A method of packaging a recombinant viral vector is carried out by: (a)
providing a packaging cell, the packaging cell containing and expressing a
nucleic acid encoding a mutant adenovirus E4orf6 protein, the E4orf6
protein containing at least one mutation that renders the protein
non-toxic to the host cell; (b) transfecting or infecting the packaging
cell with a nucleic acid that encodes a recombinant viral vector (e.g., an
adenovirus vector or an adeno-associated virus vector), where the vector
lacks a functional gene encoding E4orf6 protein; (c) culturing the
transfected cells; and then (d) collecting packaged recombinant viral
vector from the cultured cells. Nucleic acids, vectors and packaging cells
used for carrying out the methods, as well as proteins utilized in the
methods, are also described.
