CAG-FLEX-NES-jRCaMP1a AAV (Serotype 9)

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a small, non-pathogenic virus found in many mammals, including humans. AAV has a simple structure consisting of an icosahedral capsid with a diameter of approximately 26 nm and a single-stranded DNA genome of approximately 4.7 kb. Recombinant AAV (rAAV) has attracted great interest as a gene delivery vector due to its excellent in vivo tissue tropism for both dividing and non-dividing cells, especially in the field of gene therapy. The development of rAAV has been greatly facilitated by the large number of AAV capsid serotypes and variants found from human and non-human primate (NHP) tissues, which together provide a toolbox for targeting various tissues and cell types.

In addition to packaging, protecting, and delivering the viral genome, the AAV capsid also serves as an attachment surface for viral host cell receptors, which in part determines the cell and tissue tropism of AAV. Studies have shown that many AAV serotypes can interact with glycosylated cell surface proteins for viral uptake, suggesting that cell surface glycans are the first contact receptors for the capsid. Although most AAVs are heparan sulfate proteoglycan binders (e.g., AAV2, AAV3, and AAV13), sialic acid binders (e.g., AAV1, AAV4, and AAV5), or both (e.g., AAV6), AAV9 has been shown to be a unique terminal galactose binder and has also been described to transduce cells in the presence of the 37- to 67-kDa laminin receptor.