Human artificial chromosome-based gene delivery vectors for biomedicine and biotechnology.
BACKGROUND
Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) have several advantages over viruses as gene delivery vectors, including stable episomal maintenance in a single copy and the ability to carry large gene inserts.


METHODS
In this review, we summarise recent work on gene transfer into mammalian cells using the HACs. HACs allow therapeutic transgenes to be expressed in target cells under conditions that recapitulate the physiological regulation of endogenous loci.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the published data, the HAC vectors have a great potential for gene therapy, regenerative medicine, screening of anticancer drugs and biotechnology.
National Cancer Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology , Bethesda, MD 20892 , USA kouprinn@mail.nih.gov.
Natalay
N
Kouprina
Alexey N
AN
Tomilin
Hiroshi
H
Masumoto
William C
WC
Earnshaw
Vladimir
V
Larionov
D000818:Animals; D020811:Biomedical Technology; D022201:Chromosomes, Artificial; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*