COPACKAGING OF DIFFERENT-SIZED RETROVIRAL GENOMIC RNAS - LITTLE EFFECT ON RETROVIRAL REPLICATION OR RECOMBINATION

We tested the effect of copackaging retroviral vectors of different si zes on retroviral replication and recombination. Our results indicate little or no difference in replication or in the rate or pattern of th e strand transfers leading to the formation of recombinant proviruses with size. The size difference of the vectors also allowed us to exten d our previous analysis of the linkage of markers in the recombinant p roviruses. We conclude that the observed linkage is inconsistent with the strand displacement/assimilation model of retroviral recombination .