Plasmid 15163: RCASBP (E) (CC#36)

• Gene/insert name: None
• Vector backbone: RCASBP (E)
  (Search Vector Database)
• Vector type: Retroviral ; Avian expression
• Backbone size (bp): 12000
• 5' sequencing primer: n/a
• Bacterial resistance(s) Ampicillin
• Growth strain(s) DH5alpha
• Growth temperature (℃): 37
• High or low copy: Unknown
• Person or lab that originally
  cloned the gene/insert: RCASBP(A) provided by S. Hughes.
• Sequence: View sequences (1)
• Principal Investigator: Connie Cepko
• Terms and Licenses: MTA

Comments: 

The name RCAS stands for Replication-Competent ASLV long terminal repeat (LTR) with a Splice acceptor. The RCAS vectors retain the src splice site and express an inserted gene via a spliced message. These vectors will replicate in appropriately chosen avian cells (usually chicken or quail, although others can be used). In some cases, RCAS vectors will infect, but will not replicate, in mammalian cells. Please also see the paper Hughes SH et al., J Virol 1987 Oct; 61(10):3004-3012.

We constructed a fourth vector of the RCAS series of the E subgroup. Two hypervariable regions within the extracellular domain of the env gene are of particular importance in determining the host range of different viral subgroups. Starting with RCASBP(A), a new vector of the E subgroup, called RCASBP(E), was constructed by swapping a portion of the A env with E env. The E env sequences were obtained from pRAV-0 by KpnI-SalI digestion and isolation of the 1.1-kb env fragment. This fragment was ligated to RCASBP(A) in place of the homologous KpnI-SalI fragment.

Article: Replication-competent retroviral vectors encoding alkaline phosphatase reveal spatial restriction of viral gene expression/transduction in the chick embryo. Fekete et al (Mol Cell Biol. 1993 Apr . 13(4):2604-13. PubMed)