(19)

(11)

EP 1 053 306 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 22.11.2000 Bulletin 2000/47 (21) Application number: 99902972.1 (22) Date of filing: 05.01.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/00, C12N 15/12, C07K 14/00, C07K 14/435 (86) International application number: PCT/US9900/117 (87) International publication number: WO 9935/253 (15.07.1999 Gazette 1999/28)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 07.01.1998 US 70643 P 04.01.1999 US 225049 (71) Applicant: GENETICS INSTITUTE, INC. Cambridge,Massachusetts 02140 (US)

(72) Inventors: JACOBS, Kenneth Newton, MA 02160 (US) McCOY, John, M. Reading, MA 02167 (US) LaVALLIE, Edward, R. Harvard, MA 01451 (US) COLLINS-RACIE, Lisa, A. Acton, MA 01720 (US) EVANS, Cheryl Beverly, MA 01915 (US) MERBERG, David Acton, MA 01720 (US) TREACY, Maurice Chestnut Hill, MA 02167 (US) AGOSTINO, Michael, J. Andover, MA 01810 (US) STEININGER, Robert, J., II Cambridge, MA 01810 (US) (74) Representative: Frohwitter, Bernhard, Dipl.-Ing.  Patent- und Rechtsanwälte,Possartstrasse 20 81679 München 81679 München (DE)