Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)
Long-term, inducible, and in vivo targeted gene silencing with Dharmacon™ lentiviral shRNA reagents
Dharmacon™ reagents portfolio of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) products are designed for stable, sustained gene knockdown in diverse cell types and experimental models. Our proprietary SMARTvector™ shRNA technology features an optimized microRNA-adapted design that enhances cellular processing efficiency and maximizes silencing activity while minimizing off-target effects from the passenger strand.
Choose from promoter options including constitutive, and inducible, and flexible reporter configurations (fluorescent, luminescent, or selection markers) to tailor shRNA expression precisely to your cell type and experimental workflow. Whether you're conducting long-term knockdown studies, inducible gene silencing experiments, or in vivo functional genomics research, our lentiviral shRNA reagents deliver reliable, reproducible results across challenging applications.
Find the right shRNA for your experiment
Pre-designed shRNA reagents
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SMARTvector lentiviral shRNA
Optimized universal microRNA-adapted scaffold with flexible promoter and reporter options for any experiment. -
SMARTvector inducible lentiviral shRNA
Tet-inducible optimized universal microRNA-adapted scaffold for precise, switchable control over gene knockdown timing. -
GIPZ lentiviral shRNA
MicroRNA-adapted lentiviral design for efficient, stable gene silencing in dividing and non-dividing cells. -
TRIPZ inducible lentiviral shRNA
Inducible RNAi, turn gene silencing on and off with precision. -
TRC lentiviral shRNA
Broad-coverage lentiviral knockdown library from The RNAi Consortium, designed for human and mouse.
Why choose Dharmacon shRNA?
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MicroRNA-adapted universal design
Promotes efficient cellular processing while preserving antisense strand activity and reduces toxicity during RNAi experiments
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Flexible promoter options
SMARTvector offers a choice of four constitutive and four inducible promoters to optimize expression in your specific cells
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Potent, specific silencing
SMARTvector lentiviral shRNA uses an optimized promoter to deliver consistent and specific gene silencing
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Multiple reporter options
For SMARTvector choose between GFP, RFP or no reporter
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Inducible silencing
Tet-On® 3G promoter available for inducible, controlled gene silencing
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In vivo capability
Suitable for in vivo RNAi applications
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Guaranteed silencing
At least one of three constructs guaranteed to reduce target mRNA levels by 70% or more with SMARTvector, GIPZ, and TRIPZ shRNA**
How Dharmacon shRNA achieves long-term, inducible, and in vivo targeted gene silencing
SMARTvector: shRNA tailored to your experiment
The SMARTvector backbone offers a choice of seven promoters and three reporter options, allowing you to optimize shRNA expression for your specific cells and experimental requirements.
Designed using a microRNA-based shRNA-specific rational design algorithm, SMARTvector lentiviral shRNA expressed under an optimized promoter delivers potent and specific silencing. The SMARTchoice promoter selection plate helps identify the optimal promoter for your cell line.
SMARTvector shRNA is also available with a Tet-on® 3G promoter for inducible, controlled gene silencing, which is particularly useful when studying the function of essential genes.
Which shRNA reagent is best for you
Use the table below to assist you in determining the right shRNA reagents for your experimental needs.
| Feature | SMARTvector and SMARTvector inducible | GIPZ | TRIPZ | TRC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Human, Mouse, Rat | Human, Mouse | Human | Human, Mouse |
| Promoter | 7 constitutive*, 4 inducible | Human CMV Pol II | TRE-min-CMV | U6 Pol III |
| Vector backbone | Lentiviral | Lentiviral | Lentiviral | Lentiviral |
| Stem-loop format | MicroRNA-adapted | MicroRNA-adapted | MicroRNA-adapted | Simple |
| Fluorescent reporter gene | GFP/RFP | GFP | RFP | |
| Guaranteed silencing | Yes** | Yes** | Yes** | No |
| In vivo RNAi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Create stable cell lines | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Recommended for primary and non-dividing cells | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inducible expression | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Whole genome library availability | Human, Mouse, Rat | Human, Mouse | Human | Human, Mouse |
| Formats | Bacterial glycerol stock; High-titer lentiviral particles; Gene families and pathways | Bacterial glycerol stock; Arrayed library format; Gene families and pathways; High-titer lentiviral particles, shRNA Starter Kit | Bacterial glycerol stock; Arrayed library format; Gene families and pathways; shRNA Starter Kit | Bacterial glycerol stock; Arrayed library format; Gene families and pathways |
* Some promoter options may only be available as custom products or upon request.
** For SMARTvector, GIPZ, and TRIPZ lentiviral shRNAs, at least one out of three constructs is guaranteed to reduce target mRNA levels by 70% or more when used in combination with the appropriately matched non-targeting and positive controls.
GIPZ and TRIPZ collections
GIPZ shRNA and TRIPZ inducible shRNA offer specific gene silencing with minimized cellular toxicity. Both collections were developed in collaboration with Gregory Hannon (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories) and Steve Elledge (Harvard). Note that GIPZ and TRIPZ do not offer the same promoter and reporter flexibility as SMARTvector.
shRNA functional guarantee
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The SMARTvector functional guarantee
When you purchase a minimum of three SMARTvector lentiviral shRNAs targeting the same protein-coding gene using the optimal SMARTchoice promoter for your cell type, at least one construct will reduce target mRNA levels by 70% or more. This must be demonstrated using the vector-matched non-targeting control and GAPD or PPIB positive control, with mRNA levels measured by RT-qPCR or equivalent quantitative analysis no earlier than 72 hours post-transduction. Optimal promoters should be determined with the SMARTchoice promoter selection plate.
Applies to catalogue numbers V3S*xxxx only. Does not apply to SMARTvector shRNAs targeting lncRNA transcripts.
Please note that the SMART vector Lentiviral shRNAs 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.
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GIPZ and TRIPZ functional guarantee
When you purchase a minimum of three shRNAs targeting the same gene, at least one construct 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, and knockdown should be compared to cells treated with the non-targeting negative control 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.
