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Journal of Virology, July 1999, p. 6171-6176, Vol. 73, No. 7
0022-538X/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Contributions of Viral Splice Sites and cis-Regulatory Elements to Lentivirus Vector Function

Yan Cui, Tomoo Iwakuma, and Lung-Ji Chang*

Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Gene Therapy Center, and University of Florida Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0266

Received 28 October 1998/Accepted 9 April 1999

The mobile transgene constructs of most human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-based lentivirus vectors currently in use contain viral long terminal repeats, a 5' untranslated region, gag sequences, and env sequences that include the Rev-responsive element (RRE). In this study, we examined the possibility of deleting HIV splice sites and gag and env sequences from an HIV type 1 recombinant vector established in our laboratory as part of our ongoing efforts to improve this vector system. Mutations in the major splice donor site (SD) markedly reduced viral RNA expression but had little effect on vector titer. Deletion of gag or env sequences, excluding RRE, led to a moderate reduction in vector titer. Interestingly, deletion of RRE slightly reduced viral RNA expression but markedly impaired vector function. Combined deletions of RRE, gag (except for the first 40 nucleotides), env, and the SD mutation resulted in a twofold increase in cytoplasmic viral RNA expression and a recovery of vector efficiency to ~50% of the wild-type level. This increase in cytoplasmic RNA levels is likely to be due, at least in part, to effects of the TE671 host cells, a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line used for vector production in our system, on the cytoplasmic distribution of spliced and unspliced viral RNA. These results show that optimal lentivirus vector function can be maintained in the absence of multiple essential viral elements.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Rm. R1-252, ARB, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266. Phone: (352) 392-3315. Fax: (352) 392-3133. E-mail: lchang{at}college.med.ufl.edu.

Journal of Virology, July 1999, p. 6171-6176, Vol. 73, No. 7
0022-538X/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Copyright © 1999 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.