EF1a-Halo-CD63 Lentivirus

The EF1a-Halo-CD63 lentiviral vector is a powerful molecular tool designed for efficient gene delivery and stable expression in both dividing and non-dividing cells. This lentiviral vector contains the elongation factor 1α (EF1a) promoter, which drives strong and sustained expression of the Halo-CD63 fusion protein in a wide range of cell types. The HaloTag technology allows for covalent binding with fluorescent ligands, facilitating various imaging and protein interaction studies. CD63 is a tetraspanin protein marker of exosomes and extracellular vesicles (EVs), enabling researchers to track EV biogenesis and trafficking. Its key advantages include high transduction efficiency, long-term transgene expression, and broad cell tropism. The self-inactivating (SIN) design enhances biosafety by preventing viral replication, while the optional puromycin resistance cassette simplifies the generation of stable cell lines.

This lentiviral vector is widely used in research on exosome biology, intercellular communication, and EV-related disease mechanisms. By labeling CD63-positive vesicles using HaloTag ligands, researchers can observe EV dynamics in real-time using live-cell imaging or super-resolution microscopy. It enables quantitative studies of EV secretion pathways under physiological or pathological conditions, such as cancer metastasis or neurodegenerative diseases. The system also supports protein-protein interaction analysis through HaloTag pull-down experiments. In drug discovery, it facilitates high-throughput screening of exosome release modulators. Furthermore, this vector serves as a platform for constructing EV-based therapeutic approaches—for example, modifying CD63 to load specific cargo (miRNA, drugs) into exosomes for targeted delivery.