Abstract: Presented are ways to address the problem of replication-competent adenovirus in adenoviral production for use with, for example, gene therapy. Packaging cells having no overlapping sequences with a selected vector are suited for large scale production of recombinant adenoviruses. A described system produces replication-defective adenovirus. The system includes a primary cell containing a nucleotide derived from adenovirus and an isolated recombinant nucleic acid molecule for transfer into the primary cell. The isolated recombinant nucleotide is derived from an adenovirus, has at least one functional encapsidation signal and at least one functional Inverted Terminal Repeat, and lacks overlapping sequences with the nucleic acid of the cell. Otherwise, the overlapping sequences would enable homologous recombination leading to replication-competent adenovirus in the primary cell into which the isolated recombinant nucleotide is to be transferred.

Abstract: Presented are ways to address the problem of replication competent adenovirus in adenoviral production for use with, for example, gene therapy. Packaging cells having no overlapping sequences with a selected vector are suited for large scale production of recombinant adenoviruses. A system for use with the invention produces replication-defective adenovirus. The system includes a primary cell containing a nucleic acid based on or derived from adenovirus and an isolated recombinant nucleic acid molecule for transfer into the primary cell. The isolated recombinant nucleic acid molecule is based on or derived from an adenovirus, has at least one functional encapsidation signal and at least one functional Inverted Terminal Repeat, and lacks overlapping sequences with the nucleic acid of the cell. Otherwise, the overlapping sequences would enable homologous recombination leading to replication competent adenovirus in the primary cell into which the isolated recombinant nucleic acid molecule is to be transferred.

Abstract: Cells capable of at least, in part, complementing adenovirus an adenovirus defective in E2A function. Such cells include a nucleic acid-encoding adenovirus E2A or a functional part, derivative, temperature-sensitive mutation and/or analogue thereof, integrated into the cell's genome. Methods for producing an adenovirus particle/vector with a functional deletion of E2A are also disclosed. Such methods involve providing a cell with the functionally deleted adenovirus vector, culturing the cell, and harvesting viral particles. The functional deletion may comprise a deletion in E2A. The nucleic acid-encoding E2A in the cell's genome may lack sequence overlap with the vector, preventing formation of a replication-competent adenovirus or restoration of E2A function. The adenovirus vector may further include a functional deletion in the E1-region.

Abstract: The invention relates to transcription factors with a DNA binding domain consisting of a basic domain and an adjacent leucine zipper domain. The aim of the invention is to provide modified transcription factors whose binding behavior towards each other and towards DNA sequences can be manipulated. To this end, at least one amino acid on the leucine zipper is replaced by a charged amino acid.