How do Phoenix cells produce virus - (Mar/07/2008 )

When you transfect Phoenix cells with a plasmid containing your gene of interest, the Phoenix cells "package" the DNA into viral particles that then become secreted by the Phoenix cells. Does anyone know how this works?

It seems the Phoenix cells contain all the major genes to package a gene if it is flanked by LTRs. The cells themselves have been altered to express Gag, Pol, and Env so all you need is a plasmid with an MCS flanked by two LTRs and the cells should package them. An article on them here: http://www.stanford.edu/group/nolan/retrov...ystems/phx.html