EF1a-hTERT(Zeo) Lentiviral Particles

The EF1a-hTERT (Zeo) Lentiviral Particles represent a high-titer gene delivery system designed for the stable expression of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) protein. These particles are engineered using a third-generation lentiviral vector system, ensuring high transduction efficiency and stable integration of the transgene into the host genome. The expression of hTERT is controlled by the human elongation factor-1 alpha (EF1a) promoter, which is preferred for its ability to maintain high-level, constitutive expression across a diverse range of cell types, including those where traditional promoters like CMV are prone to transcriptional silencing. To facilitate the selection of successfully transduced cells, the vector includes a Zeocin resistance gene, allowing researchers to generate stable, homogenous cell populations through antibiotic selection.

The primary application of EF1a-hTERT (Zeo) Lentiviral Particles is the immortalization of primary cells. By maintaining telomere length, the ectopic expression of hTERT allows primary cells to bypass replicative senescence—the Hayflick limit—enabling them to proliferate indefinitely while retaining their original phenotypic and functional characteristics. This makes the particles an essential tool for establishing long-term, reproducible cell models for rare or hard-to-culture tissues, such as human fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, these particles are widely utilized in aging research, oncology studies, and drug toxicity screenings that require a consistent supply of non-transformed cells. They are also instrumental in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, where maintaining the proliferative potential of progenitor cells is critical for downstream applications. By providing a reliable method for genomic integration, this product ensures a stable cellular platform for complex longitudinal studies and high-throughput biological assays.