Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Lentiviral Vector Platform for the Efficient Delivery of Epigenome-editing Tools into Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Disease Models
Published on: March 29, 2019
The woodchuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element reduces readthrough transcription from
T Higashimoto1, F Urbinati, A Perumbeti
1Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Pathology, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Abstract:
The woodchuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element (WPRE) increases transgene expression from a variety of viral vectors, although the precise mechanism is not known. WPRE is most effective when placed downstream of the transgene, proximal to the polyadenylation signal. We hypothesized that WPRE likely reduces viral mRNA readthrough transcription by improving transcript termination, which in turn would increase viral titers and expression. Using a Cre-lox-mediated plasmid-based assay, we found significant readthrough transcription from gamma-retroviral vector (RV) long terminal repeat (wt RV-LTR) and RV LTR with a self-inactivating deletion (SIN RV-LTR). WPRE, when placed upstream of the RV LTRs, significantly reduced readthrough transcription. Readthrough, present at much lower levels with the SIN HIV-1 LV-LTR, was also reduced with WPRE. When placed in RV vectors, WPRE increased total RV genomic mRNA; and increased viral titers from transiently transfected 293T cells and stable PG13 producer cells by 7- to 15-fold. The mechanism of increased titers and expression was not due to increased nuclear mRNA export, increased rate of viral transcription or a significant increase in viral mRNA half-life. Our results showed that WPRE improved vector genomic transcript termination to increase titers and expression from RVs.
More Related Videos
09:35Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle
Published on: February 1, 2017
10:42A Protocol for the Production of Integrase-deficient Lentiviral Vectors for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Gene Knockout in Dividing Cells
Published on: December 12, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Non-LTR Retrotransposons
Retroviruses
LTR Retrotransposons
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers