The invention relates to a nucleic acid comprising at least one methylation-protectable restriction element, the methylation-protectable restriction element comprising: (i) a type IIS restriction enzyme recognition sequence, or a partial type IIS restriction enzyme recognition sequence, that is recognised by a type IIS restriction enzyme that cleaves outside of the recognition sequence; (ii) a DNA methylase recognition sequence that is recognised and methylated by a DNA methylase, wherein the DNA methylase recognition sequence is identical to, or is encompassed within, the type IIS restriction recognition sequence, such that methylation of the nucleic acid by the DNA methylase methylates the type IIS restriction enzyme recognition sequence and protects the nucleic acid from cleavage by the type IIS restriction enzyme; and (iii) a recognition sequence for a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein, wherein the recognition sequence is positioned such that the binding of the sequence-specific DNA-binding protein overlaps with the DNA methylase recognition sequence such that binding of the sequence-specific DNA-binding protein is capable of preventing methylation of the type IIS restriction enzyme recognition sequence by the DNA methylase such that it is not protected from cleavage by the type IIS restriction enzyme. The invention further relates to associated methods of nucleic acid assembly.

The present disclosure relates to the use of an Epstein Barr virus origin of replication (oriP) or a functional fragment thereof in a protein expression construct to increase production of a protein of interest in mammalian cells. Also disclosed are protein expression constructs for increased production of antibodies in mammalian cells, and mammalian cells containing the expression constructs.

Methods and compositions for modulating a target genome are disclosed.

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid expression cassette, in particular for the expression of a human liver-specific and/or liver-expressed protein and/or preferably physiologically active domains and/or fragments thereof in a patient suffering from a monogenetic disorder caused by a mutation in the gene coding for the liver-specific and/or liver-expressed protein.

Plants are created with desired traits by conveniently and rapidly inhibiting methylation of target DNA in plants, without using recombination technology. Scaffold RNA produced by transcription of target DNA is cleaved in an RNA-directed DNA methylation mechanism.

Provided are a human genome-derived polynucleotide having a chromatic regulator factor function, a recombinant vector and a recombinant cell, each comprising same, and a method for producing a polypeptide of interest using same.

Compositions can be used to stimulate growth of a hair shaft from a hair follicle. These compositions can include methylated polynucleotides useful in treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, including those, such as alopecia areata, that result in hair loss.

The invention is directed to a more efficient lentiviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human β-globin protein or a human γ-globin protein, which is oriented from 5′ to 3′ relative to the lentiviral genome. The invention also provides a composition and method utilizing the lentiviral vector.

A method of delivering a transgene to a cell is provided. The method uses a vector that contains a T-cell receptor alpha locus control region (TCRαLCR) derived gene regulatory cassette having fewer than 5.0-kb. The method delivers the transgene with spatiotemporally specific gene expression and silencing-prevention controls to a cell such that a predetermined subset of progeny cell-types express a gene product from the transgene. Other progeny of the cell diminish, or silence, the expression of the gene product.

Provided herein are new compositions and methods for use in introducing transgenes into cells. The compositions are non-viral but achieve levels of transgene integration comparable to those obtained with viral-mediated methods, and can be used for targeted integration of a transgene at a specific genomic locus.