CMV-hTERT(RFP, Bla) Lentiviral Particles

The CMV-hTERT(RFP, Bla) lentiviral particle is a tool for gene modification designed to promote stable and efficient expression of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene. This lentiviral vector utilizes the EF1α promoter, renowned for its robust constitutive activity across multiple cell types, ensuring high-level hTERT expression and avoiding the expression variability common with other promoters. The introduction of a red fluorescent protein (RFP) reporter gene provides an intuitive visual marker of transduction efficiency, enabling researchers to rapidly identify and sort successfully transduced cells using fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. Furthermore, the blast fungicide resistance gene (Bla) provides a robust screening mechanism for enriching stable cell populations treated with blast fungicide. This dual-function system, combining a high-brightness reporter gene and reliable antibiotic resistance, simplifies experimental procedures and reduces the risk of false positives. The lentiviral backbone itself ensures efficient gene delivery to both dividing and non-dividing cells and enables long-term transgene expression through genome integration.

The primary application of these lentiviral particles lies in cell immortalization, a crucial technology for extending the lifespan of primary cells, which otherwise undergo replicative senescence. By introducing the catalytic subunit hTERT of telomerase, this system counteracts telomere shortening, enabling cells to proliferate indefinitely while maintaining their original phenotype and functional characteristics. This is particularly important for establishing disease models using patient-derived cells, generating regenerative cell lines for drug screening, toxicology studies, and mechanistic research in aging, cancer, and regenerative medicine. Researchers can also utilize this tool for telomere biology studies, such as elucidating the role of telomerase in tumorigenesis or cellular senescence. Its versatility extends to tissue engineering, where immortalized cells can serve as stable matrices for biomaterial testing and organoid construction.