title: Functional analysis of the murine sarcoma virus RNA packaging sequence.
abstract: We investigated the features of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus leader sequence necessary for RNA packaging function by using a deletion analysis approach. We found that sequences that extend beyond those characterized genetically in previous reports are important for optimal packaging efficiency. A fragment covering a minimum of four potential stem-loop structures is required for the shortest packaging element compatible with gene transfer. Our results reveal the extent to which each of the segments of the packaging sequence contribute to packaging efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Izmailova
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aldovini
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009053:Sarcoma Viruses, Murine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012367:RNA, Viral