14 
Dr. Bems suggested that, as in the previous approval, the clones allowed 
to leave Plum Island shall not contain, individually or collectively, 
more than 75% of the viral gencme. Dr. Baltimore included these state- 
ments in his motion to approve request one of the proposal. Dr. Fedoroff 
seconded the motion. 
By a vote of 20 in favor, none opposed and one abstention, the RAC recom- 
mended approval of request one of the prc^xosal (tab 972). This action 
would pennit cloning on Plum Island of various FMIV types in E. coli K-12. 
Ihe following conditions were specified: (1) A working group ^ the RAC, 
but not the full RAC, would examine data on the infect ivity of the clones 
produced on Plum Island before these clones were allowed to leave the 
Island, and (2) the clcaies to leave Plum Island should be well-character- 
ized, shown to lack infectivity, and shall not contain, individually or 
collectively, more than 75% of the FMEV genome. 
Dr. Gottesman suggested that some discussion of request two of the proposal 
(tab 972) was appropriate. Although no formal action could be taken at 
this meeting, a discussion might identify potential problems. 
Dr. Baltimore said request two of the proposal (tab 972) requests permis- 
sion to clone FMDV cEWA in Bacillus subtil is , Saccharonyces cerevisiae , 
and in eukaryotic cells in culture. He envisaged no potential hazard in 
clcxiing the VP3 protein in these host-vector systems. Dr. Ross of Genen- 
tech, Inc., said the VP3 protein has no known biological activity other 
than as a structural protein in the FMDV coat. Dr. Baltimore asked 
Dr. Ross if less than two-thirds of the SV40 genome would be used as a 
vector for cloning the VP3 protein. Dr. Ross replied that less than 
two-thirds of the SV40 genome would be used. Dr. Goldstein asked if 
inserting the gene for the VP3 protein into a two-third fragment of the 
SV40 genome could produce a viable virus with modified host range. 
Dr. Baltimore said that it is very unlikely that the VP3 protein could be 
inserted into the SV40 capsid structure. 
Dr. Bems asked for a clarification of the prc^xDsal. He noted that the 
discussion focused on one of the FMEV capsid proteins, the VP3 protein. 
However, Genentech will have up to 75% of the entire viral genome, and 
the October 17, 1980 proposal requests permission to clone FMDV capsid 
proteins in general, not just VP3. Dr. Ross said that ^proval for just 
the VP3 protein would be acceptable at this time. Dr. Ck)i:tesman suggested 
tliat the proposal should be more eiplicit. It was also stated that 
additional information c«i the vectors to be used should be supplied. 
Ihe RAC deferred action on request two of tab 972, 
[ 42 ] 
