The cHS4 Insulator Increases the Probability of Retroviral Expression at Random Chromosomal Integration Sites

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.74.10.4679-4687.2000
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:55:53Z
• Authors: Stefano Rivella; John A. Callegari; Chad May; Cui Wen Tan; Michel Sadelain
• Keywords: Position effect

ABSTRACT Retroviruses are highly susceptible to transcriptional silencing and position effects imparted by chromosomal sequences at their integration site. These phenomena hamper the use of recombinant retroviruses as stable gene delivery vectors. As insulators able block promoter-enhancer interactions reduce in some transgenic animals, we examined effect an insulator on expression structure randomly integrated retroviruses. We used cHS4 element, from chicken β-like globin cluster, which has been shown Drosophila . A large panel mouse erythroleukemia cells that bear a single copy was generated without using drug selection. show increases probability proviruses will express dramatically decreases level de novo methylation 5′ long terminal repeat. findings support primary role suggest could be useful therapy applications overcome retroviral