Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 58 (6), 380-382, 2005
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Short Communication
Interruption of env Gene Expression Depending on the Length of the SV40 Early Region Used for the PolyA Signal
Kei Yamakawa, Sayaka Takase-Yoden and Rihito Watanabe*
Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, Soka University, Tokyo 192-8577, Japan
(Received September 21, 2005. Accepted October 12, 2005)
*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, Soka University, Tangi-cho 1-236, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-8577, Japan. Fax: +81-426-91-9465, E-mail: rihito@t.soka.ac.jp
SUMMARY: In order to invent a screening system to check in vivo gene function and the efficiency of gene transfer mediated by a retroviral vector system, we established a novel packaging cell, PacNIH/A8, based on the neuropathogenic retrovirus A8-V. To construct the expression vector, pA8(psi-), which expresses the genes gag, pol and env derived from A8-V, the SV40 early region was used for the polyadenylation signal (polyA signal). When a 0.85 kbp fragment in the SV40 early region was employed for the expression vector (pA8(psi-)beta), env expression was abolished. This abolition was rescued by shortening the SV40 early region to 0.14 kbp (pA8(psi-)delta). The NHI3T3 cells transfected with pA8(psi-)delta showed expressions of both env and gag genes.