One Shot™ Stbl3™ Chemically Competent E. coli - FAQs

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我正在进行慢病毒载体方面的工作。你们推荐使用哪种感受态细胞进行扩增?

我们推荐使用Stbl3感受态细胞,因为它们已经经过测试可以用于克隆含有直接重复序列的不稳定慢病毒DNA。

I'm working with a lentiviral vector. What competent cells would you recommend using for propagation?

We would recommend our Stbl3 competent cells, as they have been tested for cloning of unstable lentiviral DNA sequences containing direct repeats.

What precautions should I take with my 293FT cells to ensure high quality lentivirus production?

• Use low passage 293FT cells. Do not use 293FT cells beyond passage 20. Freeze down many aliquots and grow for 2–4 passages prior to transfection.
• Passage cells in complete D-MEM containing G418 (500 µg/mL). Supplement the media with "non-essential" amino acids and sodium pyruvate (0.1 mM MEM Non-Essential amino acids and 1 mM MEM Sodium Pyruvate). Use Gibco FBS (Cat. No. 16000-044).
• Plate cells at a density of 5 x 10e6 per 100 mm dish. Cell density is very important. Make sure that the cells are growing well before re-plating prior to the day of transfection. Avoid overgrowth of 293FT cells when passaging.
• When plating for transfection the next day, do not add G418 to the media.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Expression Support Center.

Can I use mini-prep plasmid DNA for lentivirus production?

We do not recommend using mini-prep plasmid DNA for lentivirus production. We recommend preparing lentiviral plasmid DNA using the S.N.A.P. MidiPrep Kit (Cat. No. K1910-01) or PureLink HiPure Plasmid Midiprep Kit (Cat. No. K210004) which contain 10 mM EDTA in the Resuspension Buffer. Since lenti DNA midi-preps also often have low DNA yields, we recommend following specific protocols to increase yield—basically, grow cells slowly, use fewer cells per column, and use 100 mL lenti culture for each DNA midi-prep.

What generation is your ViraPower lentiviral expression system? Can I use it with a 2nd generation lentiviral packaging mix?

Our ViraPower lentiviral expression system is a 3rd generation system with regard to safety features. Our lentiviral expression vectors are derived from wild type HIV, but nearly all the wild type viral proteins (e.g., Vpr, Vpu, Vif, Nef, Tat) have been removed and the HIV envelope is not used. VSV-G (vesicular stomatitis virus G) envelope protein is used instead. Our ViraPower lentiviral expression system can be used with a 2nd generation lentiviral packaging mix. However, our lentiviral packaging mix would not be compatible with a 2nd generation lentiviral expression vector.

Can I use TOP10 E.coli instead of Stbl3 E.coli to clone my lentiviral construct?

We strongly recommend using Stbl3 E.coli for cloning lentiviral constructs. Stbl3 E.coli contain the recA13 mutation in their genotype that helps to minimize the likelihood of unwanted recombination between the LTRs. After transforming into Stbl3 E.coli, we recommend picking colonies and validating the Lenti DNA from mini-preps, using Afl II and Xho I digests before proceeding to midi-preps. In all of our lentiviral vectors, Afl II sites are present in both 5´ and 3´ LTRs, and an Xho I site is present after the 3´ end of the MCS. Assuming Afl II cuts only in the LTR sites, and there are no Afl II or Xho I sites in the insert, 3 DNA fragments are expected to be generated from the Afl II + Xho I digest. Any unexpected DNA fragments can be assumed to be a result of LTR recombination. Only clones with the expected pattern of DNA fragments should be chosen for the subsequent midi-prep.

I am getting small and large colonies after transformation of my lentiviral construct into Stbl3 E.coli. Which colonies should I pick?

We recommend picking the smaller colonies. Large colonies are usually the result of recombination events that result in loss of some part of the plasmid, conferring a growth advantage on the cells.

What advantages do your Stbl2 cells offer over other cloning strains?

There are other strains available that may function similarly to Stbl2 cells in stabilizing inserts or vectors with repeated DNA sequences. However, one advantage of Stbl2 cells over many similar strains is that they are sensitive to Kanamycin, so you can use Stbl2 to propagate plasmids containing a Kanamycin resistance marker. 

How do you recommend that I prepare my DNA for successful electroporation of E. coli?

For best results, DNA used in electroporation must have a very low ionic strength and a high resistance. A high-salt DNA sample may be purified by either ethanol precipitation or dialysis.

The following suggested protocols are for ligation reactions of 20ul. The volumes may be adjusted to suit the amount being prepared.

Purifying DNA by Precipitation: Add 5 to 10 ug of tRNA to a 20ul ligation reaction. Adjust the solution to 2.5 M in ammonium acetate using a 7.5 M ammonium acetate stock solution. Mix well. Add two volumes of 100 % ethanol. Centrifuge at 12,000 x g for 15 min at 4C. Remove the supernatant with a micropipet. Wash the pellet with 60ul of 70% ethanol. Centrifuge at 12,000 x g for 15 min at room temperature. Remove the supernatant with a micropipet. Air dry the pellet. Resuspend the DNA in 0.5X TE buffer [5 mM Tris-HCl, 0.5 mM EDTA (pH 7.5)] to a concentration of 10 ng/ul of DNA. Use 1 ul per transformation of 20 ul of cell suspension.

Purifying DNA by Microdialysis: Float a Millipore filter, type VS 0.025 um, on a pool of 0.5X TE buffer (or 10% glycerol) in a small plastic container. Place 20ul of the DNA solution as a drop on top of the filter. Incubate at room temperature for several hours. Withdraw the DNA drop from the filter and place it in a polypropylene microcentrifuge tube. Use 1ul of this DNA for each electrotransformation reaction.

Once I make lentivirus, can I amplify the virus or do I need to do another transfection?

The lentiviruses produced in this system will not replicate under any conditions. You must perform a fresh transfection each time you need more virus.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Expression Support Center.

Can the pLenti6/D-TOPO vector be used by itself as an expression vector (without packaging mix)?

Yes, it will work as an expression vector by itself and can be stably selected with blasticidin. Please note that the vector will be about twice the size of most regular vectors. Therefore you may need to increase the amount of transfected vector to approximate molar equivalents.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Expression Support Center.

Does the lentivirus produce any toxic viral genes?

Lentiviruses produced with this system do not carry or express ANY viral genes and therefore have no associated toxicity issues. Only the protein expressed from the coding region between the LTR sites is incorporated into the mammalian cell chromosome and expressed. The lentivirus itself cannot replicate because of the built-in safety features.

Why are 293FT cells cultured under Geneticin selection before transfection?

For routine maintenance of 293FT cells, you need to add Geneticin (G418) antibiotic at a concentration of 500 µg/mL to maintain the Large T antigen plasmid/phenotype.

What does the FT stand for in 293FT and why is this the most recommended producer cell line?

The F stands for the high transfection efficiency of this particular 293 cell clone (called 293F) and the T stands for the SV40 large T antigen. If you want to use regular 293 cells or another 293T cell line, you will be able to produce virus, but the titers will be lower. The large T antigen expression plasmid is stably integrated in the 293FT cell and confers resistance to Geneticin antibiotic in these cells.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Expression Support Center.

How much blasticidin do you usually put into culture medium to select for blasticidin-resistant clones for virus titration (HT1080 cells)?

For HT1080 cells we typically use 10 µg/mL, but we strongly recommend that you generate a kill-curve for each antibiotic and cell line before proceeding. Most cell types respond to between 1 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL of blasticidin. For HT1080 cells, we typically use 100 µg/mL of Zeocin for Zeocin-containing lentiviral vectors. But again, generation of a kill-curve is strongly suggested.

We strongly recommend titering on HT1080 cells to determine the absolute titer of infectious virus in your supernatant. The primary reason is that it's a way to standardize titers obtained in different labs. Transduction efficiency is high in these cells, and titering results are very accurate and reproducible, making HT1080 cells the gold standard for titering. You can then try different MOIs in other cell types based on HT1080 titers. For instance, you may require an MOI of 50 in one cell type or MOI of 10 in another cell type based on titers obtained in HT1080.Accurate titer, however, can be obtained in essentially any mammalian cell line, but 3T3 and HeLa cells have a lower transduction efficiency than HT1080 cells (for reasons unknown). Do not use 293FT cells for titering.

Can I remove the CMV promoter from the pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO or pLenti6/V5-DEST vectors?

Yes, you can use restriction enzymes Cla I (cutting at 1796) and BamH I (cutting at 2401) to remove the CMV promoter from the pLent6/V5-D-TOPO vector. Use Cla I and Spe I for the pLenti6/V5-DEST vector. Alternatively, we offer promoter-less lentiviral vector, pLenti6.4/R4R2/V5-DEST (Cat. No. A11145).

How do I concentrate the lentiviral stock?

Ultracentrifugation is the most commonly used approach and is typically very successful (see Burns et al. (1993) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:8033-8037; Reiser (2000) Gene Ther 7:910-913). Others have used PEG precipitation. Some purification methods are covered by patents issued to the University of California and Chiron.

Adenovirus is concentrated using CsCl density gradient centrifugation (there is a reference for this procedure in our adenovirus manual) or commercially available columns.

What titers are typical with lentivirus?

Titers between 1 x 10e5 and 3 x 10e5 cfu/mL (unconcentrated) are typical. If the titer is lower than 1x 10e5 cfu/mL, virus production was not optimal (arising for various reasons). Titers for the LacZ virus are typically in this low to mid 10e5 range. The sample lentiviral titer experiment shown in the ViraPower instruction manual shows lacZ lentivirus with a titer of 4.8 x 10e6 cfu/mL.

We strongly suggest that you titer your lentivirus on HT1080 cells, which allows you to compare titers from day-to-day within your lab and also with external labs. Transduction efficiency is high in these cells, and titering results are very accurate and reproducible--making HT1080 cells the gold standard for titering. You can then try different MOIs in other cell types based on HT1080 titers. For instance, you may require an MOI of 50 in one cell type or MOI of 10 in another cell type based on titers obtained in HT1080.

What are the advantages of the lentiviral system?

The ViraPower Lentiviral System:
(1) effectively transduces both dividing and non-dividing cells
(2) efficiently delivers the gene of interest to mammalian cells in culture or in vivo
(3) produces a pseudotyped virus with a broadened host range
(4) includes multiple features designed to enhance the biosafety of the system

How does the lentiviral system work? How do I make the lentivirus?

Clone your gene of interest into one of our lentiviral expression vectors. We have a Directional TOPO version (pLenti6/V5/D-TOPO) and a Gateway version (pLenti6/V5-DEST vector). Co-transfect your recombinant vector along with the optimized ViraPower packaging mix into the 293FT producer cell line using Lipofectamine 2000 reagent (if using a different transfection reagent, follow the manufacturer's recommendations). Harvest the viral supernatant and determine the titer of the virus. Add the viral supernatant to your mammalian cell line of interest at the appropriate MOI. Assay for "transient" expression of your recombinant protein or select for stably transduced cells using the appropriate selection antibiotic, if desired, then examine expression of your protein of interest.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Expression Support Center.

Will I get the same transduction efficiency with both lentivirus and adenovirus in the same cell line?

This depends entirely on the target cell. Adenovirus requires the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) and an integrin for efficient transduction. Lentivirus (with VSV-G) binds to a lipid in the plasma membrane (present on all cell types). With two totally different mechanisms of entry into the cell, there will always be differences in transduction efficiencies. However, the efficiency of transduction for both viral systems is easily modulated by the multiplicity of infection (MOI) used.

Do you recommend a specific FBS for culture of the 293FT or 293A cells used in the ViraPower kits? What plastic plates do you recommend?

We use mycoplasma-tested Gibco FBS (Cat. No. 16000-044) without any modifications. We have observed that when 293FT cells are cultured in the presence of this FBS following the instructions in the manual, virus production is better than that obtained with many other serum sources.

We use the following plasticware for 293A and 293FT cells:

T175--Fisher Cat. No. 10-126-13; this is a Falcon flask with 0.2 µm vented plug seal cap.

T75--Fisher Cat. No. 07-200-68; this is a Costar flask with 0.2 µm vented seal cap.

100 mm plate--Fisher Cat. No. 08-772E; this is a Falcon tissue culture-treated polystyrene plate

We get excellent adherence on these plates under routine cell culture/maintenance conditions (expect cell lysis in 293A cells when making adenovirus).

How should I store lentivirus, adenovirus and viral vectors?

Viral vectors:
Store lentiviral and adenoviral expression vectors (plasmid DNA) at -20 degrees C. Due to their relatively large sizes, we do not recommend storing these vectors at -80 degrees C, as the vector solutions will completely freeze and too many freeze thaws from -80 degrees C will affect the cloning efficiency. At -20 degrees C, the vectors will be stable but will not freeze completely. Glycerol stocks of vectors transformed into bacteria should always be stored at -80 degrees C.

Virus:
Both adenovirus and lentivirus particles should be aliquoted immediately after production and stored at -80 degrees C.

Lentivirus is more sensitive to storage temperature and to freeze/thaw than adenovirus and should be handled with care. Adenovirus can typically be frozen/thawed up to 3 times without loss of titer, while lentivirus can lose up to 5% or more activity with each freeze/thaw. It is recommended to aliquot your virus into small working volumes immediately after production, freeze at -80 degrees C, and then thaw just one aliquot for titering. This way, every time you thaw a new aliquot it should be the same titer as your first tube.

Adenovirus particles can be kept overnight at 4 degrees C if necessary, but it is best to avoid this. Viruses will be most stable at -80 degrees C.

When stored properly, viral stocks should maintain consistent titer and be suitable for use for up to one year. After long-term storage, we recommend re-titering your viral stocks before use.

What are the safety issues associated with the use of your viral systems?

Both the lentiviral and adenoviral systems should be used following Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2). We recommend strict adherence to all CDC guidelines for BSL-2 (as well as institutional guidelines). Thermo Fisher Scientific has also engineered specific safety features into the lentiviral system.

Consult the "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories" publication (www.cdc.gov, published by the CDC in the USA, describes BSL-2 handling) and the "Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines" publication (www.phac-aspc.gc.ca, published by the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Canada) for more information on safe handling of various organisms and the physical requirements for facilities that work with them.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Expression Support Center.

How do I know whether to choose lentivirus or adenovirus for viral expression?

If you're interested in stable integration and selection, choose the lentiviral system. We offer both a Directional TOPO (D-TOPO) and Gateway version of the kit to provide flexibility in the cloning of the gene of interest.

If you're looking for transient gene expression, choose the adenoviral system. We offer the Gateway cloning method for this product. It should be noted, however, that gene expression from both systems is typically detected within 24-48 hours of transduction, so both systems can be used for experiments of a transient nature. The main difference is that lentivirus integrates into the host genome and adenovirus does not. Higher viral titers are achieved with the adenovirus.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Expression Support Center.

What are the packaging limits for lentivirus and adenovirus? Can a 9 kb fragment be packaged into either?

No, neither lentivirus nor adenovirus can take an insert as large as 9 Kb. Lentiviral packaging limits are around 6 kb and adenoviral packaging limits are around 7-7.5 kb. Above that, no virus is made.

For lentivirus, titers will generally decrease as the size of the insert increases. We have effectively packaged inserts of 5.2 kb with good titer (approx. 0.5 x 10^5 cfu/mL). The size of the wild-type HIV-1 genome is approximately 10 kb. Since the size of the elements required for expression from pLenti vectors add up to approximately 4-4.4 kb, the size of your gene of interest should theoretically not exceed 5.6-6 kb for efficient packaging (see below for packaging limits for individual vectors).
pLenti4/V5-DEST vector: 6 kb
pLenti6/V5-DEST vector: 6 kb
pLenti6/V5/D-TOPO vector: 6 kb
pLenti6/UbC/V5-DEST vector: 5.6 kb

For adenovirus, the maximum packagable size is approximately 7-7.5 Kb (see below for packaging limits for individual vectors).
pAd/CMV/V5-DEST vector: 6 kb
pAd/PL-DEST vector: 7.5 kb

Is S.O.C. medium absolutely required when recovering competent bacterial cells during transformation?

Many media can be used to grow transformed cells, including standard LB, SOB or TB broths. However, S.O.C. is the optimal choice for recovery of the cells before plating. The nutrient-rich formula with added glucose is often important for obtaining maximum transformation efficiencies.

How can unstable or toxic DNA inserts be maintained in bacteria?

There are a few steps you can take to improve stability of clones with difficult-to-maintain inserts. Supplement the medium with extra nutrients (e.g., add 20-30 mM glucose to Terrific Broth) or try a vector that has a reduced copy number (e.g., pBR322). Some clones can exhibit a high degree of deletions; this is usually a result of the clones having long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences or regions with high secondary structure. To overcome this problem, the cells can be grown at 30°C or ambient temperature (in LB or in a nutrient rich broth like Terrific Broth). Do not to let the cells reach late stationary phase in liquid culture. Alternatively, transform into cells that maintain unstable sequences such as Stbl2, Stbl3, or Stbl4 cells.

Why is it necessary to dilute ligated DNA products before adding them to competent bacterial cells?

Components of the ligation reaction (enzymes, salts) can interfere with transformation, and may reduce the number of recombinant colonies or plaques. We recommend a five-fold dilution of the ligation mix, and adding not more than 1/10 of the diluted volume to the cells. For best results, the volume added should also not exceed 10% of the volume of the competent cells that you are using.

When should DMSO, formamide, glycerol and other cosolvents be used in PCR?

Cosolvents may be used when there is a failure of amplification, either because the template contains stable hairpin-loops or the region of amplification is GC-rich. Keep in mind that all of these cosolvents have the effect of lowering enzyme activity, which will decrease amplification yield. For more information see P Landre et al (1995). The use of co-solvents to enhance amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. In: PCR Strategies, edited by MA Innis, DH Gelfand, JJ Sninsky. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, pp. 3-16.

Additionally, when amplifying very long PCR fragments (greater than 5 kb) the use of cosolvents is often recommended to help compensate for the increased melting temperature of these fragments.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our PCR and cDNA Synthesis Support Center.