Potential limitations of transcription terminators used as transgene insulators in adenoviral vectors. Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The presence of adenoviral cis-elements interfering with the activity of tissue-specific promoters has seriously impaired the use of transcriptional targeting adenoviruses for gene therapy purposes. As an approach to overcome this limitation, transcription terminators were previously employed in cultured cells to insulate a transgene promoter from viral activation. To extend these studies in vivo, we have injected into heart and skeletal muscle, adenoviruses containing the human growth hormone terminator and the cardiac-specific alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter (alphaMyHC) driving the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Promoterless CAT constructs were also tested to study interfering viral transcription and terminator activity. Here we demonstrate that the presence of a terminator can produce undesirable effects on the activity of heterologous promoters. Our analysis shows that in particular conditions, a terminator can reduce the tissue specificity of the transgene promoter. By RNAse protection assay performed on cardiac myocytes, we also show that adenoviral elements can direct high levels of autonomous transcription within the E1A enhancer region. This finding supports the model that passive readthrough of the transgene promoter is responsible for loss of selective expression.

publication date

  • February 1, 2002

has subject area

has restriction

  • closed

Date in CU Experts

  • September 6, 2013 4:09 AM

Full Author List

  • Buvoli M; Langer SJ; Bialik S; Leinwand LA

author count

  • 4

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0969-7128

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 227

end page

  • 231

volume

  • 9

issue

  • 3