CMV-Cre-mCherry-Puro Lentivirus

Lentivirus is an enveloped RNA virus with a diameter of 80-120nm, an icosahedral symmetric structure and a spherical shape. The outermost layer of the virus particle is the envelope (the envelope protein determines the type of infected cell), followed by the matrix protein and the capsid, and the innermost is two identical positive strands of RNA and enzymes (reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease). The first step for lentivirus to infect cells is to bind to cell surface receptors through the envelope protein. After the lentivirus fuses with the host cell membrane, the structural protein, enzyme protein and viral core are released. The viral RNA is reverse transcribed under the action of reverse transcriptase and forms a pre-integration complex with integrase. After the pre-integration complex enters the cell nucleus, the integrase catalyzes its integration into the host genome. The exogenous gene pre-promoter drives its expression in the cytoplasm.

Lentivirus has a wide host range and can effectively infect dividing cells and non-dividing cells. It is particularly suitable for some difficult-to-transfect cells (such as primary cells, stem cells, undifferentiated cells) and cells with strong immune responses to adenovirus infection (such as dendritic cells, monocytes and mesenchymal stem cells). It can greatly improve the efficiency of target gene transduction and greatly increase the probability of target gene integration into the host cell genome. Lentivirus can effectively integrate exogenous genes into host chromosomes and mediate stable and long-term expression of target genes. Therefore, lentivirus can be used to establish stable cell lines.