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Adriaansen J, Vervoordeldonk MJ, Vanderbyl S, de Jong G, Tak PP. A novel approach for gene therapy: engraftment of fibroblasts containing the artificial chromosome expression system at the site of inflammation. J Gene Med 2006; 8:63-71. [PMID: 16038012 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the synovial tissue. High systemic doses are necessary to achieve therapeutic levels of anti-rheumatic drugs in the joints. Gene transfer might provide a more efficient delivery system for genes encoding therapeutic proteins. METHODS The artificial chromosome expression system (ACE System) is a new non-integrating, non-viral gene expression system which functions like a natural chromosome. This technology offers advantages over current expression systems because it allows stable and predictable expression of proteins encoded by single or multiple genes over long periods of time. We are developing ex vivo gene therapy using murine artificial chromosomes containing a reporter gene (LacZ and red fluorescent protein (RFP)) for local delivery of genes in rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA). RESULTS The delivery of the intact ACE System into rat fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and rat skin fibroblasts (RSF) was detected within 24 to 48 h post-transfection. After growing cells under selection, clones expressing LacZ and RFP were identified. Furthermore, we investigated the feasibility of local delivery of a reporter gene to the joints of rats with AA by ex vivo gene therapy. This resulted in engraftment of the injected cells in the synovial tissue microarchitecture and expression of the reporter gene. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates the potential feasibility of treating arthritis and other inflammatory diseases using fibroblasts containing the ACE System as a non-viral vector for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janik Adriaansen
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Heslop-Harrison JS, Brandes A, Schwarzacher T. Tandemly repeated DNA sequences and centromeric chromosomal regions of Arabidopsis species. Chromosome Res 2004; 11:241-53. [PMID: 12769291 DOI: 10.1023/a:1022998709969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite their common function, centromeric DNA sequences are not conserved between organisms. Most centromeres of animals and plants so far investigated have now been shown to consist of large blocks of tandemly repeated satellite sequences that are embedded in recombination-deficient heterochromatic regions. This central domain of satellite sequences that is postulated to mediate spindle attachment is surrounded by pericentromeric sequences incorporating various classes of repetitive sequences often including retroelements. The centromeric satellite DNA sequences are amongst the most rapidly evolving sequences and pose some fundamental problems of maintaining function. In this overview, we will discuss work on centromeric repetitive sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana and its relatives, and highlight some of the common features that are emerging when analysing closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Heslop-Harrison
- CREST Project, Department of Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
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3
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Hollis RP, Stoll SM, Sclimenti CR, Lin J, Chen-Tsai Y, Calos MP. Phage integrases for the construction and manipulation of transgenic mammals. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2003; 1:79. [PMID: 14613545 PMCID: PMC280723 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-1-79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2003] [Accepted: 11/07/2003] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage integrases catalyze site-specific, unidirectional recombination between two short att recognition sites. Recombination results in integration when the att sites are present on two different DNA molecules and deletion or inversion when the att sites are on the same molecule. Here we demonstrate the ability of the phiC31 integrase to integrate DNA into endogenous sequences in the mouse genome following microinjection of donor plasmid and integrase mRNA into mouse single-cell embryos. Transgenic early embryos and a mid-gestation mouse are reported. We also demonstrate the ability of the phiC31, R4, and TP901-1 phage integrases to recombine two introduced att sites on the same chromosome in human cells, resulting in deletion of the intervening material. We compare the frequencies of mammalian chromosomal deletion catalyzed by these three integrases in different chromosomal locations. The results reviewed here introduce these bacteriophage integrases as tools for site-specific modification of the genome for the creation and manipulation of transgenic mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger P Hollis
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5120, USA
- Present address: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Research Immunology/BMT, Mail Stop #62, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Joint first authors
| | - Stephanie M Stoll
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5120, USA
- Present address: University of California San Francisco, Department of Surgery, 513 Parnassus Ave, HSW 1622, Box 0522, San Francisco, CA 94122-0522, USA
- Joint first authors
| | - Christopher R Sclimenti
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5120, USA
- Present address: Poetic Genetics LLC, 863B Mitten Rd., Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
| | - Jennifer Lin
- Stanford Transgenic Research Facility, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5120, USA
| | - Yanru Chen-Tsai
- Stanford Transgenic Research Facility, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5120, USA
| | - Michele P Calos
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5120, USA
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Couronne O, Poliakov A, Bray N, Ishkhanov T, Ryaboy D, Rubin E, Pachter L, Dubchak I. Strategies and tools for whole-genome alignments. Genome Res 2003; 13:73-80. [PMID: 12529308 PMCID: PMC430965 DOI: 10.1101/gr.762503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2002] [Accepted: 11/06/2002] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The availability of the assembled mouse genome makes possible, for the first time, an alignment and comparison of two large vertebrate genomes. We investigated different strategies of alignment for the subsequent analysis of conservation of genomes that are effective for assemblies of different quality. These strategies were applied to the comparison of the working draft of the human genome with the Mouse Genome Sequencing Consortium assembly, as well as other intermediate mouse assemblies. Our methods are fast and the resulting alignments exhibit a high degree of sensitivity, covering more than 90% of known coding exons in the human genome. We obtained such coverage while preserving specificity. With a view towards the end user, we developed a suite of tools and Web sites for automatically aligning and subsequently browsing and working with whole-genome comparisons. We describe the use of these tools to identify conserved non-coding regions between the human and mouse genomes, some of which have not been identified by other methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Couronne
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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de Jong G, Telenius A, Vanderbyl S, Meitz A, Drayer J. Efficient in-vitro transfer of a 60-Mb mammalian artificial chromosome into murine and hamster cells using cationic lipids and dendrimers. Chromosome Res 2002; 9:475-85. [PMID: 11592482 DOI: 10.1023/a:1011680529073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Non-integrating artificial chromosomes represent a potentially promising approach to ex-vivo and in-vivo gene therapy applications. These large vectors require an efficient means for delivery to target cells. We have evaluated a panel of twenty-one commercially available transfection agents for their ability to mediate the in-vitro transfer of a 60-Mb murine artificial chromosome consisting of mouse major satellite DNA and a payload including a marker gene (hygromycin B) and a reporter gene (lacZ). A rapid screening procedure utilizing iododeoxyuridine-incorporated artificial chromosomes facilitated the assessment of different transfection conditions. The results were confirmed by cytogenetic analysis of positively transfected clones. By transfecting both hamster lung fibroblast cells (V79-4) and murine connective tissue cells [L-M(TK-)], the best results were obtained using either Superfect (cationic dendrimer) or LipofectAMINE 2000 (cationic lipid) with protocols adapted for metaphase chromosome preparation. Transfection efficiencies of 10(-4)-10(-2) (0.01-1%) were routinely observed, and recipient cells were able to maintain expression of the reporter gene over the total length of the experiment. This represents a significant advance over our previous attempts at mass-transfection of artificial chromosomes using microcell fusion, where we routinely achieved efficiencies at least two orders of magnitudes less than reported here. These data are particularly noteworthy given that lipid-mediated gene transfer typically involves transfecting millions of plasmids (1 microg of DNA from a 5 kb plasmid is approximately 1.2 x 10(11) copies) to each cell whereas the much larger artificial chromosomes comprise only a one-to-one ratio, yet achieve transfection efficiencies of (10(-2)-10(-1)), that is, comparable to our results. These data suggest that artificial chromosomes containing therapeutic genes can be successfully delivered to target cells in vitro using well-established transfection agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- G de Jong
- Chromos Molecular Systems Inc., Burnaby, BC.
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Wang B, Lazaris A, Lindenbaum M, Stewart S, Co D, Perez C, Drayer J, Karatzas CN. Expression of a reporter gene after microinjection of mammalian artificial chromosomes into pronuclei of bovine zygotes. Mol Reprod Dev 2001; 60:433-8. [PMID: 11746953 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.1107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of mammalian artificial chromosomes (ACs) into zygotes represents an alternative, more predictive technology for the production of recombinant proteins in transgenic animals. The aim of these experiments was to examine the effects of artificial chromosome microinjection into bovine pronuclei on embryo development and reporter gene expression. Bovine oocytes aspirated from 2-5 mm size follicles were matured in vitro for 22 hr. Mature oocytes were fertilized in vitro with frozen- thawed bull spermatozoa. Artificial chromosome carrying either beta-galactosidase (Lac-Z) gene or green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene were isolated by flow cytometry. A single chromosome was microinjected into one of the two pronuclei of bovine zygotes. Sham injected zygotes served as controls. Injected zygotes were cultured in G 1.2 medium for 7 days. Hatched blastocysts were cultured on blocked STO cell feeder layer for attachment and outgrowth of ICM and trophectoderm cells. The results showed a high zygote survival rate following LacZ-ACs microinjection (74%). However, the blastocyst development rate after 7 days of culture was significantly lower than that of sham injected zygotes (7.5 vs. 22%). Embryonic cells positive for Lac-Z gene were detected by PCR in three of nine outgrowth colonies. In addition, GFP gene expression was observed in 15 out of 85 (18%) embryos at the arrested 2-cell stage to blastocyst stage. Six blastocysts successfully outgrew, three outgrowths were GFP positive for up to 3 weeks in culture. We conclude that the methodology for artificial chromosome delivery into bovine zygotes could lead to viable blastocyst development, and reporter gene expression could be sustained during pre-implantation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Wang
- Nexia Biotechnologies, Inc., 21,025 route transcanadienne, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3R2.
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7
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Co DO, Borowski AH, Leung JD, van der Kaa J, Hengst S, Platenburg GJ, Pieper FR, Perez CF, Jirik FR, Drayer JI. Generation of transgenic mice and germline transmission of a mammalian artificial chromosome introduced into embryos by pronuclear microinjection. Chromosome Res 2000; 8:183-91. [PMID: 10841045 DOI: 10.1023/a:1009206926548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
We have generated transgenic mice by pronuclear microinjection of a murine satellite DNA-based artificial chromosome (SATAC). As 50% of the founder progeny were SATAC-positive, this demonstrates that SATAC transmission through the germline had occurred. FISH analyses of metaphase chromosomes from mitogen-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes from both the founder and progeny revealed that the SATAC was maintained as a discrete chromosome and that it had not integrated into an endogenous chromosome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the germline transmission of a genetically engineered mammalian artificial chromosome within transgenic animals generated through pronuclear microinjection. We have also shown that murine SATACs can be similarly introduced into bovine embryos. The use of embryo microinjection to generate transgenic mammals carrying genetically engineered chromosomes provides a novel method by which the unique advantages of chromosome-based gene delivery systems can be exploited.
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Affiliation(s)
- D O Co
- Chromos Molecular Systems, Inc., Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
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Faravelli M, Moralli D, Bertoni L, Attolini C, Chernova O, Raimondi E, Giulotto E. Two extended arrays of a satellite DNA sequence at the centromere and at the short-arm telomere of Chinese hamster chromosome 5. CYTOGENETICS AND CELL GENETICS 2000; 83:281-6. [PMID: 10072604 DOI: 10.1159/000015171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have cloned a Chinese hamster chromosome-specific repeated sequence (SatCH5). This satellite is composed of a 33-bp unit organized in two extended tandem arrays. It is localized at the centromere and at the short-arm subtelomere of chromosome 5. Altogether, SatCH5 covers about 1-2 Mb per diploid genome and is not present in other species, including the Syrian hamster and mouse. Since it is known in the Chinese hamster and numerous other vertebrate species that telomeric (TTAGGG)n repeats are localized at the centromeres of several chromosomes, we studied the localization of SatCH5 relative to (TTAGGG)n sequences. Using two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization on stretched chromosomes and on DNA fibers, we have shown that at the centromere of chromosome 5 SatCH5 and the (TTAGGG)n arrays are contiguous. SatCH5 is the first chromosome-specific repetitive sequence located at both the pericentromeric and subtelomeric regions of the same chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Faravelli
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia "A. Buzzati-Traverso," Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Au HC, Mascarello JT, Scheffler IE. Targeted integration of a dominant neo(R) marker into a 2- to 3-Mb human minichromosome and transfer between cells. CYTOGENETICS AND CELL GENETICS 1999; 86:194-203. [PMID: 10575205 DOI: 10.1159/000015338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The physical and genetic characterization of a stable human minichromosome in a Chinese hamster hybrid cell is described. The minichromosome is 2-3 Mb in size, is linear, and contains a complementing SDHC gene. It is derived from a human chromosome 1, including the centromere, some pericentric heterochromatin from 1q12, and 1-2 Mb of 1q21. Genomic DNA surrounding the SDHC gene was used to construct a targeting vector with a selectable drug resistance marker (neo(R)); the marker was then successfully integrated into the minichromosome. With the new selectable marker, the 8.2.3 minichromosome could be transferred into mouse LMTK(-) and 3T3 TK(-) cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- H C Au
- Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. USA
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10
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Telenius H, Szeles A, Keresö J, Csonka E, Praznovszky T, Imreh S, Maxwell A, Perez CF, Drayer JI, Hadlaczky G. Stability of a functional murine satellite DNA-based artificial chromosome across mammalian species. Chromosome Res 1999; 7:3-7. [PMID: 10219727 DOI: 10.1023/a:1009215026001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A 60-Mb murine chromosome consisting of murine pericentric satellite DNA and two bands of integrated marker and reporter genes has been generated de novo in a rodent/human hybrid cell line (mM2C1). This prototype mammalian artificial chromosome platform carries a normal centromere, and the expression of its beta-galactosidase reporter gene has remained stable under selection for over 25 months. The novel chromosome was transferred by a modified microcell fusion method to mouse [L-M(TK-)], bovine (P46) and human (EJ30) cell lines. In all cases, the chromosome remained structurally and functionally intact under selection for periods exceeding 3 months from the time of transfer into the new host. In addition, the chromosome was retained in three first-generation tumours when L-M(TK-) cells containing the chromosome were xenografted in severe combined immunodeficiency mice. These data support that a murine satellite DNA-based artificial chromosome can be used as a functional mammalian artificial chromosome and can be maintained in vivo and in cells of heterologous species in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Telenius
- Chromos Molecular Systems Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Shashikant CS, Carr JL, Bhargava J, Bentley KL, Ruddle FH. Recombinogenic targeting: a new approach to genomic analysis--a review. Gene X 1998; 223:9-20. [PMID: 9858667 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(98)00369-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, recombinational cloning procedures based upon methods developed for yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are being exploited for targeted cloning and in-vivo modification of genomic clones. In this review, we will discuss the development of large-insert vectors, homologous recombination-based techniques for cloning and modification, and their application towards functional analysis of genes using transgenic mouse model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Shashikant
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, Kline Biology Tower, PO Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520,
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12
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Abstract
Mammalian artificial chromosomes (MACs) represent powerful tools for human gene therapy and animal transgenesis. First-generation linear genomic human artificial chromosomes (HACs) and circular chimeric genomic/viral mouse artificial episomal chromosomes (MAECs) have been developed. HACs have been shuttled from human into mouse embryonal stem cells and human trans-chromosomic mice have been generated. The potential of new genetic cis-elements and epigenetic phenomena for de novo segregation and replication activities on MACs are points for discussion. Once the size and delivery constraints of HACs are circumvented, therapeutic applications will be numerous, particularly for recessive syndromes involving large genes and multigenic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Vos
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7295, USA.
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Jessen JR, Meng A, McFarlane RJ, Paw BH, Zon LI, Smith GR, Lin S. Modification of bacterial artificial chromosomes through chi-stimulated homologous recombination and its application in zebrafish transgenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:5121-6. [PMID: 9560239 PMCID: PMC20224 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.9.5121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The modification of yeast artificial chromosomes through homologous recombination has become a useful genetic tool for studying gene function and enhancer/promoter activity. However, it is difficult to purify intact yeast artificial chromosome DNA at a concentration sufficient for many applications. Bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) are vectors that can accommodate large DNA fragments and can easily be purified as plasmid DNA. We report herein a simple procedure for modifying BACs through homologous recombination using a targeting construct containing properly situated Chi sites. To demonstrate a usage for this technique, we modified BAC clones containing the zebrafish GATA-2 genomic locus by replacing the first coding exon with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene. Molecular analyses confirmed that the modification occurred without additional deletions or rearrangements of the BACs. Microinjection demonstrated that GATA-2 expression patterns can be recapitulated in living zebrafish embryos by using these GFP-modified GATA-2 BACs. Embryos microinjected with the modified BAC clones were less mosaic and had improved GFP expression in hematopoietic progenitor cells compared with smaller plasmid constructs. The precise modification of BACs through Chi-stimulated homologous recombination should be useful for studying gene function and regulation in cultured cells or organisms where gene transfer is applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Jessen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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