We have modified the pCL retroviral system by the insertion of a p53-responsive element, called PG, in the U3 region of the 3'-LTR, either in addition to or in place of the native negative control region/enhancer sequence. We show here that either endogenous or exogenous wild-type p53 may be used to drive expression from the pCLPG system in transduced cells. Upon genotoxic induction of endogenous p53, pCLPG expression surpassed that of the parental, nonmodified virus, specifically when the native promoter was removed and substituted by the p53-responsive element. We propose that the novel pCLPG system will prove to be a valuable tool whether used as a reporter system of p53 function or as an in vitro and in vivo gene transfer vehicle.