Gene transfer of rat mature oligodendrocytes and glial progenitor cells with the LacZ gene.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to O Danos.
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We have constructed a set of packaging cell lines useful for the generation of helper-free recombinant retroviruses with amphotropic and ecotropic host ranges. To eliminate the problems of transfer of packaging functions and helper virus formation encountered with the previously available packaging systems, two mutant Moloney murine leukemia virus-derived proviral genomes carrying complementary mutations in the gag-pol or env regions were sequentially introduced into NIH 3T3 cells by cotransformation. Both genomes contained a deletion of the psi sequence necessary for the efficient encapsidation of retroviral genomes into virus particles and additional alterations at the 3' end of the provirus. We show that the resulting packaging cell lines psi CRIP and psi CRE can be used to isolate clones that stably produce high titers (10(6) colony-forming units/ml) of recombinant retroviruses with amphotropic and ecotropic host ranges, respectively. More importantly, we demonstrate that viral producers derived from the packaging cell lines do not transfer the packaging functions, or yield helper virus, even under conditions where existing packaging cell lines can be shown to yield transfer of packaging functions and/or helper virus. These properties of the psi CRIP and psi CRE packaging lines make them particularly valuable reagents for in vivo gene transfer studies aimed at cell lineage analysis and the development of human gene replacement therapies.
Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) genomic sequences coding for virus early functions were introduced into a retroviral vector in order to produce cDNAs of the viral early region. Two constructs differing in the length of control sequences preceding the E6 open reading frame were transfected into Psi-2 cells and the released retroviral stock was used to infect NIH3T3 cells. The proviral sequences were rescued from antibiotic G418-resistant virus-infected cells after fusion with Cos cells, amplified as plasmids in Escherichia coli and analysed. Nucleotide sequencing showed that the splicing signals used in the construct containing only the early coding region are the same as in CRPV-expressing tumours, linking the beginning of E1 to the middle of E2. On the other hand, in a construct including most of the long control region a splice donor site located in the 5' end of this region, at position 7810, was very efficiently used, totally excluding the use of the donor site at position 1371. None of the constructs containing CRPV sequences transcribed from Moloney murine leukaemia virus promoter was able to transform mouse fibroblasts after DNA transfection.
The complete nucleotide sequence and genomic organization of human papillomavirus type 18, associated with cervical cancer, has been established. A detailed comparative analysis was undertaken leading to the identification of a number of features specific for genital papillomaviruses and the construction of a phylogenetic tree. Genital papillomaviruses differ from other human and animal papillomaviruses as they possess a longer E1 open reading frame (ORF) and have a characteristic control region. Phylogenetically, HPV 18 is located between the benign genital viruses, HPV 6 and HPV 11, and the malignant isolates, HPV 16 and HPV 33, and may represent an evolutionary intermediate among oncogenic papillomaviruses. Viral gene products known to be involved in cellular transformation are those of ORFs E5, E6 and E7. Significant sequence variation was found between the E6 to E7 regions of different integrated forms of HPV 18. On re-examination of the E6 primary structures we noticed that the gene has evolved by successive duplications of a unit encoding 33 amino acids, which include a Cys-X-X-Cys motif. Furthermore, the E7 gene product has apparently evolved in the same manner and is related to E6. Both gene products bear a striking resemblance to the transcriptional factor IIIA of Xenopus laevis, the prototype of a new class of nucleic acid binding proteins.
The early region of the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) genome has been introduced into a retroviral vector and recombinant retroviruses, produced upon transfection of the psi 2 packaging cell line, have been used to infect NIH 3T3 cells. Spliced derivatives of the CRPV early region can be rescued from the infected cells. Sequence analysis demonstrates that the major splicing event observed in RNA in tumours is faithfully reproduced in this system. This splice generates a polycistronic mRNA that contains in its 5' portion the E7 open reading frame, or both E6 and E7, and at its 3' end a reading frame with codons for three amino acids from the N-terminus of E1 linked to codons for 100 amino acids from the C-terminus of the E4 region. Recombinant retroviruses containing intact or spliced CRPV sequences can now be used to introduce the viral genes efficiently into a variety of cell lines.
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The complete 9193-nucleotide sequence of the probable causative agent of AIDS, lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), has been determined. The deduced genetic structure is unique: it shows, in addition to the retroviral gag, pol, and env genes, two novel open reading frames we call Q and F. Remarkably, Q is located between pol and env and F is half-encoded by the U3 element of the LTR. These data place LAV apart from the previously characterized family of human T cell leukemia/lymphoma viruses.
We have determined the complete 9202 nucleotide sequence of the visna lentivirus. The deduced genetic organization most closely resembles that of the AIDS retrovirus in that there is a novel central region separating pol and env. Moreover, there is a close phylogenetic relationship between the conserved reverse transcriptase and endonuclease/integrase domains of the visna and AIDS viruses. These findings support the inclusion of the AIDS virus in the retroviral subfamily Lentivirinae.
The nucleotide sequence of the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV or Shope papillomavirus) genome has been determined. The overall organization of the genome is similar to that of the other three papillomaviruses already sequenced. The amino acid sequences of the putative viral proteins were compared to the available protein data banks. Of particular interest is the homology found between the COOH terminus of the E2 putative protein of the different papillomaviruses and the viral or cellular mos oncogene product. This analysis also reveals a specific feature of the rabbit virus that may be related to its natural oncogenic potential. One of its open reading frames (E6) shows significant homologies with the beta subunit of a family of ATP synthases from mitochondria, chloroplasts, and bacteria, including the conservation of amino acids residues involved in nucleotide binding. The viral noncoding region includes a highly A+T-rich segment and shows a complex array of repetitions and inverted repeats that may act as control elements for gene expression and genome replication.
We analyzed the polyadenylated mRNAs transcribed from the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus genomes present in the domestic rabbit transplantable carcinoma line VX2, employing a combination of S1 nuclease mapping and primer extension techniques with vector M13-based single-stranded DNA probes. Each of the two major mRNA species (1,860 and 1,110 bases long) contained two exons which corresponded to the E6-E7 and E2-E4 open reading frames. The splice donor site for these transcripts was located at position 1371 at the beginning of the E1 open reading frame. Consequently, the splicing event did not lead to the fusion of the E region proximal (E6 and E7) and distal (E2, E4, or E5) open reading frames. The translation of the polycistronic RNA could result in the production of E6 and E7 proteins alone or of an additional E1-E4 fusion product if translation reinitiation can occur after the E7 stop codon. A heterogeneity was detected in the 5' ends of the longer transcript; E6 transcripts could thus yield a full-length or a truncated E6 protein. We also detected a minor subset of mRNAs covering the E2-E4 coding region and including at least three species with estimated sizes of 4.2, 2.8, and 1.8 kilobases. All the viral transcripts detected in the VX2 tumor cells were polyadenylated at the same site (position 4367) 20 base pairs beyond the first AATAAA signal which borders the E region.
The complete nucleotide sequences of four papillomavirus genomes recently determined (human papillomavirus types 1a and 6b, bovine papillomavirus type 1, and the Shope cottontail rabbit papillomavirus) shed light on the molecular genetics of these epitheliotropic viruses. The organization of the four genomes is very similar, and their comparative analysis suggests new hypotheses about the nature of the viral proteins, their involvement in virus structure, and their interaction with the host cell, the terminally differentiating keratinocyte. It also allows us to consider, at the molecular level, the problem of papillomaviruses' host range and evolutionary relationship.
The complete nucleotide sequence of the lysA gene and its regulatory region was determined. At the 3' end of the lysA gene an open reading frame was revealed in the opposite direction and was identified as the galR coding region. Only six base-pairs are present between the two translational stops and thus both transcription units are overlapping in vivo. Translational gene fusions constructed in vitro with the beta-galactosidase gene were used to identify the lysA initiating ATG. The sequence encodes a 420 amino acid long peptide for a predicted molecular weight of 46,099. No attenuation-like sequence was found at the beginning of the lysA gene. A target of the LysR activator protein was localized on a 73 base-pair fragment found 48 base-pairs upstream from the lysA coding region. The presence of this DNA sequence on a multicopy plasmid led to a net decrease of lysA expression, indicating limiting amounts of active LysR protein in the cytoplasm.
The DNA sequences of the genomes of the bovine type 1 and human type 1a papillomaviruses were compared. The overall organization of both genomes is very similar. Three areas of maximal homology were found in the L1 and E1/E2 genes, and at the beginning of L2. The conservation of homologous amino acid sequences encoded in the open reading frames argues that these segments represent real genes or exons. Within these segments, however, only certain domains of the putative proteins are preferentially conserved. Two polypeptide chains show homologous arrangement of the cysteine residue clusters Cys-X-X-Cys, despite a lack of conservation of the rest of the amino acid sequence. A significant sequence divergence in a region where the three reading frames are open suggests that papillomavirus genomes have evolved not solely by accumulation of point mutations. Conserved sequences were also found in the noncoding region, and their possible involvement in regulation of viral gene expression is discussed.
Specific single stranded DNA probes have been obtained for both influenza virion RNA (vRNA) and complementary RNA (cRNA) by cloning a hemagglutinin gene fragment in the single stranded DNA phase M13. These probes were used for hybridization with the total labeled RNA from cytoplasmic extracts of infected cells. MDCK cells were infected with temperature-sensitive mutants of influenza HK/68 and the production of the virus specific RNA species was analysed at both permissive and restrictive temperatures. Results show that two NP mutants which undergo intracistronic complementation exhibit two different phenotypes at the non permissive temperature: ts2C is poly A cRNA and vRNA negative whereas ts463 is RNA positive. Two mutants of P genes were also analysed and we discuss the relationship existing between the synthesis of the three RNA species especially between poly A and non poly A cRNA.
The complete nucleotide sequence of human papillomavirus type 1a (7811 nucleotides) has been established. The overall organization of the viral genome is different from that of other related papovaviruses (SV40, BKV, polyoma). Firstly, genetic information seems to be coded by one strand. Secondly, no significant homology is found with SV40 or polyoma coding sequence for either DNA or deducted protein sequences. The relatedness of human and bovine papillomaviruses is revealed by a conserved coding sequence in the two species. Two regions can be defined on the viral genome: the putative early region contains two large open reading frames of 1446 and 966 nucleotides, together with several split ones, and corresponds to the transforming part of the bovine papillomavirus type 1 genome, and the remaining sequences, which include two open reading frames likely to encode structural polypeptide(s). The DNA sequence is analysed and putative signals for regulation of gene expression, and homologies with the Alu family of human ubiquitous repeats and the SV40 72-bp repeat are outlines.
The entire genome of human papilloma virus type 1a was cloned in Escherichia coli using the plasmid pBR322 as vector. The integrity and the homogeneity of the viral DNA thus obtained was confirmed by restriction endonucleases analysis. Viral DNA isolated from a single wart was partially methylated at only one out of the four HpaII sites, d(C-C-G-G). Recognition sites for Bg/I, Bg/II, PstI and PvuII restriction endonucleases were located on the cloned genome.
BACKGROUND: Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors are capable of long-term expression of secreted and intracellular proteins following delivery to muscle, liver, and the central nervous system. In this study, we have evaluated subcutaneous injection of rAAV encoding a variety of transgenes as an alternative route of administration for the systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins. METHODS: rAAV vectors encoding the human factor IX, human interferon-alpha 2a, murine erythropoietin (epo), and Escherichia coli lacZ genes were used for subcutaneous delivery into mature immunocompetent mice. Expression of factor IX and interferon in mouse serum was measured by ELISA. Expression of Epo was monitored by an increase in hemotocrit and by RIA. The tissue tropism of AAV transduction was determined by histochemistry following administration of the lacZ vector. RESULTS: Long-term protein expression (at least one year) is demonstrated in the serum of immunocompetent mice following subcutaneous delivery of AAV vectors encoding the human factor IX and interferon genes. The murine epo gene delivered via this route resulted in levels of Epo that correlate with increased hematocrits of up to 90% for a duration of nine months. rAAV encoding the lacZ gene revealed that the panniculus carnosus, a skeletal muscle layer of the skin, was transduced upon subcutaneous administration. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that long-term expression of secreted proteins can be achieved using rAAV vectors injected subcutaneously as a single administration. The observation that the panniculus carnosus is the primary tissue transduced by rAAV illustrates the high tropism of rAAV for skeletal muscle.
BACKGROUND: Recombinant retroviruses are obtained from either stably or transiently transfected retrovirus producer cells. In the case of stably producing lines, a large number of clones must be screened in order to select the one with the highest titre. The multi-step selection of high titre producing clones is time consuming and expensive. METHODS: We have taken advantage of retroviral endogenous reverse transcription to develop a quantitative PCR assay on crude supernatant from producing clones. We used Taqman PCR technology, which, by using fluorescence measurement at each cycle of amplification, allows PCR product quantification. Fluorescence results from specific degradation of a probe oligonucleotide by the Taq polymerase 3'-5' exonuclease activity. Primers and probe sequences were chosen to anneal to the viral strong stop species, which is the first DNA molecule synthesised during reverse transcription. The protocol consists of a single real time PCR, using as template filtered viral supernatant without any other pre-treatment. RESULTS: We show that the primers and probe described allow quantitation of serially diluted plasmid to as few as 15 plasmid molecules. We then test 200 GFP-expressing retroviral-producing clones either by FACS analysis of infected cells or by using the quantitative PCR. We confirm that the Taqman protocol allows the detection of virus in supernatant and selection of high titre clones. Furthermore, we can determine infectious titre by quantitative PCR on genomic DNA from infected cells, using an additional set of primers and probe to albumin to normalise for the genomic copy number. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that real time quantitative PCR can be used as a powerful and reliable single step, high throughput screen for high titre retroviral producer clones.