EF1a-hTERT(Bla) Lentiviral Particles

EF1α-hTERT (Bla) Lentiviral Particles are designed for stable delivery and expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in mammalian cells. hTERT is the catalytic protein subunit of telomerase, which maintains telomeric DNA at chromosome ends and helps counteract the progressive telomere shortening associated with repeated cell division. In many primary and finite-lifespan cells, hTERT expression can delay replicative senescence, extend proliferative capacity, and support the establishment of continuously expanding cultures. The human EF1α promoter drives constitutive hTERT expression and is commonly used when sustained activity is required across a broad range of cell types. A blasticidin resistance gene enables antibiotic selection and enrichment of successfully transduced cells. Lentiviral delivery provides efficient gene transfer and stable genomic integration, including in cell populations that are difficult to modify by conventional plasmid transfection.

These particles are primarily used to generate hTERT-immortalized models from primary cells or other cultures with limited replicative potential. Suitable applications include the expansion of epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, stromal cells, and additional lineage-specific populations for long-term experimental use. hTERT-expressing cells can support studies of cellular aging, telomere biology, disease mechanisms, signal transduction, gene function, and responses to drugs, biologics, or environmental stress. They can also provide renewable starting material for assay development, compound screening, toxicology studies, biomarker analysis, and subsequent genetic engineering. Compared with repeatedly sourced primary cultures, a well-characterized hTERT-immortalized population may reduce donor-to-donor and passage-related variability and improve experimental consistency.