Abstract: The use of mismatch repair (MMR) defective antibody producer cells offers a method to generate subclone variants with elevated protein production such as antibodies. Using MMR defective cells and animals, new cell lines and animal varieties with novel and useful properties such as enhanced protein production can be generated more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. These methods are useful for generating genetic diversity within host cells to alter endogenous genes that can yield increased titer levels of protein production. By employing this method, two genes were discovered whose suppressed expression is associated with enhanced antibody production. Suppressed expression of these genes by a variety of methods leads to increased antibody production for manufacturing as well as strategies for modulating antibody production in immunological disorders. Moreover, the suppression of these two genes in host cells can be useful for generating universal high titer protein production lines.

Abstract: Dominant negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic animals, new cell lines and animal varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. These methods are useful for generating genetic diversity within genes encoding for therapeutic antigens to produce altered polypeptides with enhanced antigenic and immunogenic activity. Moreover, these methods are useful for generating effective vaccines.

Abstract: Yeast cells are mutagenized to obtain desirable mutants. Mutagenesis is mediated by a defective mismatch repair system which can be enhanced using conventional exogenously applied mutagens. Yeast cells with the defective mismatch repair system are hypermutable, but after selection of desired mutant yeast strains, they can be be rendered genetically stable by restoring the mismatch repair system to proper functionality.

Abstract: Yeast cells are mutagenized to obtain desirable mutants. Mutagenesis is mediated by a defective mismatch repair system which can be enhanced using conventional exogenously applied mutagens. Yeast cells with the defective mismatch repair system are hypermutable, but after selection of desired mutant yeast strains, they can be be rendered genetically stable by restoring the mismatch repair system to proper functionality.

Abstract: Dominant-negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into mammalian cells new cell lines with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation or introduction of mutations by chemical mutagens. These methods are useful for generating novel and highly active antimicrobial molecules as well as superior antimicrobial agents from pre-existing chemicals. These methods are also useful for generating cell lines expressing novel antimicrobials that are useful for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Abstract: Inhibitors of mismatch repair can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By inhibiting this process in cells, new cell lines and varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of homologous recombination. These methods are useful for generating targeted loci that can alter the expression profiles of target genes as well as tag exons of a gene with a reporter marker to facilitate the monitoring of a given gene product when the host is grown under different conditions or exposed to biological and chemical entities.

Abstract: Methods of making cells hypermutable are disclosed using PMS2 homologs that have a common sequence motif. The PMS2 homologs of the invention have ATPase-like motifs and are at least about 90% identical to PMS2-134. Methods of generating mutant libraries and using the PMS2 homologs in diagnostic and therapeutic applications for cancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention features mammalian expression vectors that are useful for controlling DNA hypermutability in mammalian cell as well as the encoding polynucleotide sequences of vector sequences. In related aspects the invention features expression vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotides. In other related aspects, the invention features transgenic cells expressing a mutator gene to enhance genome-wide mutagenesis, due to, for example, the presence of an exogenous mutator-encoding polynucleotide sequence. Further, the invention provides methods for using vector sequences that can remove the expression of such gene to restore DNA stability in a host cell.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for identifying polymorphic markers for herbicide resistance in weeds and for generating herbicide susceptible and herbicide resistant weeds by mutagenizing weeds and comparing genetic differences between herbicide resistant and herbicide susceptible weeds. The methods may involve the inhibition of mismatch repair in the weeds through the introduction of dominant negative alleles of mismatch repair genes, through T-DNA insertional mutations, or the use of chemical inhibitors of mismatch repair. The invention also provides polymorphic markers of herbicide resistance and methods and kits to screen for herbicide resistant weeds, such as horseweed, goosegrass and rye grass.

Abstract: Dominant negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic animals, new cell lines and animal varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. These methods are useful for generating genetic diversity within immunoglobulin genes directed against an antigen of interest to produce altered antibodies with enhanced biochemical activity. Moreover, these methods are useful for generating antibody-producing cells with increased level of antibody production. The invention also provides methods for increasing the affinity of monoclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies with increased affinity.

Abstract: Dominant-negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into mammalian cells new cell lines with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation or introduction of mutations by chemical mutagens. These methods are useful for generating novel and highly active antimicrobial molecules as well as superior antimicrobial agents from pre-existing chemicals. These methods are also useful for generating cell lines expressing novel antimicrobials that are useful for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Abstract: Dominant negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic animals, new cell lines and animal varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. Methods of generating mutations in genes of interest and of making various cells mismatch repair defective through the use of chemicals to block mismatch repair in in vivo are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for generating antibiotic resistant bacteria comprising blocking mismatch repair in a bacterium to make hypermutable bacteria, contacting the bacteria with at least one antibiotic, selecting bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic, and culturing the antibiotic resistant bacteria. The invention also provides methods of determining the genes responsible for antibiotic resistance.

Abstract: Yeast cells are mutagenized to obtain desirable mutants. Mutagenesis is mediated by a defective mismatch repair system which can be enhanced using conventional exogenously applied mutagens. Yeast cells with the defective mismatch repair system are hypermutable, but after selection of desired mutant yeast strains, they can be be rendered genetically stable by restoring the mismatch repair system to proper functionality.

Abstract: Bacteria are manipulated to create desirable output traits using dominant negative alleles of mismatch repair proteins. Enhanced hypermutation is achieved by combination of mismatch repair deficiency and exogenously applied mutagens. Stable bacteria containing desirable output traits are obtained by restoring mismatch repair activity to the bacteria.

Abstract: Dominant negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic animals, new cell lines and animal varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. The enhanced rate of mutation can be further augmented using mutagens. Moreover, the hypermutability of mismatch repair deficient cells can be remedied to stabilize cells or mammals with useful mutations.