Adeno-Associated Virus Serotype 3 (AAV3) shares 82% sequence homology with AAV2, and like AAV2, requires the Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan (HSPG) receptor for cell attachment. AAV3 vectors transduce human liver cancer cells extremely efficiently because AAV3 utilizes the human Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor (hHGFR) as a co-receptor for viral entry, which is highly expressed in these cells. Both the extracellular and intracellular kinase domains of hHGFR are required for AAV3-mediated transgene expression.These AAV particles constitutively express the firefly (Photinus pyralis) luciferase gene under the control of a CMV promoter. AAV transduction efficiency can easily be verified by measurement of luciferase activity.