Abstract
In order to analyse the stability of cloned genes in a viral vector we have constructed a shuttle vector based on bovine papillomavirus and the Escherichia coli gene lacZ. Propagation of this vector in mouse C127 cells and analysis of vector sequences in bacteria produced no detectable mutations in the lacZ gene in over 6137 clones analysed. This is 100-fold less than the mutation frequency observed when the same and similar target genes are replicated in monkey COS cells using a simian virus 40-based shuttle vector.
† Current address: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, U.S.A.