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Chapter 10 Sendai Virus-Mediated Cell Fusion

1988; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0070-2161(08)60138-0

1875-6492

Yoshio Okada,

Plant Virus Research Studies

This chapter reviews the use of Sendai virus (HVJ) to fuse mammalian cell membrane. HVJ is the first agent found to be effective for the manipulation of mammalian cell membranes in the living state. It cannot, however, be used to fuse cells that do not have HVJ receptors, such as the cells of invertebrates and plants. Consequently, it has been used less since the discovery of a new fusogen, polyethylene glycol, that can be used for fusion of cells from all kinds of organisms. HVJ was the first fusogen discovered, and its discovery opened up many experimental fields. Moreover, unlike chemical fusogens or mechanical fusion techniques, it is unique in that it causes the dissociation of fusogenic compartments in such a way that they readily reassemble. Thus, it is useful, not only for the analysis of the cell fusion mechanism, but also for developing new technologies in cell biology and medicine. HVJ may be the most moderate fusogen known and under suitable conditions, it is not toxic. This low toxicity may be because the fusion reaction involves a part of the natural way in which HVJ infects host cells: low damage of the host cell is essential for growth of the virus. The fusion mechanism may be a model of fusion of organelles in cells.