Transfer and expression of DNA constructs into cells by using retrovirus vectors: a new tool for pharmacological...

Recombinant retroviruses are useful vectors for introducing DNA sequences into eukaryotic chromosomes and obtain their expression. The principles and techniques for producing these vectors and their applications are discussed in view of their use in pharmacological research. Particularly, retroviral vectors seem to be attractive for expressing into mammalian cells antisense RNA, that is RNA complementary to target mRNA and capable of preventing the synthesis of the gene product.