| abstract |
The invention relates to retroviral vectors, especially to self-inactivating (SIN) gammaretroviral vectors, suitable for producing viral particles at high titers, which can be used for efficient gene transfer into mammalian cells, organs or organisms, e.g. for gene therapy. More specifically, the present invention provides modified 5'-promoter elements in the U3-region of the 5'-LTR of the gammaretroviral vector plasmid and 3'-SIN elements modified in the U3-region of the 3'-LTR of the gammaretroviral vector plasmid suitable for being comprised in retroviral vectors. It is a specific advantage of both the modified 5'-promoter element and of the modified 3'-SIN element, which are preferably contained in retroviral vectors in combination with one another, to increase both the titer of viral particles as well as to increase the expression of a transgene in recipient cells, which transgene is arranged between the modified LTRs according to the invention. |