High-resolution insertion-site analysis by linear amplification–mediated PCR (LAM-PCR)

M Schmidt, K Schwarzwaelder, C Bartholomae… - Nature …, 2007 - nature.com
M Schmidt, K Schwarzwaelder, C Bartholomae, K Zaoui, C Ball, I Pilz, S Braun, H Glimm
Nature methods, 2007nature.com
Integrating vector systems used in clinical gene therapy have proven their therapeutic
potential in the long-term correction of immunodeficiencies,,,. The integration loci of such
vectors in the cellular genome represent a molecular marker unique for each transduced cell
and its clonal progeny. To gain insight into the physiology of gene-modified hematopoietic
repopulation and vector-related influences on clonal contributions, we have previously
introduced a technology—linear amplification–mediated (LAM) PCR—for detecting and …
Abstract
Integrating vector systems used in clinical gene therapy have proven their therapeutic potential in the long-term correction of immunodeficiencies,,,. The integration loci of such vectors in the cellular genome represent a molecular marker unique for each transduced cell and its clonal progeny. To gain insight into the physiology of gene-modified hematopoietic repopulation and vector-related influences on clonal contributions, we have previously introduced a technology—linear amplification–mediated (LAM) PCR—for detecting and sequencing unknown DNA flanking sequences down to the single cell level (Supplementary Note online). LAM-PCR analyses have enabled qualitative and quantitative measurements of the clonal kinetics of hematopoietic regeneration in gene transfer studies, and uncovered the clonal derivation of non-leukemogenic and leukemogenic insertional side effects in preclinical and clinical gene therapy studies,,,. The reliability and robustness of this method results from the initial preamplification of the vector-genome junctions preceding nontarget DNA removal via magnetic selection. Subsequent steps are carried out on a semisolid streptavidin phase, including synthesis of double complementary strands, restriction digest, ligation of a linker cassette onto the genomic end of the fragment and exponential PCR(s) with vector- and linker cassette–specific primers. LAM-PCR can be adjusted to all unknown DNA sequences adjacent to a known DNA sequence. Here we describe the use of LAM-PCR analyses to identify 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR) retroviral vector adjacent genomic sequences (Fig. 1 and Box 1).
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