Ad5/RGD-mCherry Chimeric Adenovirus

Adenovirus serotype 5 is a common vector used in gene therapy because of its high transduction efficiency and stable expression of the transgene. Ad5/RGD-mCherry chimeric adenoviral particles combine the powerful delivery mechanism of adenovirus serotype 5 with the targeting efficiency of the RGD peptide modification, while also providing a reliable and visible reporter gene through mCherry expression. The "RGD" modification refers to the insertion of a peptide motif (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) into the fiber knob of the adenovirus. This RGD motif is key to improving the ability of the virus to bind integrins, especially αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins, which are overexpressed in various cancer cells. By targeting these integrins, Ad5/RGD vectors can achieve more efficient and selective tumor cell transduction compared to unmodified adenovirus vectors. The "mCherry" reporter gene encodes a red fluorescent protein derived from the dsRed protein of the Discosoma species. mCherry is widely used in molecular biology due to its bright fluorescence, photostability, and lack of toxicity. Incorporating the mCherry gene into the Ad5/RGD chimeric adenovirus allows for easy tracking and visualization of viral distribution and expression in experimental models. Researchers can monitor the success of transduction and subsequent expression of fluorescent proteins in real time using fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry.