Bidirectional Retroviral Integration Site PCR Methodology and Quantitative Data Analysis Workflow

The overall goal of this procedure is to identify retroviral vector integration sites in the host genome and quantify the relative frequencies of clonal cell populations each sharing the same integration site. This method can help answer key questions in retroviral gene therapy, such as which part of the host genome vector has integrated, how a genetically engineered cell will repopulate after the transplant, and how they are functionally different. The main advantage of this technique is that retro-integration site sequences can be analyzed with higher accuracy and sensitivity by sequencing both upstream and downstream vector host DNA junctions simultaneously.

Though this method can provide insight into the safety of vectors and gene engineered cell in gene therapy studies, it can also be applied to other basic biology studies to investigate individual cell behavior in vivo. The first step in this procedure is to determine the DNA concentration and the ratio of absorbance at 260 and 280 nanometers of the genomic DNA to be analyzed. After this, dilute one to two micrograms of the sample genomic DNA to a final volume of 170 microliters of genomic DNA solution using nuclease free water.