TRIPZ Inducible Lentiviral shRNA combines the advantages of microRNA-adapted lentiviral vector design with Tet-inducibility to generate an RNAi trigger that permits reversible, controlled gene silencing. Conditional RNAi is especially useful when studying the function of essential genes, knockdown of which can be detrimental to the cell. The TRIPZ Lentiviral shRNA collection targeting the human genome was developed in collaboration with Greg Hannon (CSHL) and Steve Elledge (Harvard). The vector is engineered to be Tet-On® such that shRNA expression is induced in the presence of doxycycline.

Highlights

• Tet-inducible shRNA expression permits reversible and regulatable gene knockdown
• microRNA-adapted shRNA design enhances specificity and potency of silencing
• TurboRFP fluorescent reporter allows visual tracking of shRNA expression
• Lentiviral vector enables transductions of primary and non-dividing cells

Tet-On or Tet-Off configurations

The pre-designed TRIPZ shRNA collection is configured for expression of an shRNA in the presence of doxycycline (Tet-On configuration). However, it is possible to alter the construct such that expression occurs in the absence of doxycycline (Tet-Off configuration). The pTRIPZ vector can be easily converted to a Tet-Off configuration by Cre-loxP site-specific recombination or a standard restriction digest. The rtTA3 is flanked by loxP sites allowing in vitro or in vivo excision of the rtTA3 by exposure to Cre recombinase. The rtTA3 is also flanked by a pair of BamHI restriction sites allowing for straightforward cleavage and ligation of the vector to remove the rtTA3. Without the rtTA3 present, a tetracycline transactivator (tTA) can be added extraneously to the system allowing it to function as Tet- Off®; where expression of shRNA and TurboRFP are alternatively induced in the absence of doxycycline.

TRIPZ Lentiviral shRNA transfection starter kit with DharmaFECT kb includes:

• Up to three inducible TRIPZ shRNA as E. coli glycerol stock culture
• DharmaFECT kb transfection reagent for delivery of shRNA plasmid
• Positive and negative TRIPZ lentiviral shRNA controls
• Guaranteed knockdown† when at least 3 TRIPZ shRNAs are tested following protocols and using the included TRIPZ shRNA positive and negative control

Individual shRNA constructs are shipped as glycerol stock cultures of E. coli in LB (low salt) broth with 8% glycerol, carbenicillin (100 µg/mL), and zeocin (25 µg/mL) on wet ice. We check all cultures for growth prior to shipment.

The pre-designed TRIPZ shRNA collection is now expanded with over 10,000 additional unique constructs. TRIPZ shRNAs are available as bacterial glycerol stocks. Search for your gene(s) of interest to find and order

• Individual TRIPZ shRNA constructs
• TRIPZ shRNA Starter Kits which include positive and negative controls, plus transfection reagent
• Target Gene Sets comprised of 3 to 6 TRIPZ shRNA constructs designed against a single gene

Footnotes

† When you purchase a minimum of three shRNA to the same target, at least one of the shRNA constructs will reduce target mRNA levels by 70% or more when used with Starter Kit protocols and normalized for delivery efficiency. Delivery conditions should be confirmed using appropriate positive controls provided in the kit and the percent-knockdown should be compared to cells using the negative control (non-targeting) shRNA.

Please note that the GIPZ Lentiviral shRNA and TRIPZ Inducible Lentiviral shRNA are not compatible with third generation packaging systems, such as ViraPower from Invitrogen. We recommend the Trans-Lentiviral Packaging System to general lentiviral particles for transduction of GIPZ and TRIPZ shRNA.