A mathematical model of homologous recombination in cultured cells.

This work presents a model describing the rate of recombination between homologous segments of DNA stably integrated into the genome of cultured cells. The model has been applied to rat cell lines carrying the polyomavirus middle T oncogene and a functional origin of viral DNA replication. Introduction of the gene coding for the polyoma large T antigen or the SV40 large T antigen into cells by DNA transfection promotes homologous recombination in the resident viral inserts with rates varying between 0.1 x 10(-3) and 3.7 x 10(-1) per cell generation.