Gene expression from transcriptionally disabled retroviral vectors

Retroviral vectors are used for the efficient transfer of foreign genes into mammalian cells. We report here the construction of murine retrovirus-based vectors carrying the full-length cDNA for human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT; EC 2.4.2.8) and from which the enhancer sequences, the "CAAT box," and the "TATA box" in the long terminal repeats (LTRs) have been deleted. After infection of HPRT-deficient rat cells by the vectors, transcriptional activity from the 5' LTR was undetectable and expression of the HPRT cDNA was dependent on an internal promoter. Removal of the LTR regulatory elements increased HPRT gene expression from an internal promoter, indicating interference between the two sets of transcriptional signals. Such disabled vectors may reduce the likelihood of undesirable genetic changes through insertional mutagenesis in cells infected with retroviral vectors.