Clontech provides a choice of retroviral vectors, retroviral vector sets, or a complete system that includes our PT67 retroviral packaging cell line. All of these retroviral vectors are derived from the moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV). Retroviral vectors transduce a wide range of hard-to-transfect dividing cells. Lentiviral or adenoviral vectors are recommended for non-dividing cells.
- Vector information is listed on our vector information pages.
- Clontech's fluorescent protein and tetracycline-inducible retroviral vectors are described elsewhere.
- Clontech's MSCV retroviral vectors are described elsewhere.
Q-Series Retroviral Vectors and Vector Sets
Clontech's Q-Series of vectors contain a CMV/MSV hybrid promoter in the 5' LTR to drive high titers during the packaging step. They also contain a self-inactivating 3' LTR to reduce promoter interference and drive high expression of your transgene from the internal CMV promoter. Resistance to antibiotic selection is achieved through ribosome binding to an internal ribosome entry site (IRES).
The Retro-X Q Vector Set gives you a choice of Q-Series vector backbones with alternative resistance markers for selection with G418 (pQCXIN), hygromycin (pQCXIH), or puromycin (pQCXIP).
pQCXIX does not contain a selection marker, but does contain two multiple cloning sites, one on each side of an IRES, to allow simultaneous expression of two transgenes.
L-Series Retroviral Vectors, Vector Sets, and Systems
pLNCX2 and pLXSN are basic retroviral vectors that utilize wild-type LTRs from MMLV. These allow you to express your gene of interest from either a CMV promoter (pLNCX2) or the 5'LTR promoter (pLXSN). Integration of these constructs into the genome of your target cell can be selected for by adding G418 to your culture medium.
The Retro-X System includes three L-Series retroviral expression vectors, pLNCX2, pLXSN, and pLAPSN. The latter is a control reporter vector made by adding the bacterial alkaline phosphatase gene to pLXSN. Clontech's RetroPack PT67 packaging cell line is also included in this system.
The LRCX Retroviral Vector Set gives you a choice of L-Series vector backbones with alternative resistance markers for selection with G418 (pLNCX2), hygromycin (pLHCX), or puromycin (pLPCX).
pRetro-Lib contains Sfi1A and Sfi1B restriction sites flanked by a stuffer fragment to enable simple cloning of a full-length cDNA library using Clontech's SMART cDNA Library Construction Kit.
