Abstract: The present invention relates to cytosine deaminase protein and cDNA from various species of the yeast genus Dekkera/Brettanomyces. Compared to yeast cytosine deaminase the novel cytosine deaminases are more efficient and have a higher stability. The invention also relates to the field of suicide gene therapy based on activation of a non-toxic prodrug, 5-fluorocytosine to a toxic drug 5-fluorouracil based on the enzymatic activity of novel cytosine deaminses. Finally the invention provides use of 5-fluorocytosine for controlling the growth of Dekkera/Brettanomyces yeast.

Abstract: The application relates to the field of suicide gene therapy using expression vectors encoding a deoxynucleotide kinase capable of converting prodrugs into cytotoxic drugs. In particular, Chicken deoxycytidine kinase and eukaryotic deoxyadenosine kinase polypeptides and nucleotides encoding such polypeptides and a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptides for the treatment of malignancies and viral infections, methods of sensitising cells to prodrugs, and methods of inhibiting pathogenic agents in warm-blooded animals using said dCKs and dAKs.

Abstract: This invention relates to mosquito multisubstrate deoxyribonucleoside kinases and their use in gene therapy. More specifically the invention provides novel deoxyribonucleoside kinases derived from Aedes aegypti. In further aspects the invention provides novel polynucleotides encoding the mosquito deoxyribonucleoside kinases, vector constructs comprising the polynucleotide, host cells carrying the polynucleotide or vector, methods of sensitising cells to prodrugs, method of inhibiting pathogenic agents in warm-blooded animals, methods of synthesizing monophosphates, imagining applications and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the mosquito deoxyribonucleoside kinases of the invention.