RetroNectin Reagent for retrovirus-mediated gene transfer can dramatically increase retroviral and lentiviral transduction efficiency; especially in cells grown in suspension culture (e.g. lymphocytes) and in hematopoietic stem cells. It is a chimeric peptide of recombinant human fibronectin fragments produced in E. coli, consisting of three functional domains: a central cell-binding domain (type III repeat, 8-10), heparin-binding domain II (type III repeat, 12-14), and a CS1 site within the alternatively-spliced IIICS region. It is a 574 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 63 kDa. Fibronectins (FNS) are multifunctional cell adhesive glycoproteins present in the extracellular matrix and plasma.
When coated on the surface of containers such as culture dishes, petri dishes, flasks or bags, RetroNectin significantly enhances retrovirus-mediated gene transduction into mammalian cells. This enhancement is hypothetically due to co-localization of retroviral particles and target cells on the molecules of RetroNectin. Virus particles bind RetroNectin via interaction with heparin-binding domain II, and target cells bind mainly through the interaction of the cell surface integrin receptor VLA-4 with the fibronectin CS1 site. Additionally, cells may also bind through the interaction of another fibronectin ligand (RGDS in repeat 10) within the central cell-binding domain with a corresponding integrin receptor VLA-5 on the cell surface.
Improve Viral Transductions with RetroNectin Reagent
Recombinant fibronection molecule colocalizes virus and cells to facilitate gene transfer
- Improves gene transfer efficiency in hard-to-infect cell types and hematopoietic stem cells
- Multivalent molecule simultaneously binds virus particles and cell surface proteins, maximizing cell-virus contact
- Ideal for use with Lenti-X and Retro-X Expression Systems
