Figure 1

Plasmid pMLV-CX43-EGFP containing the DNA sequence for the retroviral vector MLV-CX43-EGFP. A retroviral backbone plasmid, pMLV-CX43-EGFP, co-expressing human connexin 43 cDNA and the EGFP gene, was generated on the basis of the retroviral backbone plasmid pLZRS-LacZ(A). We used the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to arrange the connexin 43 sequence and the downstream EGFP marker gene within one single transcription unit under control of a tandem of MLV LTR promoter and CMV immediate early promoter. The obtained plasmid pMLV-CX43-EGFP contains the Epstein-Barr virus EBNA-1-oriP segment driving episomal replication in the producer cell line and, thus, improving chances for selection of a high titre virus producing clone. The EGFP marker of the retroviral vector simplifies identification of transduced cells and is useful for evaluation of the viral vector titre.