RCAS ()

Retroviruses are a class of enveloped viruses with RNA genomes. Once inside the host cell, they rely on reverse transcriptase to reverse transcribe the genome from RNA to DNA, integrate it into the host genome during division, and replicate as part of the host cell's DNA. Therefore, retroviruses can be used as effective vectors for foreign gene transfer and have been widely developed and used to study gene function and therapy, developmental processes, and tumorigenesis. To date, avian retroviral vectors (RCAS) and their receptor (TVA) systems have been widely used in mammalian transgenic models. The RCAS-TVA model, which can be combined with existing transgenic, knockout, or knock-in models, provides a simple and rapid method to study gene function in mouse models of human cancer.

Modification and production of RCAS virus

The RCAS virus retains all the viral genes required for replication, and when the RCAS vector enters the cell, it can directly encode infectious particles and assemble into the desired proteins, so it does not require helper cells. First, the RCAS vector was constructed by deleting the src oncogene and inserting the multiple cloning site. Then the RCAS vector was transfected into DF1 cells, and high titers of RCAS virus were obtained after a series of operations such as culture and purification. This production system has high flexibility, versatility, high virus quality and high yield, and is suitable for large-scale scale-up production.