title: In vitro reconstitution of SV40 particles that are composed of VP1/2/3 capsid proteins and nucleosomal DNA and direct efficient gene transfer.
abstract: SV40 is comprised of the viral minichromosome and the capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3. Complete reconstitution of SV40 virions in vitro remains a challenge. Here we describe in vitro reconstitution of SV40 particles that contain ~5-kb circular nucleosomal DNA with hyperacetylated histones and are encapsidated in a coat composed of VP1, VP2, and VP3, closely mimicking the characteristics of authentic SV40 virions. When inoculated into mammalian cells, VP1/2/3 particles containing nucleosomal DNA carrying a reporter gene yielded a significantly higher level of gene expression than VP1-only particles containing the corresponding naked DNA. The elevated gene expression resulted mainly from enhanced association of the particles with the cell surface and from facilitation of subsequent uptake into cells. Thus, the in vitro reconstitution system reported here should be useful for the elucidation of Polyomaviridae assembly mechanisms and for the development of novel carriers for gene delivery.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Iwao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kukimoto
authors.forename: Masa-aki
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Arnold J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Handa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA