Somatic transgenesis using retroviral vectors in the chicken embryo.
The avian embryo is an excellent model system for experimental studies because of its accessibility and ease of microsurgical manipulations. While the complete chicken genome sequence will soon be determined, a comprehensive germ cell transmission-based genetic approach is not available for this animal model. Several techniques of somatic cell transgenesis have been developed in the past decade. Of these, the retroviral shuttle vector system provides both (1) stable integration of exogenous genes into the host cell genome, and (2) constant expression levels in a target cell population over the course of development. This review summarizes retroviral vectors available for the avian model and outlines the uses of retroviral-mediated gene transfer for cell lineage analysis as well as functional studies of genes and proteins in the chick embryo.
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Yasuo
Y
Ishii
David E
DE
Reese
Takashi
T
Mikawa
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006378:Helper Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D020079:Terminal Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics; D019076:Transgenes
D018076:DNA, Complementary