Stem cell-specific promoters and their use

Patent Number: 7,396,680

The current patent covers the nucleic acid sequences for promoters.  In the claims it just states "promoters" but the specification teaches that the promoters are specific to "stem cells".  The examples part of the patent teaches that they are active in CD34 and CD133 cells found from cord blood.

Being able to have patents on actual promoter sequences that are active only in stem cells is useful since constructs containing these promoters can be inserted into cells for the purpose of "fishing out" stem cells, for example by inserting a gene in front of the promoter that allows for selection.  Another way is to put an antibiotic or toxin resistance gene in front of the promoter as is thought by Dr. Austin Smith's patent # 6,146,888.

View this patent on the USPTO website.