RightZAP1.4 DNA

RightZAP1.4 DNA is a 27.8 kb linear DNA fragment that encompasses bp 3504-right end of the Ad5 genome.  The E3 and E4 regions are deleted (2.7 kb and 1.2 kb, respectively).  The fiber is a hybrid Ad5/Ad35.  It contains the N-terminal tail of Ad5 fiber fused to the shaft and knob of Ad35 fiber.  The DNA was purified from a cosmid.  It is used in combination with shuttle plasmids pZAP1.1 or pZAP1.2 to construct replication-deficient adenoviruses containing transgenes in place of the E1 region of the Ad5 genome, and the fiber shaft and knob from Ad35. The maximum transgene capacity of the resulting virus is 9.5 kb.

Ad35 belongs to the adenovirus subgroup B that uses almost exclusively CD46 as the primary attachment receptor.  CD46 is a membrane protein that is expressed ubiquitously, has complement regulatory functions, and is upregulated in tumor and stem cells.