Development of murine leukemia virus-based self-activating vectors that efficiently delete the selectable drug resistance gene during reverse transcription.
Expression of the selectable drug resistance gene in retroviral vectors used for gene therapy can lead to a decreased expression of the gene of interest and may induce a host immune response, resulting in a decreased efficiency of gene therapy. In this study, we demonstrate that high-frequency deletion of direct repeats, an inherent property of reverse transcriptases, can be used to efficiently excise the drug resistance gene during reverse transcription. One retroviral vector containing a direct repeat deleted the neomycin resistance expression cassette during a single replication cycle at >99% efficiency.
Delviks
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KA
Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA.
Pathak
V K
VK
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000235:genetics*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase