Hiroyuki Mizuguchi

An efficient method for constructing a recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vector, based on an in vitro ligation, has been developed. To insert the foreign gene into an adenoviral DNA, we introduced three unique restriction sites, I-CeuI, SwaI, and PI-SceI, into the E1 deletion site of the vector plasmid, which contains a complete E1, E3-deleted adenovirus type 5 genome. I-CeuI and PI-SceI are intron-encoded endonucleases with a sequence specificity of at least 9-10 and 11 bp, respectively. A shuttle pl

We previously developed a two-plasmid in vitro ligation method that did not require a recombination step to produce new recombinant E1- or E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vectors. In this study, we have modified the system to improve the simplicity of vector construction and, in addition, to allow for production of an E1/E4-deleted vector.

Recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vectors continue to be the preferred vectors for gene therapy and the study of gene function because they are relatively easy to construct, can be produced at high titer, and have high transduction efficiency. However, in some applications gene transfer with Ad vectors is less efficient because the target cells lack expression of the primary receptor, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). Another problem is the wide biodistribution of vector in tissue followin

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which are generated from somatic cells by transducing four genes, are expected to have broad application to regenerative medicine. Although establishment of an efficient gene transfer system for iPS cells is considered to be essential for differentiating them into functional cells, the detailed transduction characteristics of iPS cells have not been examined. Previously, by using an adenovirus (Ad) vector containing the elongation factor-1alpha (EF-1alpha) a

Genome editing research of human ES/iPS cells has been accelerated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) technologies. However, the efficiency of biallelic genetic engineering in transcriptionally inactive genes is still low, unlike that in transcriptionally active genes. To enhance the biallelic homologous recombination efficiency in human ES/iPS cells, we performed screenings of

Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the potential to differentiate into all cell lineages, including hepatocytes, in vitro. Induced hepatocytes have a wide range of potential application in biomedical research, drug discovery, and the treatment of liver disease. However, the existing protocols for hepatic differentiation of PSCs are not very efficient. In this study, we developed an efficient method to induce hepatoblasts, which are progenitors of he

In the experiment using cultured cells, Ad vectors containing both RGD and K7 peptides were the most efficient with a broader tropism. In contrast, in the experiment in vivo, Ad vectors containing RGD peptide in the HI loop of the fiber knob were more efficient than the vectors containing K7 peptide (including double-modified vectors containing both the RGD and K7 peptides). These comparative analyses could provide a systemic reference for the use of fiber-modified Ad vectors. Our simple method,