concentration of 1 Unit/pg of DNA (10yl of 1 U/1 solution). After t= 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 minutes the tube was mixed and samples of 36j#1 was removed and added to the tubes with 4#1 of EGTA and placed onto ice. At the same time the blank volume of 22.51 was removed and added to the prepared 2.5i1 of EGTA and also placed on ice. The tubes were then placed in a 65 0 C water-bath for heat inactivation of the enzyme and then replaced onto ice.

Purification of digestion produced fragments: The volumes in the tubes were corrected to 10041 each and a phenol/chloroform/isoamylalcohol extraction was performed. 50il of buffered phenol was added to each tube together with 50pl of a mixture of chloroform and isoamylalcohol The tubes were vortexed for seconds and then centrifuged for 1 minute in a microfuge at 14000 r.p.m. The upper phase was then collected and mixed with 2.5 volumes of 99.5% Ethanol (1/10 was 3M Sodium Acetate, pH The DNA was precipitated for 1 hour in 0 C. The DNA was then pelleted by centrifugation for minutes in a microfuge at 14.000 r.p.m. The pellet was washed once with 70% ethanol and then re-dissolved in 101p of sterile water.

Analysis of digestion produced purified fragments on agarose gel: of the dissolved pellet from each time point and from the blank were mixed with 2.5l of loading buffer Ficoll and Bromphenolic blue) and loaded into wells in a 2% agarose gel. The electrophoresis and subsequent gel extraction of the different timepoints were performed as above.

Reassembly PCR with BAL31 Nuclease generated fragments: The remaining 5Al of.the dissolved pellet from each time point after phenol-extraction and precipitation were mixed in a PCR-reassembly without primers. A portion of 5 1 from the untreated blank was added as template to make it possible to generate full length fragments. 40 PCR-cycles were run with the PCR-profile and reaction mixture as described above, but without any primers.

PCR with external primers to increase the amount of reassembled PCR-products: of the reassembled PCR-product was mixed with PCR reagents including the two external primers as described above to generate a 100l PCR reaction. This PCR was run for 25 cycles with the profile described above. The amplified PCR-product was analysed on a agarose gel. A band of approximately 1000 bp was visible on the gel after the second PCR with the two external primers. The remaining from the first reassembly PCR, showed only a smear of bands spanning the whole interval of the molecular weight marker. The 1000-bp fragment after the second PCR was excised and gel-purified as described previously.

Restriction digestion of reassembled FIND-fragment and tetracycline sensitive pBR322 with HindIII and EagI: of tetracycline deleted pBR322 (10l) was cleaved with 2Al each of the enzymes HindIII (10U/Il) and EagI (10U/l) (4U enzyme/g vector) in a mixture with B (supplied with the enzymes) and water to 100l1.

All of the agarose purified reassembled FIND-fragment was cleaved with the same. enzymes in a similar 100 l reaction mixture. The tubes were incubated in a 37 0 C water bath for 14 hours.

Gel purification of restriction digested vector and restriction digested reassembled FIND-fragment: The cleavage reactions were mixed were analysed on a 2%.-agarose gel. The restriction digested tetracyclinedeleted pBR322 showed a cleavage product of about 600 bp.

This corresponds well with the expected size of 635 bp. The band of the cleaved plasmid was cut out and gel-extracted as previously described. The reassembled cleaved FINDproduct was about 1000 bp long and was gel extracted in the same manner as the plasmid.

Spectrophotometer estimations of the restriction digested-plasmid and FIND-fragment gave the following indications of DNA-concentrations: plasmid 13.5Ag/ml; reassembled cleaved FIND-fragment 77.3Ag/ml.

Ligation of reassembled restriction digested FIND-fragment with tetracycline deleted restriction digested pBR322: 9.6pig of purificated cleaved tetracyclineresistance gene-deleted pBR322 was ligated to 2.76/g purified reassembled restriction digested FIND-fragment at 12 0

C

water bath for 16 hours. 50Al of the vector was mixed with of the insert and 15/l of 10x buffer (supplied with the enzyme) 7.5/l ligase (5 and sterile water to a final volume of 150l. A ligation of 2/g restriction digested tetracyclineresistance gene-deleted pBR322 without any insert was also performed in the same manner.

Transformation of chemically competent E coli BMH 71-18 with the ligated reassembled FIND-insert and pBR322: The ligation reactions were purified by phenol/chloroform extraction as described above. The upper phase from the extraction was collected and mixed with volumes of 99.5% Ethanol (1/10 was 3M Sodium Acetate, pH The DNA was precipitated for 1 hour in -80 oC. The DNA was then pelleted by centrifugation for 30 minutes in a microfuge at 14.000 r.p.m. The pellet was washed once with 70% ethanol and then re-dissolved in 10/l of sterile water. 5/1 of each ligation was separately mixed with chemically competent E coli BMH 71-18 incubated on ice for 1 hour and then transformed accordingly to the modified protocol of Detlef (Modified Hanahan, revised M. Scott, F.

Hochstenbach and D. Gassow 1989). After one hour's growth the bacteria from the two transformations were spread onto ampicillin containing agar plates (100/g/ml). The plates were grown upside-down in a 37 0 C incubator for 14 hours.

Testing of ampicillin-resistant transformant for tetracycline-resistant recombinants: The transformation with reassembled FIND-fragment and tetracycline-deleted pBR322 gave 122 ampicillin-resistant transformants. The religated cleaved empty tetracyclinedeleted pBR322 gave 100 transformants. The transformants from both categories were transferred with sterile picks one at a time to tetracycline (10lg/ml) containing agar plates and to ampicillin containing plates at the same time and to corresponding locations. These plates were incubated in 37 0 C incubator for 14 hours.

Counting of tetracycline resistant recombinants: The colonies on both the tetracycline plates and the ampicillin plates were counted the following day for both transformants.

FIND EXPERIMENT II: The above described methods were used for a second BAL31 Nuclease treatment with a mixture of 5ug of FIND 1 and 5Ag of FIND 3 as described above and in the overview in Fig. 1. This time new PCR-fragments had been generated with the estimated concentrations of 192.25Ag/ml for FIND 1 and 231.5g/ml for FIND 3. The following reaction micture was used: 26zl FIND 1, 21.6Al FIND 3, 100#l 2x BAL31 exonuiease buffer, 9.9A1 BAL31 Nuclease and water to 200~1. A blank was also prepared with 134l FIND 1 and 10.8Al FIND 3, 36

L

1 2x BAL31 exonulease buffer, 04i BAL31 Nuclease and water to 721.

The BAL31 digestion was performed as described in the previous experiment and samples were withdrawn at the same timepoints to tubes with 200mM EGTA to get a final concentration of 20mM EGTA. The exonuclease in the resulting samples was heat-inactivated as described above and the fragments where extracted, precipitated and were loaded on agarose gel. After the same appearance as previously on the gel had been established, the samples were purified and 2 sequential PCR-reactions were run as before. The final PCR-fragment was cloned into tetracycline deleted pBR322 under the same conditions as above. The ligation was then electroporated into electrocompetent cells as described (Dower, J. F. Miller, and C.W.

Ragsdale. 1988: High efficiency transformation of E.coli by high voltage electroporation. Nucleic Acids Res. 16:6127.) and plated on ampicillin agar plates as before. Several thousands of transformants were achieved. 397 of these were transported as described above to tetracycline agar plates and ampicillin agar plates at the same time. The amount of tetracycline revertants were counted the following day after incubation in a 37 0 C incubator for 14 hours.

The tetracyclin recombinants were then plated for separate colonies onto new tetracyclin plates. Separate colonies were then inoculated into liquid cultures with Ix TB-media (Terrific Broth; Molecular cloning; A LABORATORY MANUAL, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989) with 1% Glucose and both ampicillin and tetracycline with the above concentrations and grown for plasmid-preparations with Qiagen Plasmid Midi Kit (Qiagen Inc., Chatsworth, CA, USA). Glycerol stocks of these overnight cultures were prepared by mixing 500$l of bacterial culture with 215yl of 50% Glycerol and storing these mixtures at -80 0

C.

A bacterial PCR-screening with the two external primers mentioned above of 40 of the tetracycline-sensitive colonies was performed to estimate the frequency of empty religated vector among these transformants. This was done with the PCR-mixture mentioned previously scaled down to reactions. These were inoculated with one sensitive bacterial colony each and the PCR-profile was as above for cycles. The resulting PCR-fragmnets were analysed on gel as described above.

FIND-experiment I: No. of amp.-resistant FIND- No. of tet-resistant FINDtransformants transformants 122 19 Frequency of recombinants: 16 No. of amp.-resistant relig. No. of tet.-resistant sensitive vector relig. Vect.

100 0 Frequency of recombinants: 0 FIND-experiment II: No. of amp.-resistant FIND- No. of tet-resistant FINDtransformants transformants 397 22 Frequency of recombinants: 2 out of 40 bacterially PCR-screened sensitive clones were empty religated vector. This would then make up 5% of the total number of transformants. Therefore, 20 out of 397 is empty vector. This increased the number of recombinants to 5.8%.

FIND EXPERIMENT III: The FIND procedure is not restricted to the usage on tetracycline genes, but can be applied to any type of genes encoding a protein or protein motif. This is exemplified by creating a new repetoir of antibody fragments with mutations evenly spread over the entire antibody variable genes after FIND treatment.

Single base pair mutations were introduced into the VL and VH-regions of the anti-FITC scFv antibody fragment B11 (Kobayashi et al., Biotechniques 1997 Sep;23(3):500- 503) by the use of error prone PCR in accordance with Kuipers et al., (Nucleic Acids Res 1991 Aug 25;19(16):4558) except for a raise in the MgC1 2 concentration from 2mM to 5mM. This anti FITC scFv antibody fragment was constructed by the use of overlap extension PCR, and the overlap extension procedure has previoulsy been used for the random combination of DNA variation (Sbderlind et al. Gene 1995 Jul 28;160(2):269- 272).

The mutated products were then subjected to controlled degradation with BAL31 exonuclease which can be used for removing nucleotides from the termini of double stranded DNA in a controlled manner. It is predominantly a 3' exonuclease (Sambrook et al., Sambrook, Fritsch E.F. and Mantiatis T. Molecular Cloning-a laboratory Manual Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd edition, 1989) and removes mono nucleotides from both 3' termini of the two strands of linear DNA. In addition, it also acts as an endonuclease degrading the ss DNA generated by the exonuclease activity. Degradation is completely dependent on the presence of calcium and the reaction can be stopped at different stages by adding the calcium chelating agent EGTA. Bal31 works asynchronously on a pool of DNA molecules, generating a population of DNA of different sizes whose termini have been digested to various extents and whose single stranded DNA tails vary in length. DNA of interest is digested with BAL31 and samples are withdrawn at different times and placed in a solution with EGTA, which does not interfere with the activity of Taq polymerase.

Thus, PCR based reassembly is possible directly after the digestion procedure. The average length of singlestranded tails created by digestion of linear ds DNA is dependent both on time of Bal31 treatment and the enzyme concentration. High enzyme concentrations of 2-5 U/ml yields an average of 5 nucleotides of ssDNA per terminus, whereas 0.1-0.2 U/ml can yield longer ssDNA.

After the treatment of BAL31, the pool of generated DNA fragments of varying sizes, which were reassembled as previously described into full length scFv genes. The resulting genes were cloned into the phagemid vector pEXmide5 and the resulting library size after transformation was 5.7x10 4 cfu/pg DNA.

Single clones from the library were sequenced to estimate the genetic variability in the library. The frequencies of mutations found, distributed over the 782 bp long VL-VH-region of the scFv antibody ranged from 1- 56 (Table This is a mutation rate ranging from 0.13% to 7.16%, whereas the mutation rate for error prone PCR has been reported to be 0.7% (Kuipers et al., Nucleic Acids Res 1991 Aug 25;19(16):4558). This result demonstrates the effect of recombining mutations in a set of genes, resulting in a varied gene population which can be.used in selections/ screening of proteins with new and altered functions.

Reagents: AmpliTaq@ polymerase was purchased from Perkin-Elmer Corp., dNTPs from Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica (Mannheim, Germany), and BAL 31 Nuclease from New England Biolabs Inc. (Beverly, USA). All restriction enzymes were purchased from Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica (Mannheim, Germany). Ethidium bromide was purchased from Bio-Rad Laboratories (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA,USA). T4 DNA Ligase was purchased from Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica (Mannheim, Germany).

Primers: All primers were designed and synthesised at the department with a Applied Biosystems 391 DNA-synthesiser.

The restriction sites introduced in each primer are underlined.

Reamplification Primers: For error prone PCR and reamplification PCR after Bal31 treatment: 3'-primer DL:FITC-bll-VL3'-FLAG-SAL 1: CAA CTT TCT TGT CGA CTT TAT CAT CAT CAT CTT TAT AAT CAC CTA GGA CCG TCA GCT TGGT (SEQ ID DL:FITC B11-VH-5' Ncol: ACT CGC GGC CCA ACC GGC CAT GGC CGA GGT GCA GCT GTT GGA G (SEQ ID #11) Sequencing Primers: Sequencing reversed pEXmide 4: 5'-GGA GAG CCA CCG CCA CCC TAA C-3' (SEQ ID #12) pUC/M 13 reversed primer: 5'-TCA CAC AGG AAA CAG CTA TGA C-3' (SEQ ID #13) Plasmids pEXmide V: 4055 bp NcoI- and SalI -sites are marked with underline text is shown in Figure 8.

Error Prone PCR: The error prone PCR reactions were carried out in a x buffer containing 500 mM NaCI, 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.8, 5mM MgC1 2 100 ug gelatine (according to Kuipers et al Nucleic Acids Res. 1991, Aug 25;19 (16):4558) except for a raise in the MgC1 2 concentration from 2 mM to mM).

For each 100 pl reaction the following was mixed: dATP 5 mM 5 pl dGTP 5 mM 5 il dTTP 10 mM 10 il dCTP 10 mM 10 j! gM 3' primer 1.5p1 uM 5'-primer 1.5 p1 Kuipers buffer 10 p1 sterile mp H 2 0 46.3 l1 The template scFv FITC B11 in pEXmideV vector (24.5 ng/pl) was added at an amount of 42 ng. 10 pl of 10 mM MnCl 2 was added and the tube was checked that no precipitation of MnO2 occurred. At last 5 Units of Taq enzyme was added. The error prone PCR was run at the following temperatures for 25 cycles without a hot start: 94 0 C 45 °C 72 °C 1' using a 1 second ramp time, followed by a rapid cooling to 4 0 C. The resulting product was an error proned insert over the scFv FITC of 782 bp.

This insert was purified with Qiaqucik PCR purification kit, before BAL 31 Nuclease treatment.

BAL31 Treatment: Error proned purified insert of the FITC B11 was digested with 0.5 U BAL 31 enzyme/pg insert DNA. 1.5 ml sterile eppendorf tubes with DNA, 2x BAL31 Nuclease buffer and water were pre-incubated in 30°C for minutes. After this pre-incubation, BAL31 Nuclease was added except for one control tube to a final concentration of 0.5 Unit/pg of DNA. The control tube, thus, contained only DNA buffer and water. After t= 2', 8' and finally 10 minutes, the tube was mixed and samples were removed and added to the tubes with EGTA and placed on ice. The working concentration of EGTA was 20mM. At the same time the control volume was removed from the water bath and this sample was also mixed with EGTA and placed on ice. The tubes were then placed in a 0 C water-bath for heat inactivation of the enzyme and then replaced onto ice.

Reassembly of BAL31 generated fragments: The reassembly of the generated fragment pools were performed as previously described in two subsequent PCR reactions. The first PCR reaction was performed without the addition of any external primers by mixing equal amounts of the different time pools in a standard PCR reaction. The PCR reaction was run at 40 cycles consisting of following profile: denaturation (94 0 C for 1 minute), primer annealing (55 0 C for 1 minute) and extension (72 0 C for 1 minute) using a 1 second ramp time.

The PCR reactions contained, unless otherwise noted, 5 pl of each primer (20 pM), 16 pl of a dNTP mixture (1.25 mM each of dTTP, dATP, dCTP and dGTP), 10 pl 10x reaction buffer supplied with the enzyme, 0.5 pl AmpliTaq® thermostable DNA polymerase (5U/pl) (Perkin-Elmer Corp.) and water to a final volume of 100 pl.

The reassembled products were then reamplified with a PCR containing the and 5'-external primers to generate an insert of the correct size and thereby also introducing the restriction sites NcoI and SalI for cloning into the pEXmideV vector. The PCR reaction was run at 25 cycles consisting of following profile: denaturation (94°C for 1 minute), primer annealing for 1 minute) and extension (72 0 C for 1 minute) using a 1 second ramp time. The PCR reactions contained, 5 pl of each primer (20 pM), 16 pl of a dNTP mixture (1.25 mM each of dTTP, dATP, dCTP and dGTP), 10 pl 10x reaction buffer supplied with the enzyme, 0.5 pl AmpliTaq® thermostable DNA polymerase (5U/pl) (Perkin-Elmer Corp.) and water to a final volume of 100 pl. The subsequent insert was purified on a 2% agarose gel using the Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Kobayashi et al., Biotechniques 1997 Sep; 23(3):500-503).

Cloning in the PEXMIDEV Phagmid Vector: The insert and vector were digested with the NcoI and SalI enzymes from Boehringer Mannheim. The insert was cleaved with 10 U enzyme /pg DNA and vector with 4 U/pg DNA. The insert was then gel purified as described previously and the vector was purified using the Microcon 100 micro concentrators (Amicon, Inc., Beverly, MA 01915, USA). The vector was then cleaved with a third enzyme, the Pst I enzyme, who's restriction site is located in between the first two enzymes. The vector was gel purified with the Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen GmbH, Hilden, Germany). Insert and purified vector were ligated with 25 U T4 DNA ligase/pg DNA (Boehringer Mannheim) at a vector to insert ratio of 590 ng vector to 240 ng insert (12:1 molar ratio) for 14 hours at 120C.

The ligation reactions were purified by phenol chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation and subsequently transformed into electro competent Top 10 F' bacterial cells. The library size was determined to 5.7x10 4 cfu/pg DNA. Glycerol stocks were produced after transformation according to J. Engberg et al (Molecular Biotechnology Vol 6, 1996 p28 7 -310) and stored at -200C.

Sequencing: Separate colonies from the glycerol stock library were grown and plasmid preparations were performed with Promega Wizard Plus Minipreps DNA purification System (Promega, Madison, WI USA). The VL and VH insert of these plasmids were amplified with a PCR containing the and primers to generate an insert of the correct size. These inserts were then sequenced with Big Dye Dyedeoxy" Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit. The sequencing was performed on a ABI Prism 377 DNA Sequencer.

Table 1 Number of mutations in the 782 bp long scFv sequences after FIND treatment Clone Number of Mutations 1 1 2 3 8 4 23 6 56 7 8 26 9 38 18

Claims (28)

1. A method for generating a polynucleotide sequence or population of sequences from a parent polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs, comprising the steps of: a) digesting the parent polynucleotide sequence with an exonuclease, under different reaction conditions, to generate a population of fragments comprising fragments of different sizes; b) contacting said fragments with a template polynucleotide sequence under annealing conditions; c) amplifying the fragments that anneal to the template in step b) to generate at least one polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs having altered characteristics as compared to the one or more protein motifs encoded by said parent polynucleotide.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the parent polynucleotide is double-stranded and the method further comprises the step of generating single-stranded polynucleotide sequence from said double-stranded fragments prior to step b).

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the template polynucleotide sequence is the parent polynucleotide sequence.

4. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said template polynucleotide sequence is a variant of the parent polynucleotide sequence.

5. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said template polynucleotide sequence is a wild type sequence and said parent S. polynucleotide sequence is a variant of said wild type sequence. 25

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the parent polynucleotide sequence has been subjected to mutagenisis.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the population of fragments generated in step b) are subjected to mutagenisis.

8. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the mutagenisis is error prone mutagenisis.

9. A method for generating a polynucleotide sequence or population of sequences from a parent polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs, in which said polynucleotide sequence has altered sequence at its termini as compared to said parent polynucleotide sequence comprising the steps of: a) digesting said parent polynucleotide sequence with an exonuclease, under different reaction conditions, to generate a population of fragments comprising fragments of different sizes; b) contacting said fragments with a template polynucleotide sequence being a variant of said parent polynucleotide sequence, under annealing conditions; c) amplifying the fragments that anneal to the template in step b) to generate at least one polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs encoded by said parent polynucleotide.

10. A method for generating a polynucleotide sequence or population of sequences from a parent polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs, in which said polynucleotide sequence has altered sequence at its centre as compared to said parent polynucleotide sequence comprising the steps of: a) digesting a population of variant polynucleotide sequences with an exonuclease, under different reaction conditions, to generate a population of fragments comprising fragments of different sizes; b) contacting said fragments with said parent polynucleotide sequence under annealing conditions; c) amplifying the fragments that anneal to the parent in step b) to generate at least one polynucleotide sequence encoding one or more protein motifs encoded by said parent polynucleotide.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the digestion reaction conditions differ in that the parent polynucleotide sequence is digested with 25 an exonuclease for different periods of time and/or different exonuclease concentrations.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the exonuclease is BAL31.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the parent polynucleotide sequence encodes an antibody or fragment thereof.

14. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the parent polynucleotide sequence encodes an enzyme.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the step of screening the at least one polynucleotide generated in step c) for desired characteristics.

16. A method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the step of expressing the at least one polynucleotide generated in step c) and screening the resulting polypeptide for desired characteristics.

17. A method for preparing a pharmaceutical composition which comprises, following the identification of a polynucleotide with desired characteristics by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, adding said polynucleotide to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

18. A method for preparing a pharmaceutical composition which comprises, following the identification of a polypeptide with desired characteristics by a method according to claim 15, adding said polypeptide to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

19. A process which comprises, following the identification of a polynucleotide by a method of any one of claims 1 to 14, the manufacture of that polynucleotide, in whole or in part, optionally in conjunction with additional polynucleotide sequence.

A process which comprises, following the identification of a polypeptide by a method according to claim 15, the manufacture of that polypeptide, in whole or in part, optionally in conjunction with additional polypeptides.

21. A process according to claim 20, wherein the polypeptide is an antibody or fragment thereof.

22. A process according to claim 20, wherein the polypeptide is an enzyme.

23. A process which comprises, following the identification of a S. polynucleotide according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the use of that 25 polynucleotide, in whole or in part, optionally in conjunction with additional polynucleotide sequence, in therapy or diagnosis, or in the detection and/or amplification of a target polynucleotide in a sample.

24. A process which comprises, following the identification of a Spolypeptide according to claim 15, the use of that polypeptide, in whole or in 0 part, in a method of treatment.

25. A process which comprises, following identification of a polypeptide according to claim 15, the use of that polypeptide, in the manufacture of a therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic agent.

26. A process according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the polypeptide is an antibody or fragment thereof.

27. A process according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the polypeptide is an enzyme.

28. A process according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the polypeptide is an antigen. Dated this 7th day of September 2004 Biolnvent International AB Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO