EF1a-dF-HA-KORD-IRES-mCitrine AAV (Serotype 9)

EF1a-dF-HA-KORD-IRES-mCitrine AAV (Serotype 9) is designed to deliver and express a variety of target genes for therapeutic and research applications. AAV serotype 9 is particularly known for its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, making it ideal for CNS-targeted therapies. The broad tropism of this serotype enables efficient transduction of a variety of tissues outside the CNS, including heart, liver, and muscle tissue, making it highly versatile for systemic applications.

This AAV construct is driven by the EF1a promoter, a strong constitutive promoter commonly used in mammalian cells, ensuring stable expression in both dividing and non-dividing cells. The construct features an HA-KORD fusion gene, a combination of the HA epitope tag and the KORD (kappa opioid receptor DREADD) receptor. DREADDs (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs) are engineered GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors) that specifically respond to otherwise inert drug-like small molecules. This property allows researchers to control cellular pathways and neural circuits with precise temporal resolution.

Downstream of KORD is an IRES (internal ribosome entry site) element, which promotes the co-expression of a yellow fluorescent protein variant, mCitrine. The inclusion of mCitrine provides a convenient reporter gene that can be used to confirm transduction efficiency and monitor expression patterns using fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry without interfering with the function of the HA-KORD complex.