Flp-In™ Complete System - FAQs

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16 product FAQs found

我正在进行Flp-I反应,在我获得了抗潮霉素的细胞克隆后,发现这些克隆也同时具有Zeocin抗生素耐受性和LacZ阳性。我非常担心Flp-I反应未成功实现。你们能解释其中的机制么?

我们在内部实验中发现,当FRT位点整合进入具有高度转录活性的宿主细胞基因组位点中时(在Flp-In CHO与Flp-In 293细胞中更为常见,但也出现于Flp-In 3T3细胞及其他任何Flp-In宿主细胞系中),就会出现一些“读通(read-though)”的转录现象,并在Flp-In反应后翻译出lacZ-Zeocin ORF——即使lacZ-Zeocin ORF未包含真正的启动子和ATG起始密码子。在这一情况发生时,潮霉素抗性克隆就可能同时出现lacZ阳性和Zeocin抗生素耐受性。为了确保FRT实现了位点特异性整合而非随机整合,我们推荐用户在无pOG44存在的条件下开展平行的对照转染实验。这一对照组在潮霉素筛选过程中应不存在存活的克隆,表明在pOG44存在条件下获得的所有潮霉素抗性克隆确实为Flp重组酶依赖克隆,因此确定目的基因确实有效整合进入了FRT位点。另外,针对这些克隆进行Southern杂交分析也能够帮助用户验证目的基因确实发生了准确的FRT整合,尽管lacZ也出现表达(尽管通常情况下这是不必要的)。在Flp-In反应之后,一旦您观察到潮霉素耐受克隆,我们就推荐您将其挑选出来,并分析其中的目的基因表达情况。

我在您的Flp-In 3T3细胞系中使用了pcDNA5/FRT载体来表达我的目的基因,但一个月左右之后,该细胞系丢失了目的基因的表达。怎么会发生此种情况?

Flp-In 3T3细胞系源自于NIH3T3细胞,后者是小鼠的成纤维细胞。CMV启动子在小鼠细胞系中已知会随时间延长而逐渐沉默,因此我们推荐您在这类细胞系中使用那些包含非CMV型启动子的Flp-In表达载体,如pEF5/FRT/V5-D-TOPO载体或pEF5/FRT/V5-DEST载体。

我应用了pFRT/lacZeo载体来建立我自己的Flp-In宿主细胞系,之后建立我自己的Flp-In表达细胞系。我几乎要放弃了,因为我观察到目的基因的表达效率非常低。我还需要进行哪些尝试来提升表达效率?

在放弃之前,我们推荐您尝试使用pFRT/lacZeo2载体来建立您的宿主细胞系。这一载体包含了截短型的SV40启动子的,它驱动了lacZ-Zeocin融合蛋白的表达。使用这一载体能够帮助用户分离出那些整合在增强子附近的克隆,从而获得更高的目的基因表达效果。

Jump-In与Flp-In系统之间的区别是什么?

Jump-In系统是由PhiC31-整合酶所介导的一个不可逆转的哺乳动物稳定定向表达系统。这一系统是由Jump-In Fast系统和Jump-In TI(定向整合)系统所组成,前者包含了单一的整合步骤,后者则需要两个整合步骤,两者都是定向且不可逆的。相比而言,Flp-In系统是一款可逆和稳定的哺乳动物靶向表达系统。第一步整合是随机的(pFRT/lacZeo的整合),而第二步整合(Flp-In表达载体的整合)是定向但可逆的。

Flp-In表达载体是否兼容多重整合操作?你们如何筛选多重整合元件?而这些元件在Flp-In表达细胞系中的稳定性如何?

在理论上来讲,用户能够实现Flp-In表达载体的多重整合效果——这其中包含了一个FRT-特异性的整合事件和一个随机的第二位点整合事件。不过,随机整合的发生概率相对较低。转染过程中所用DNA的有限数量将减少第二位点的整合概率。我们向293细胞(缺少FRT位点)中转染了pcDNA5/FRT载体,并在筛选了200个以上的克隆后,鉴定到一个潜在的第二整合位点。用户可通过Southern杂交来检测DNA的整合位点。单一整合元件会显示为独立的一个条带;两个整合位点:两个条带;三个位点,三条带,如此延续。我们将一些Flp-In表达细胞系培养了四个月以上,无论是否向培养体系中加入潮霉素,均未发现Flp-In表达载体发生任何形式的丢失。

I performed the Flp-In reaction and obtained hygromycin-resistant clones which also turned out to be Zeocin antibiotic resistant and lacZ-positive. I am concerned that the Flp-In reaction has not worked. Can you explain what might be happening?

We have observed in-house that in cells where the FRT site has integrated into a very transcriptionally active locus in the host cell genome (seen more commonly in Flp-In CHO and Flp-In 293 cells but can also happen in Flp-In 3T3 cells and any other Flp-In host cell line), there is some "read-through" transcription and translation of the lacZ-Zeocin ORF subsequent to the Flp-In reaction, even though the lacZ-Zeocin ORF does not have a bonafide promoter and ATG. In such cases, the hygromycin-resistant clones would also be lacZ-positive and Zeocin antibiotic-resistant. To make sure that the integration is FRT site-specific and not random, we recommend doing a parallel control transfection with no pOG44 present. This should yield no surviving clones upon hygromycin selection, indicating that all the hygromycin-resistant clones obtained in the presence of pOG44 are indeed Flp recombinase-dependent and hence have the gene of interest integrated at the FRT site. Also, a Southern blot analysis of these clones will help verify that they do indeed have proper FRT integration of the gene of interest despite the expression of lacZ (although this is typically not necessary). After the Flp-In reaction, as long as you see hygromycin-resistant clones, we recommend that you select them and assay them for expression of your gene of interest.

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

I used the pcDNA5/FRT vector in your Flp-In 3T3 cell line and was initially able to express my gene of interest, but after a month or so, lost expression. Why is this?

The Flp-In 3T3 cell line is derived from NIH3T3 cells, which are mouse fibroblast cells. The CMV promoter is known to get silenced over time in murine cell lines and hence we would recommend using a Flp-In expression vector with a non-CMV promoter in these cells, such as the pEF5/FRT/V5-D-TOPO vector or the pEF5/FRT/V5-DEST vector.

I used the pFRT/lacZeo vector to generate my own Flp-In host cell line and then made my Flp-In expression cell line. I am seeing very poor expression of my gene of interest. Is there anything else I can try to improve expression?

Before giving up, we would suggest that you try using the pFRT/lacZeo2 vector to generate your host cell line. This vector contains a truncated version of the SV40 promoter driving the lacZ-Zeocin fusion. Use of this vector facilitates the isolation of clones that have integrated the vector near enhancer elements in the genome, thus resulting in higher levels of expression of the gene of interest.

What is the difference between the Jump-In and Flp-In systems?

The Jump-In system is PhiC31-integrase mediated and is a stable, targeted, and irreversible mammalian expression system. It consists of the Jump-In Fast system that involves a single integration step and the Jump-InTI (targeted integration) system that needs two integration steps, both of which are targeted and irreversible. In contrast, the Flp-In system is a stable, targeted mammalian expression system that is reversible. The first integration is random (integration of pFRT/lacZeo), and the second integration (integration of the Flp-In expression vector) is targeted but reversible.

Is multiple integration of the Flp-In expression construct possible? How do you screen for multiple integrants, and how stable is the Flp-In expression cell line?

In theory, one can get multiple integrations of the Flp-In expression construct—an FRT-specific integration event and a random, second-site integration. However, random integration is a relatively uncommon event. Limiting the amount of DNA in the transfection will reduce the chance of second-site integration. We have transfected 293 cells (lacking the FRT site) with the pcDNA5/FRT vector and have identified one potential second-site integrant after screening over 200 clones. DNA integrations can be detected by Southern blot. A single integrant will display a single band; double: two; triple: three, etc. We have maintained a number of Flp-In expression cell lines for over four months and have not observed any loss of the Flp-In expression construct, whether hygromycin selection was maintained or not.

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

When should I consider reversible integration (Flp-In system) vs irreversible integration (Jump-In system)?

Use irreversible integration (Jump-In system) if the transgene should be sustained in the mammalian genome for a long time. Use reversible integration such as Flp-In system if the transgene needs to be replaced with another gene of interest after a short period of time.

What is the difference between Jump-In and Flp-In systems?

The Jump-In system is PhiC31-integrase mediated and is a stable, targeted, and irreversible mammalian expression system, involving one integration step. The Jump-In TI (Targeted Integration) system needs two integration steps, both of which are targeted and irreversible. In contrast, the Flp-In system is a stable, targeted mammalian expression system that is reversible. The first integration is random (integration of pFRT/lacZeo) and the second integration (integration of the Flp-In expression vector) is targeted but reversible.

In the Flp-In system, how can one explain the presence of hygromycin-resistant clones that are also resistant to Zeocin antibiotic and are lacZ positive?

We have observed in-house that in cells where the FRT site has integrated into a very transcriptionally active locus in the host cell genome (seen more commonly in Flp-In CHO and Flp-In 293 cells but can also happen in Flp-In 3T3 cells and any other Flp-In host cell line), there is some "read-through" transcription and translation of the lacZ-Zeocin ORF post Flp-In recombination, even though the lacZ-Zeocin ORF does not have a bona fide promoter and ATG. In such cases, the hygromycin-resistant clones would also be lacZ positive and Zeocinantibiotic-resistant. To make sure that the integration is FRT site-specific and not random, we recommend doing a parallel control transfection with no pOG44 present. This should yield no surviving clones upon hygromycin selection, indicating that all the hygromycin-resistant clones obtained in the presence of pOG44 are indeed Flp recombinase-dependent and hence have the gene of interest integrated at the FRT site. Also, a Southern blot analysis of these clones will help verify that they do indeed have proper FRT integration of the gene of interest despite the expression of lacZ (although this is typically not necessary). Post Flp-Inrecombination, as long as you see hygromycin-resistant clones, we recommend that you select them and assay them for expression of your gene of interest.

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

I sequenced one of your vectors after PCR amplification and observed a difference from what is provided online (or in the manual). Should I be concerned?

Our vectors have not been completely sequenced. Your sequence data may differ when compared to what is provided. Known mutations that do not affect the function of the vector are annotated in public databases.

Are your vectors routinely sequenced?

No, our vectors are not routinely sequenced. Quality control and release criteria utilize other methods.

How was the reference sequence for your vectors created?

Sequences provided for our vectors have been compiled from information in sequence databases, published sequences, and other sources.