Thymidine Kinase Mutants and Fusion Proteins Having Thymidine Kinase and Guanylate Kinase Activities

Abstract

The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a Herpesviridae thymidine kinase enzyme comprising one or more mutations, at least one of the mutations encoding an amino acid substitution located toward the N-terminus from a DRH nucleoside binding site which increases a biological activity of the thymidine kinase, as compared to unmutated thymidine kinase. Such mutations include amino acid substitutions within a Q substrate binding domain which increases a biological activity of the thymidine kinase, as compared to unmutated thymidine kinase. Within a further aspect, fusion proteins are provided which have both guanylate kinase and thymidine kinase biological properties. Also provided are vectors suitable for expressing such DNA molecules, as well as methods for utilizing such vectors.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . An isolated fusion protein comprising a guanylate kinase moiety comprising SEQ ID NO:49 and a thymidine kinase moiety, wherein said fusion protein possesses a biological activity of said guanylate kinase and a biological activity of said thymidine kinase, wherein said thymidine kinase moiety is either a Herpesviridae thymidine kinase of SEQ ID NO:134 or a mutant Herpesviridae thymidine kinase of SEQ ID NO:134 with an amino acid substitution at one or more of positions 160, 161 or 168 that possesses increased biological activity, when compared to the Herpesviridae thymidine kinase of SEQ ID NO:134. 
     
     
         62 . The isolated fusion protein according to  claim 61 , wherein at least one of said guanylate kinase moiety and said thymidine kinase moiety is truncated. 
     
     
         63 . The isolated fusion protein according to  claim 61 , wherein said mutant thymidine kinase comprises amino acid substitutions at positions 160, 161 and 168. 
     
     
         64 . The isolated fusion protein according to  claim 63 , wherein said mutant thymidine kinase further comprises an amino acid substitution at position 169. 
     
     
         65 . The isolated fusion protein according to  claim 63 , wherein said mutant thymidine kinase further comprises an amino acid substitution at position 159. 
     
     
         66 . The isolated fusion protein according to  claim 63 , wherein said amino acid substitution at position 160 is isoleucine to phenylalanine, said amino acid substitution at position 161 is phenylalanine to alanine and said amino acid substitution at position 168 is alanine to phenylalanine. 
     
     
         67 . The isolated fusion protein according to  claim 65  wherein said amino acid substitution at position 159 is leucine to isoleucine, said amino acid substitution at position 160 is isoleucine to leucine, said amino acid substitution at position 161 is phenylalanine to leucine and said amino acid substitution at position 168 is alanine to tyrosine. 
     
     
         68 . The isolated fusion protein according to  claim 64  wherein said amino acid substitution at position 160 is isoleucine to phenylalanine, said amino acid substitution at position 161 is phenylalanine to alanine, said amino acid substitution at position 168 is alanine to tyrosine and said amino acid substitution at position 169 is leucine to tyrosine. 
     
     
         69 . The isolated fusion protein according to  claim 64  wherein said amino acid substitution at position 160 is isoleucine to phenylalanine, said amino acid substitution at position 161 is phenylalanine to valine, said amino acid substitution at position 168 is alanine to valine, and said amino acid substitution at position 169 is leucine to methionine.