NON-IMMUNOGENIC POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY REPORTER GENE SYSTEMS

摘要

Embodiments of the invention include a PET/SPECT reporter gene system that uses enhanced non-immunogenic versions of a human mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2 expressed in cytoplasm to preferentially trap novel PET/SPECT radiolabeled L and D-enantiomer analogs of the natural substrate thymidine. Such highly sensitive, non-immunogenic reporter genes function in combination with a set of novel, radiolabeled probes in whole body molecular imaging applications using positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).