SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNA

Make smart, informed choices for successful gene silencing in your cells of interest

Guaranteed gene silencing with state-of-the-art shRNA designs and multiple promoter and reporter options.

SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNA

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Maximum flexibility for vector-based RNAi experiments

Because efficient gene silencing depends on both the design and level of expression of the shRNA, it is critical to choose silencing reagents where both the targeting sequence and the specific promoter driving expression are taken into consideration.

SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNAs are designed using our most advanced microRNA-based shRNA-specific rational design algorithm resulting in highly potent and specific targeting sequences. Choose from seven promoters* (human and mouse CMV, human and mouse EF1 alpha, CAG, PGK, and UBC), two fluorescent reporters (TurboGFP and TurboRFP) and a no-fluorescent reporter option to tailor SMARTvector lentiviral shRNAs for your specific cells of interest and your experimental requirements. Up to ten shRNA silencing constructs are predesigned for every gene in human, mouse and rat providing broad coverage across the entire genome.

Unsure which format you need? Learn about our SMARTchoice configuration platform *Please note that some promoter options may only be available as custom products or upon request.

Highlights

Target any gene in human, mouse and rat, and tailor experiments to specific cells with multiple promoter options
Guaranteed silencing (see Guarantee tab)
Designed using microRNA scaffold-specific attributes for highly efficient processing via the endogenous RNAi pathway
Available as glycerol stock and as purified, concentrated lentiviral particles
Standard titers of 1 x 10⁸ TU/mL, ± 20%, and ultra-high titers of 2 x 10⁹ TU/mL, ± 20%; functional titers determined by flow cytometric analysis of GFP-positive, transduced HEK293T cells
Suitable for dividing and non-dividing cell types, including difficult-to-transfect cells such as primary, neuronal and stem cells

Together, these attributes greatly enhance the functionality and specificity of lentiviral-mediated RNAi and reduce the toxicity associated with low titer preparations (supernatant).

Superior Dharmacon design algorithm

Utilization of a highly processed, patented microRNA scaffold
Rationally-designed, highly functional gene targeting sequences
Algorithm trained on more than 500 endogenous mRNA data points for functional knockdown testing
Incorporation of bioinformatics strategies to reduce off-target gene knockdown events
Protein coding genes are targeted in the ORF and 3’UTR; lncRNAs are targeted throughout the entire transcript length

Lentiviral particle formats

At Dharmacon, we are committed to delivering high quality lentiviral particle preparations. As such, we clone, package and concentrate each construct with strict QC controls. Due to the inherent complexity of lentiviral particle production and the quality control procedures, turnaround time is estimated to be 4 to 6 weeks. We offer the following formats:

Set of 3 different gene-targeting constructs

Ideal for evaluating multiple shRNAs targeting the same gene and ensuring mRNA knockdown in your specific cells
100 µL (4 x 25 µL) or 200 µL (8 x 25 µL) total amounts at 1 x 10⁸ TU/mL, ± 20%, functional titers determined by flow cytometric analysis of GFP-positive, transduced HEK293T cells

Individual gene-targeting constructs

Ideal for ordering one or two constructs that you have identified as being the best performers
100 µL (4 x 25 µL) or 200 µL (8 x 25 µL) total amounts at 1 x 10⁸ TU/mL, ± 20%, or 100 µL (4 x 25 µL) total amount at 2 x 10⁹ TU/mL, ± 20%, functional titers determined by flow cytometric analysis of GFP-positive, transduced HEK293T cells

SMARTvector Lentiviral Positive and Negative Controls for shRNA and microRNA experiments

Ideal for optimizing transduction and assay conditions prior to gene-specific experimentation
Negative control particles allow for distinguishing sequence-specific silencing from non-specific effects
Positive control particles allow for confirmation of gene silencing using confirmed shRNA constructs targeting a housekeeping gene
50 µL (2 x 25 µL) at 1 x 10⁸ TU/mL, ± 20% or 100 µL (4 x 25 µL) at 2 x 10⁹ TU/mL, ± 20%, functional titers determined by flow cytometric analysis of GFP-positive, transduced HEK293T cells
Learn about SMARTvector controls.

SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNA vector elements

Vector Element	Utility
5' LTR	5' Long Terminal Repeat necessary for lentiviral particle production and integration of the construct into the host cell genome
Ψ	Psi packaging sequence allows viral genome packaging using lentiviral packaging systems
P_RRE	Rev Response Element enhances titer by increasing packaging efficiency of full-length viral genomes
tGFP or tRFP	TurboGFP or TurboRFP reporter for visual tracking of expression
None	No-reporter option for use in applications where fluorescence is not required or desired
IRES	Internal Ribosomal Entry Site allows expression of fluorescent marker and puromycin resistance in a single transcript
Puro^R	Puromycin resistance permits antibioticselective pressure and propagation of stable integrants
SMARTvector universal scaffold	Optimized proprietary scaffold in which mature microRNA sequence is embedded
WPRE	Woodchuck Hepatitis Post-transcriptional Regulatory Element enhances transgene expression in target cells
3' SIN LTR	3' Self-inactivating Long Terminal Repeat for increased Lentiviral safety

Functionality of endogenous microRNAs are different

Incorporation of highly functional and appropriately processed microRNA scaffolds into lentiviral silencing constructs greatly enhances the functionality of DNA-based RNAi silencing. Different endogenous human microRNAs were tested in HeLa cells for the ability to silence their respective targets. Each microRNA exhibits a distinctive level of functionality. Several of the constructs (e.g., miR-486 and -526a) exhibited poor levels of activity, silencing their respective reporter constructs less than 20% while native miR-30 and -374 scaffolds provide moderate levels of gene silencing (~50-70%, see above). The scaffold selected as the basis for SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNAs efficiently processed and silenced its’ respective target by 80 to 90%. This highly functional microRNA represents a significant improvement over currently available microRNA-based scaffolds used in RNAi expression platforms.

Functionality of mature and passenger strands of endogenous microRNAs are different

Preferred microRNA scaffolds have minimal passenger strand off-target effects. The Dharmacon team investigated the passenger strand activity of several of the scaffolds tested in the primary screen. The moderately functional miR-30 and the highly functional miR-126 exhibit undesirable passenger strand activity. In contrast, miR-SMARTvector shows potent mature strand activity with minimal passenger strand function.

microRNA-adapted shRNAs compared to simple hairpin shRNAs

The SMARTvector microRNA-adapted shRNA platform shows considerably higher mature strand activity and lower passenger stand activity than simple hairpin shRNAs targeting the same gene. The result of the optimized microRNA-adapted scaffold is higher, more specific function while reducing the risk of off-target effects from the passenger strand.

SMARTvector lentiviral shRNA particles in two cell lines

Two different cell lines were transduced with Dharmacon SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNA Particles targeting CDK9, HIF1α, ILK, MAPK1 or PTEN (as indicated) at three MOIs. mRNA knockdown was assessed 72 hours post-transduction using QuantiGene branched DNA assay (Panomics, Inc.) and normalized to SMARTvector Non-targeting Control. In most cases, 70% or greater gene knockdown was achieved in the absence of puromycin selection. Rational design, broad tropism, and GFP reporter expression facilitate transduction optimization that leads to efficient gene knockdown in cells refractory to lipid-mediated delivery.

The SMARTvector no reporter option provides equivalent gene knockdown compared to the SMARTvector constructs with a fluorescent reporter

A549 cell lines were transduced with Dharmacon SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNA Particles targeting GAPD with and without a fluorescent reporter at a range of MOIs. mRNA knockdown was assessed 5 days after puromycin selection using QuantiGene branched DNA assay (Panomics, Inc.) and normalized to the matched SMARTvector Non-targeting Control. In all cases, GAPD knockdown is the similar with and without fluorescent reporter.