Construction and isolation of a transmissible retrovirus containing the src gene of Harvey murine sarcoma virus and the thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus type 1

Expression of genes introduced into cells by retroviral infection is more efficient than that of genes introduced into cells by DNA transfection

Calcium phosphate-mediated DNA transfection and retroviral infection are two alternative gene transfer techniques designed to introduce specific DNA fragments into the chromosomes of recipient cells. To compare the efficiency of expression of genes introduced into cells by either of these two techniques, a retrovirus-derived vector was constructed from the genome of Moloney murine leukemia virus by replacing the coding sequences of the envelope gene with the bacterial Neor gene derived from Tn5, termed rEnv-Neor. Expression of the hybrid Neor gene in NIH 3T3 cells after DNA transfection or retroviral infection was determined by measuring the steady-state levels of the corresponding cytoplasmic polyadeylated RNA species. Cells containing one copy of the integrated rEnv-Neor DNA introduced into cells by retroviral infection expressed 10- to 50-fold-higher levels of vector-specific RNA compared with cells harboring one copy of the same DNA derived by DNA transfection. Analysis of the integrated rEnv-Neor DNA with the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme SmaI has shown that DNA integrated after DNA transfection but not after viral infection is partially methylated, predominantly in the 5' long terminal repeat, the region involved in initiation of transcription.

Expression from an internal AUG codon of herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene inserted in a retrovirus vector

We identified structural features that affect the expression of an exogenous gene inserted into a retrovirus vector constructed by using spleen necrosis virus, an avian retrovirus. The thymidine kinase gene from herpes simplex virus type 1 containing deletions in the promoter and terminal sequences of the mRNA was inserted into spleen necrosis virus. We found that synthesis of thymidine kinase by the recovered virus was apparently initiated from internal AUG residues. At least in some cases, however, the level of expression depended on the number of AUGs and the nucleotide sequence around the AUGs that preceded the initiator codon of the thymidine kinase gene.

Expression of complete chicken thymidine kinase gene inserted in a retrovirus vector

The chicken thymidine kinase (tk) gene was inserted into spleen necrosis virus. Thymidine kinase activity was expressed even when the promoter and terminator sequences for tk RNA synthesis were retained. When the promoter was present in the same orientation as the promoter in the long terminal repeat of the virus, deletions occurred both in the virus and in the tk gene, and the thymidine kinase-transforming activity of the recovered virus was low. Splicing of apparent intervening sequences in the tk gene was also observed. When the orientation of the tk promoter was opposite to the promoter in the long terminal repeat, virus synthesis was diminished, whereas thymidine kinase activity was expressed at an elevated level compared with virus in which the promoter was in the same orientation. However, when the apparent tk promoter was deleted from virus with the tk gene in the opposite orientation, a high level of virus synthesis was observed, probably as a result of absence of interference of RNA synthesis from converging promoters. The intervening sequences in the virus in which the promoters were in opposite orientation were not spliced.

General method for production and selection of infectious vaccinia virus recombinants expressing foreign genes

The production and selection of infectious vaccinia virus recombinants expressing foreign genes was facilitated by the construction of plasmid vectors. These vectors contain all or part of the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene interrupted by multiple unique restriction endonuclease sites placed adjacent to the TK promoter or another promoter translocated within the TK gene. The insertion of a continuous coding sequence for a foreign protein at one of the unique restriction endonuclease sites juxtaposes the transcriptional start site of a vaccinia promoter and the translational start site of a foreign gene. After transfection of vaccinia virus-infected cells with such plasmids, homologous recombination occurs between the vaccinia virus sequences flanking the chimeric gene and the same sequences within the virus genome. Recombinants formed in this manner have the chimeric gene inserted within the body of the vaccinia virus TK gene under control of a vaccinia virus promoter. Since recombinants have an interrupted TK gene, they are selected on the basis of their TK- phenotype and then checked for the presence and expression of the foreign gene. Infectious recombinant viruses expressing the procaryotic enzyme chloramphenicol acetyltransferase were constructed to optimize the system. The absence of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in uninfected cells or in cells infected with wild-type vaccinia virus and the availability of a sensitive and quantitative enzyme assay allowed an estimation of the relative strengths of various promoter constructs. The expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase was detected within 1 h after infection of cells with recombinant virus, reflecting the early nature of the promoters used.

Retrovirus transduction: generation of infectious retroviruses expressing dominant and selectable genes is associated with in vivo recombination and deletion events

We describe the generation of infectious retroviruses containing foreign genes by an in vivo recombination-deletion mechanism. Cotransfection into mouse cells of chimeric plasmids carrying a murine retrovirus 5' long terminal repeat and either the thymidine kinase (tk) gene of herpesvirus or the dominant selectable bacterial gene for neomycin resistance (neo), along with a clone of Moloney murine leukemia virus, results in the generation of infectious thymidine kinase or neomycin-resistant viruses. Expression of the selectable marker in these viruses can be regulated by the homologous transcriptional promoter of the gene, by the promoter contained within the Friend spleen focus-forming virus long terminal repeat, or by the simian virus 40 early region promoter. In all cases, the rescued viruses appeared to arise by recombination in vivo with Moloney murine leukemia virus sequences, resulting in the acquisition of the Moloney 3' long terminal repeat and variable amounts of the 3' adjacent Moloney genome. In two of the thymidine kinase constructs where tk was inserted 200 base pairs downstream from the long terminal repeat, the rescued viruses acquired a large part of the murine leukemia virus genome, including the region involved in packaging genomic RNA into virions. The generation of infectious neomycin-resistant virus is associated with deletions of simian virus 40 splicing and polyadenylation sequences. These results demonstrate that nonhomologous recombination and deletion events can take place in animal cells, resulting in the acquisition or removal of cis-acting sequences required for, or inhibitory to, retrovirus infectivity.

Two base changes restore infectivity to a noninfectious molecular clone of Moloney murine leukemia virus (pMLV-1)

The complete nucleotide sequence of a molecular clone of Moloney murine leukemia virus (pMLV-1) has previously been reported (Shinnick et al., Nature [London] 293:543-548, 1981). However, pMLV-1 does not generate infectious virus after transfection into cells (Berns et al., J. Virol. 36:254-263, 1980). The lesion in pMLV-1 has been localized by determining the biological activity of recombinants containing DNA from an infectious clone of Moloney murine leukemia virus (pMLV-48) and pMLV-1. Replacement of a 1.0-kilobase pair region which spans the gag-pol junction of pMLV-1 with the corresponding DNA fragment from the infectious clone restores its infectivity. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this fragment obtained from the infectious clone (pMLV-48) and pMLV-1 reveals two single base pair changes, one in the p30gag gene and the other in the 5' end of the pol gene. The mutation in the pol gene does not affect the production of infectious virus but renders them XC negative, whereas the mutation in the gag gene appears to be lethal. The complete nucleotide sequence of an infectious clone of Moloney murine leukemia virus can now be deduced.

Retrovirus transduction: generation of infectious retroviruses expressing dominant and selectable genes is associated with in vivo recombination and deletion events

We describe the generation of infectious retroviruses containing foreign genes by an in vivo recombination-deletion mechanism. Cotransfection into mouse cells of chimeric plasmids carrying a murine retrovirus 5' long terminal repeat and either the thymidine kinase (tk) gene of herpesvirus or the dominant selectable bacterial gene for neomycin resistance (neo), along with a clone of Moloney murine leukemia virus, results in the generation of infectious thymidine kinase or neomycin-resistant viruses. Expression of the selectable marker in these viruses can be regulated by the homologous transcriptional promoter of the gene, by the promoter contained within the Friend spleen focus-forming virus long terminal repeat, or by the simian virus 40 early region promoter. In all cases, the rescued viruses appeared to arise by recombination in vivo with Moloney murine leukemia virus sequences, resulting in the acquisition of the Moloney 3' long terminal repeat and variable amounts of the 3' adjacent Moloney genome. In two of the thymidine kinase constructs where tk was inserted 200 base pairs downstream from the long terminal repeat, the rescued viruses acquired a large part of the murine leukemia virus genome, including the region involved in packaging genomic RNA into virions. The generation of infectious neomycin-resistant virus is associated with deletions of simian virus 40 splicing and polyadenylation sequences. These results demonstrate that nonhomologous recombination and deletion events can take place in animal cells, resulting in the acquisition or removal of cis-acting sequences required for, or inhibitory to, retrovirus infectivity.

Infectious poxvirus vectors have capacity for at least 25 000 base pairs of foreign DNA

To test the capacity of poxviruses for added foreign DNA, a recombinant was constructed that contains 24 700 bp of bacteriophage lambda DNA inserted within the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene. The recombinant is stable, infectious and replicates in tissue culture at the same rate and to the same titer as standard vaccinia virus. This size flexibility of the poxvirus genome and the lack of stringent packaging requirements are useful features for an infectious eukaryotic cloning vector.

Retrovirus transfer of a bacterial gene into mouse haematopoietic progenitor cells

The haematopoietic system is made up of a hierarchy of cells with different developmental, functional and proliferative capacities. Although cellular diversity appears to arise from the commitment and maturation of stem cells, the molecular basis for this differentiation process is unknown. The introduction of cloned DNA sequences into haematopoietic progenitor cells would provide a novel approach for studying this differentiating in vivo system. One laboratory has reported DNA-mediated transfer of genes into mouse bone marrow cells. However, retroviruses offer a number of advantages over DNA-mediated gene transfer procedures, including high efficiency infection of a wide range of cell types in vitro and in vivo, stable and low copy integration into the host chromosome, and a defined integrated provirus structure. For these reasons recombinant DNA techniques have been utilized to construct high efficiency retrovirus vectors expressing foreign genes. We demonstrate here, using such a retrovirus vector, the transfer of a dominant selectable drug-resistance gene into defined classes of mouse haematopoietic progenitor cells. These observations should facilitate the development of molecular genetic approaches to fundamental and clinical problems in haematopoiesis.

Design of a retrovirus-derived vector for expression and transduction of exogenous genes in mammalian cells

We have developed a transfection vector for animal cells that contains long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences to promote expression. Plasmid p101/101, a derivative of plasmid pBR322 containing the complete Moloney murine sarcoma virus genome, was cut with restriction enzymes and religated so that both the 5' and 3' LTRs were retained and all but about 700 base pairs of the intervening viral sequences were removed. To test this vector, the Escherichia coli gene gpt was cloned into a unique PstI site, between the two LTRs, with guanine and cytosine tailing, a method that can be generalized for insertion of any DNA segment into this vector. When DNA from recombinant plasmids in which the gpt gene was inserted in the same transcriptional polarity as the LTR sequences was transfected onto murine or rat fibroblast cultures, we obtained a high yield of Gpt(+) colonies. However, plasmid constructs with the gpt gene in the opposite polarity were virtually devoid of activity. With gpt in the proper orientation, restriction enzyme cuts within the LTRs or between the 5' LTR and the gpt gene reduced transfection by more than 98%, whereas a cut between the gpt gene and the 3' LTR gave an 80% reduction in activity. Thus, both 5' and 3' LTR sequences are essential for optimal gpt expression, although the 5' LTR appears to play a more important role. When the LTR-gpt plasmid was transfected onto murine leukemia virus-infected mouse fibroblasts, we obtained evidence that RNA copies became pseudotyped into viral particles which could transfer the Gpt(+) phenotype into rodent cells with extremely high efficiency. This vector should prove useful for high-efficiency transduction of a variety of genes in mammalian cells.

A transmissible retrovirus expressing human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT): gene transfer into cells obtained from humans deficient in HPRT

A cDNA corresponding to the human gene for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT; IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) has been ligated into murine retroviral vectors such that it is under the transcriptional control of viral long terminal repeats. Transfection of HPRT- cells followed by superinfection with various helper viruses has led to the rescue of chimeric virus capable of transmitting the HPRT+ phenotype to HPRT- rodent or human cells. These genetically transformed cells contain authentic human HPRT at levels similar to normal HPRT+ cells.

Design of a retrovirus-derived vector for expression and transduction of exogenous genes in mammalian cells

We have developed a transfection vector for animal cells that contains long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences to promote expression. Plasmid p101/101, a derivative of plasmid pBR322 containing the complete Moloney murine sarcoma virus genome, was cut with restriction enzymes and religated so that both the 5' and 3' LTRs were retained and all but about 700 base pairs of the intervening viral sequences were removed. To test this vector, the Escherichia coli gene gpt was cloned into a unique PstI site, between the two LTRs, with guanine and cytosine tailing, a method that can be generalized for insertion of any DNA segment into this vector. When DNA from recombinant plasmids in which the gpt gene was inserted in the same transcriptional polarity as the LTR sequences was transfected onto murine or rat fibroblast cultures, we obtained a high yield of Gpt(+) colonies. However, plasmid constructs with the gpt gene in the opposite polarity were virtually devoid of activity. With gpt in the proper orientation, restriction enzyme cuts within the LTRs or between the 5' LTR and the gpt gene reduced transfection by more than 98%, whereas a cut between the gpt gene and the 3' LTR gave an 80% reduction in activity. Thus, both 5' and 3' LTR sequences are essential for optimal gpt expression, although the 5' LTR appears to play a more important role. When the LTR-gpt plasmid was transfected onto murine leukemia virus-infected mouse fibroblasts, we obtained evidence that RNA copies became pseudotyped into viral particles which could transfer the Gpt(+) phenotype into rodent cells with extremely high efficiency. This vector should prove useful for high-efficiency transduction of a variety of genes in mammalian cells.

Construction and isolation of a transforming murine retrovirus containing the src gene of Rous sarcoma virus

Recombinant murine retroviruses containing the src gene of the avian retrovirus Rous sarcoma virus were isolated. Such viruses were isolated from cells after transfection with DNAs in which the src gene was inserted into the genome of the amphotropic murine retrovirus 4070A. The isolated viruses had functional gag and pol genes, but they were all env defective since the src gene was inserted in the middle of the env gene coding region. Infectious transforming virus could be isolated only from cells transfected with DNA constructions in which the src gene was in the same polarity as that of a long terminal repeat of the amphotropic viral genome. These recombinant viruses encoded a pp60src protein with a molecular weight similar to that of the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus. In addition, the src protein(s) of these recombinant viruses was as active as protein kinases in the immune complex protein kinase assay. Intravenous injection of helper-independent Moloney and Friend murine leukemia virus pseudotypes of the src recombinant viruses into 6-week-old NIH Swiss mice resulted in the appearance of splenic foci within 2 weeks, splenomegaly and, later after infection (8 to 10 weeks), anemia. Infectious transforming virus could be recovered from the spleens of diseased animals. Such viruses encoded pp60src but not p21ras or mink cell focus-forming virus-related glycoproteins.

Construction of a retrovirus packaging mutant and its use to produce helper-free defective retrovirus

A mutant of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV), pMOV-psi-, was constructed by deletion of about 350 nucleotides from an infectious proviral DNA clone between the putative env mRNA 5' splice site and the AUG that initiates the coding sequence for Pr65gag. Although the parent wild-type proviral clone, pMOV-psi+, quickly causes a high level of reverse-transcriptase-containing virus particles to be released from transfected NIH/3T3 cells, transfection of pMOV-psi- into these cells initially results in very little release. By 9 to 10 days after transfection, however, pMOV-psi- -transfected cells produce infectious virus. Thus pMOV-psi- has a defect that can be repaired in transfected NIH/3T3 cells, presumably by recombination with a sequence normally present in the cells. Cell lines with pMOV-psi- stably integrated into chromosomal DNA produce reverse-transcriptase-containing particles that lack detectable M-MuLV RNA but the cells efficiently complement replication-defective, packagable retroviruses. Thus pMOV-psi- has a defect in the packaging of genomic RNA into virions but can provide in trans the products necessary for virion production. The deletion in pMOV-psi- appears to define a site required in cis for packaging of MuLV RNA into virions. Cell lines carrying pMOV-psi- can be used to produce helper-free stocks of natural or synthetic defective retroviruses.

Vaccinia virus: a selectable eukaryotic cloning and expression vector

Foreign DNA was inserted into two nonessential regions of the vaccinia virus genome by homologous recombination in cells infected with virus and transfected with plasmids containing the foreign DNA elements flanked by vaccinia virus DNA. Thymidine kinase-negative (TK-) recombinants were selected after inserting foreign DNA into the coding region of the TK gene of wild-type vaccinia virus; TK+ recombinants were selected after inserting the herpesvirus TK gene into TK- mutants of vaccinia virus. For TK+ expression, it was necessary to insert a 275-base-pair DNA fragment containing the initiation site and sequences upstream of an early vaccinia virus transcript next to the coding sequences of the herpesvirus gene. The unique ability of the herpesvirus TK to phosphorylate 125I-labeled deoxycytidine provided independent confirmation of gene expression. These studies demonstrate the use of vaccinia virus as a selectable cloning and expression vector, confirm the map location of the vaccinia virus TK gene, and provide initial information regarding the location of vaccinia virus transcriptional regulatory sequences.

Construction of a mammalian transducing vector from the genome of Moloney murine leukemia virus

A 0.9-kilobase DNA fragment from the genome of Moloney murine leukemia virus, including the viral long terminal repeat, was covalently linked to the herpes simplex virus I thymidine kinase (tk) gene whose promoter was previously removed. The hybrid DNA structure was introduced into the chromosome of tk- mouse cells at single copy numbers, via transfection procedures. Cells expressing the newly introduced tk gene were identified by the HAT selection procedure and analyzed for tk- and moloney murine leukemia virus-specific DNA and RNA sequences by blot hybridization procedures. Expression of the tk gene is dependent on function(s) provided in cis by the viral DNA fragment. Vectors derived from this region are termed rGag (rG) vectors.

Adaptation of a retrovirus as a eucaryotic vector transmitting the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene

We investigated the feasibility of using retroviruses as vectors for transferring DNA sequences into animal cells. The thymidine kinase (tk) gene of herpes simplex virus was chosen as a convenient model. The internal BamHI fragments of a DNA clone of Moloney leukemia virus (MLV) were replaced with a purified BamHI DNA segment containing the tk gene. Chimeric genomes were created carrying the tk insert in both orientations relative to the MLV sequence. Each was transfected into TK- cells along with MLV helper virus, and TK+ colonies were obtained by selection in the presence of hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine (HAT). Virus collected from TK+-transformed, MLV producer cells passed the TK+ phenotype to TK- cells. Nonproducer cells were isolated, and TK+ transducing virus was subsequently rescued from them. The chimeric virus showed single-hit kinetics in infections. Virion and cellular RNA and cellular DNA from infected cells were all shown to contain sequences which hybridized to both MLV- and tk-specific probes. The sizes of these sequences were consistent with those predicted for the chimeric virus. In all respects studied, the chimeric MLV-tk virus behaved like known replication-defective retroviruses. These experiments suggest great general applicability of retroviruses as eucaryotic vectors.

Effect of intron size on splicing efficiency in retroviral transcripts

To study the effect of intron size on splicing efficiency we have varied the size of the avian leukosis virus (ALV) env mRNA intron in a cloned ALV genome. This was accomplished by deletion of ALV sequences or insertion of phage lambda DNA. The effect of these modifications on splicing was analyzed by microinjection of the modified clones into RSV(-) chicken cells. Viral env mRNA when transcribed and properly spliced within these cells complemented the RSV(-) env deficiency leading to the production of focus forming units. Using this assay it was shown that deletion of up to 3.7 kb of the 4.68 kb env intron did not inhibit correct splicing nor did insertion of up to 8 kb of phage lambda DNA prevent splicing. Our results indicate that intron size can be varied over a wide range without preventing splicing.

In situ hybridization: general infectivity assay for retroviruses

We have devised a general infectivity assay for retroviruses. A virus-specific [32P]DNA probe is hybridized in situ to a monolayer culture, and foci of infected cells in the monolayer are detected by exposure of the hybridized culture to X-ray films. The method is quantitative, in that it gives the same titer for Moloney murine leukemia virus as does the standard UV-XC test. The specificity of the assay is indicated by the fact that murine leukemia virus and baboon endogenous virus do not cross hybridize under the conditions used. The assay is completed within 1 to 3 weeks and should be broadly applicable for retroviruses which replicate without altering cellular morphology: its use is demonstrated with mouse mammary tumor virus and the helper virus of the reticuloendotheliosis complex.

Form and function of retroviral proviruses

Retroviruses have proved to be useful reagents for studying genetic and epigenetic (such as regulatory) changes in eukaryotic cells, for assessing functional and structural relationships between transposable genetic elements, for inducing insertional mutations, including some important in oncogenesis, and for transporting genes into eukaryotic cells, either after natural transduction of putative cellular oncogenes or after experimental construction of recombinant viruses. Many of these properties of retroviruses depend on their capacity to establish a DNA (proviral) form of their RNA genomes as a stable component of host chromosomes, in either somatic or germinal cells.

Adaptation of a retrovirus as a eucaryotic vector transmitting the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene

We investigated the feasibility of using retroviruses as vectors for transferring DNA sequences into animal cells. The thymidine kinase (tk) gene of herpes simplex virus was chosen as a convenient model. The internal BamHI fragments of a DNA clone of Moloney leukemia virus (MLV) were replaced with a purified BamHI DNA segment containing the tk gene. Chimeric genomes were created carrying the tk insert in both orientations relative to the MLV sequence. Each was transfected into TK- cells along with MLV helper virus, and TK+ colonies were obtained by selection in the presence of hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine (HAT). Virus collected from TK+-transformed, MLV producer cells passed the TK+ phenotype to TK- cells. Nonproducer cells were isolated, and TK+ transducing virus was subsequently rescued from them. The chimeric virus showed single-hit kinetics in infections. Virion and cellular RNA and cellular DNA from infected cells were all shown to contain sequences which hybridized to both MLV- and tk-specific probes. The sizes of these sequences were consistent with those predicted for the chimeric virus. In all respects studied, the chimeric MLV-tk virus behaved like known replication-defective retroviruses. These experiments suggest great general applicability of retroviruses as eucaryotic vectors.

Recombinant retroviral DNA yielding high expression of hepatitis B surface antigen

A genomic fragment of hepatitis B virus encoding the surface antigen (HBsAg) was inserted into the proviral genome of Moloney mouse sarcoma virus (MSV), obtained from the mouse cell line G8 -124. The recombinant DNA was introduced into NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. Cells, morphologically transformed by the oncogene of MSV (v-mosM) were selected, established as cell lines and tested for expression of HBsAg. An expression level of up to 4.5 micrograms/10(7) cells/day was detected.

Proposal for naming host cell-derived inserts in retrovirus genomes

We propose a system for naming inserted sequences in transforming retroviruses (i.e., onc genes), based on using trivial names derived from a prototype strain of virus.