The present invention is directed to terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT) variants that (i) comprise an amino acid sequence that is at least a specified percent identical to an indicated SEQ ID NOs and have at least one substitution at Q455 or at least Q455 plus at least one further substitution at G186, 5248, T331, Q390, K394 or H466 (where positions are with respect to SEQ ID NO 1 and functionally equivalent positions in indicated SEQ ID NOs), (ii) are capable of template-free extension of a polynucleotide, and (iii) exhibit enhanced stability or enhanced efficiency in incorporating 3′-0-blocked nucleoside triphosphates into a polynucleotide. The invention is also directed to the use of these TdT variants for synthesizing polynucleotides of any predetermined sequence.

The invention provides improved methods for synthesizing polynucleotides, such as DNA and RNA, using enzymes and specially designed nucleotide analogs. Using the methods of the invention, specific sequences of polynucleotides can be synthesized de novo, base by base, in an aqueous environment, without the use of a nucleic acid template. Because the nucleotide analogs have an unmodified 3′ OH, i.e., as found in “natural” deoxyribose and ribose molecules, the analogs result in natural polynucleotides suitable for incorporation into biological systems.

The invention is directed to methods and compositions for inkjet assisted synthesis of a plurality of polynucleotides at reaction sites on a substrate using template-free polymerases, such as, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases (TdTs). Compositions of the invention include formulations of synthesis reagents for inkjet delivery including, but not limited to, TdT coupling reaction buffers and 3′-O-protected dNTP monomers.

Polynucleotide synthesis performed with a substrate independent polymerase such as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is regulated by controlling the oxidation state of a metal cofactor. The oxidation state of the metal cofactor is changed to +2, thus activating the polymerase, by applying a voltage with electrodes or by introducing a chemical redox reagent. Addressable polynucleotide synthesis creates polynucleotides with different arbitrary sequences through use of spatial control of cofactor oxidation states to add nucleotides only at selected locations on an array. Control of metal oxidation states is regulated by selective activation of a microelectrode array, controlled addition of redox reagents to specific locations on the array, or controlled activation of photocatalysts at specific locations on the array. Scavengers in solution prevent cofactors distant from the selected locations from catalyzing polymerase activity and thereby maintain the localized effect of polymerase activation.

The invention relates to the use of specific terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of synthesizing nucleic acids, and to the use of kits comprising said enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to the use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases and 3′-blocked nucleotide triphosphates in a method of template independent nucleic acid synthesis.

The invention relates to the use of specific terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzymes or the homologous amino acid sequence of PoI.Math., PoIβ, PoIλ, and PoIθ of any species or the homologous amino acid sequence of X family polymerases of any species in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of synthesizing nucleic acids, and to the use of kits comprising said enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to the use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases or homologous enzymes and 3′-blocked nucleoside triphosphates in a method of template independent nucleic acid synthesis.

Polynucleotide synthesis performed with a substrate independent polymerase such as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is regulated by controlling the oxidation state of a metal cofactor. The oxidation state of the metal cofactor is changed to +2, thus activating the polymerase, by applying a voltage with electrodes or by introducing a chemical redox reagent. Addressable polynucleotide synthesis creates polynucleotides with different arbitrary sequences through use of spatial control of cofactor oxidation states to add nucleotides only at selected locations on an array. Control of metal oxidation states is regulated by selective activation of a microelectrode array, controlled addition of redox reagents to specific locations on the array, or controlled activation of photocatalysts at specific locations on the array. Scavengers in solution prevent cofactors distant from the selected locations from catalyzing polymerase activity and thereby maintain the localized effect of polymerase activation.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.