Clontech’s Lenti-X lentiviral expression systems are highly effective gene delivery systems that can be used with almost any mammalian cell type, including dividing and nondividing cells, primary cell cultures, stem cells, and neurons.
Lentiviral Vector Design
All of Clontech's lentiviral vectors contain HIV-1-derived sequences (LTRs, packaging signal, and RRE) for efficient lentivirus production and replication, and include the following additional elements that improve titers and transgene expression.
- WPRE—The woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element facilitates effective transcription termination at the 3’ LTR. It provides a two-fold benefit in that it elevates both the level of functional viral genomic RNA in 293T packaging cells, and the level of mature transgene mRNA in transduced target cells
- cPPT/CTS—The central polypurine tract/central termination sequence element increases creates a central “DNA flap” that increases nuclear importation of the viral genome during target cell infection. This results in improved vector integration and greater transduction efficiency.
Biscistronic Options
The IRES Vectors included with the bicistronic lentiviral expression systems each contain a multiple cloning site located upstream of the IRES from which a selection marker is expressed. Because your gene of interest and a selection marker are translated from a single RNA, you can be certain that nearly 100% of the colonies that are resistant to puromycin, hygromycin, and G418 also express your protein of interest.
Fluorescent Protein Options
For lentiviral vectors that express fluorescent protein tags and markers, including the bicistronic pLVX-IRES-ZsGreen1 and pLVX-IRES-mCherry vectors, see our Fluorescent Lentiviral Expression Vectors webpage.
EF1 Alpha Promoter Versions
Lenti-X lentiviral vector systems with EF-1 alpha promoters allow you to achieve robust, constitutive, long-term expression of your gene of interest in cell types in which CMV promoters are often silenced, such as hematopoietic and stem cells.
Lentiviral Packaging System Included
Many of Clontech's lentiviral systems are complete systems that include our high titer Lenti-X Packaging Single Shots (VSV-G), when used with the Lenti-X 293T Cell Line (not included), generates titers that are far superior to those of other commercially available lentiviral packaging systems. Frequently, an entire dish of target cells can be effectively transduced using just 10–100 µl of unconcentrated viral supernatant.
