CELL-FREE ASSEMBLY OF LENTIVIRAL CAPSIDS

摘要

Methods and compositions for assembling full-sized, stable lentiviral capsids from purified lentiviral Gag polypeptides in vitro are disclosed. The inclusion of phosphorylated compounds in the assembly reaction yields spherical particles indistinguishable from the viral capsids produced by infected cells. Such particles are useful to deliver nucleic acids or other therapeutic molecules to cells. Also provided are methods to identify other compounds that promote capsid assembly, as well as methods to identify therapeutic compounds that interfere with viral assembly. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the in vitro assembled lentiviral capsids are also provided.