Production of avian retroviruses and tissue-specific somatic retroviral gene transfer in vivo using the RCAS/TVA system

Nat Protoc. 2012 May 24;7(6):1167-83. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2012.060.

Abstract

Spatiotemporal retroviral gene transfer into specific somatic mammalian cells using the avian RCAS (replication-competent avian sarcoma-leukosis virus long terminal repeat with splice acceptor)/tumor virus A (TVA) system is a versatile tool for performing lineage tracing and gene function analysis in vivo. RCAS retroviruses carrying the subgroup A envelope transduce only genetically engineered mammalian cells that express the cognate avian retroviral receptor TVA. The RCAS/TVA gene delivery system has been successfully used in various different mouse TVA-expression models. This protocol contains a detailed description of the production of high-titer RCAS retroviruses in chicken fibroblasts and the transduction of proliferating TVA-positive somatic mammalian cells in vivo. By taking advantage of the combination of the RCAS/TVA with the 'universal' Cre/loxP system, the protocol can be used in nearly every proliferating cell type in vivo. The protocol takes 4 weeks from transfection of chicken fibroblasts, which act as the host cells for viral production, to the transduction of TVA-transgenic mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alpharetrovirus / genetics*
  • Alpharetrovirus / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Avian Leukosis Virus / genetics
  • Chickens
  • Fibroblasts / virology
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Mammals
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic*
  • Receptors, Virus / genetics
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism
  • Terminal Repeat Sequences
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Receptors, Virus