title: Photoactivatable retroviral vectors: a strategy for targeted gene delivery.
abstract: We have explored a novel strategy for the targeting of retroviral vectors to particular sites or cell types. This strategy involves a method whereby the infectivity of a retroviral vector is neutralized by treatment of viral particles with a photocleavable, biotinylation reagent. These modified viral vectors possess little to no infectivity for target cells. Exposure of these modified viral vectors to long-wavelength UV light induces a reversal of the neutralizing, chemical modification resulting in restoration of infectivity to the viral vector. This infectivity 'trigger' possesses great potential, both as a research tool and as a novel tactic for the targeting of gene-transfer agents, since it would become possible to direct both the time and location of a viral infection in a versatile manner.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Molecular Imaging Diagnosis and Therapy and Basic Science Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Pandori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019921:Biotinylation; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D015870:Gene Expression; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase