A RECOMBINANT HUMAN FIBRONECTIN FRAGMENT FACILITATES RETROVIRAL-MEDIATED GENE-TRANSFER INTO HUMAN HEMATOPOIETIC PROGENITOR CELLS

Gene transfer into hematopoietic progenitor cells is increased when th ese cells are adherent to the carboxy-terminal chymotryptic fragment o f human plasma fibronectin (FN30/35) containing the heparin binding do main (HBD) and the alternatively spliced type three connecting segment (IIICS) region. We report herein the production of a recombinant huma n fibronectin fragment comprised of the HBD and IIICS regions expresse d by Sf9 insect cells following recombinant baculovirus infection. The resulting isolated peptide, HuBacFN, facilitated gene transfer into h uman hematopoietic cell lines and primary human hematopoietic progenit ors to a level achieved with the purified human plasma FN30/35 peptide .