Heparin inhibits retrovirus binding to fibronectin as well as retrovirus gene transfer on fibronectin fragments.

Fibronectin fragments have been shown to improve retrovirus gene transfer efficiency by binding retrovirus and target cells. Using a novel virus adhesion assay, we confirmed binding of type C oncoretrovirus vectors to the heparin II domain of fibronectin and demonstrated inhibition of viral binding and gene transfer by heparin.