SMARTchoice Platform

The SMARTchoice platform gives you a choice of promoters and reporters for maximum experimental flexibility

Choose your promoter!

In expression vectors, promoter activity differs between cell types. With SMARTchoice vectors, you can choose the promoter with the highest activity in your cell type. This is the best way to maximize expression, and thereby improve your results.

Strength of promoter activity is different from one biological context to another and can affect experimental outcomes.

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Strength of promoter activity is different from one biological context to another and can affect experimental outcomes

Figure 1. Promoter activity varies across several human and rodent cell lines. Cells were plated at a density of 50,000 cells per well in a 24-well plate and transduced at MOI = 15 with SMARTvector Empty Vector Control Particles expressing TurboGFP. Promoter activity was assessed at 72 hours post-transduction by the fluorescence intensity of TurboGFP.

If you are uncertain of relative promoter activity in your cells, the Dharmacon SMARTchoice Promoter Selection Plate and the SMARTchoice Inducible Non-targeting Control 4-pack allow straightforward identification of the optimal promoter in your cells of interest.

Choose your reporter!

Fluorescent reporters help with visual tracking of transduction and confirmation of expression. SMARTchoice vectors give you the option of TurboGFP or TurboRFP for fluorescent reporting. For some experiments, a fluorescent reporter may be undesirable and for those instances, you can select "no fluorescent reporter" as a vector option.

SMARTchoice options are available on these products

SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNA

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

SMARTvector Inducible Lentiviral shRNA

• The most advanced and flexible single-vector inducible shRNA available for tightly controlled gene silencing

shMIMIC Lentiviral microRNA

• Innovative microRNA vector design coupled with your choice of optimal promoter and reporter for over-expression of mature microRNAs

shMIMIC Inducible Lentiviral microRNA

• shMIMIC Inducible Lentiviral microRNAs combine all the advantages of the unique shMIMIC microRNA expression design with the Tet-On 3G tetracycline-inducible expression system and the flexibility of SMARTchoice promoter and reporter options.

Edit-R Lentiviral Cas9 Nuclease reagents

• Purified lentiviral particles or plasmid DNA for generation of stable Cas9 nuclease-expressing cell populations. Constitutive or inducible promoter options are available.

SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNA Pooled Libraries

• Constitutive shRNA expression for optimized functional analysis screens

SMARTvector Inducible Lentiviral shRNA Pooled Libraries

• Inducible shRNA expression for regulatable and controlled functional analysis screens

shMIMIC Lentiviral microRNA Pooled Libraries

• Perform functional screening of hundreds or thousands of microRNAs without high-throughput automation

shMIMIC Inducible Lentiviral microRNA Pooled Libraries

• Tight control of microRNA expression for powerful functional screening of hundreds or thousands of microRNAs.

Constitutive Workflow

Following optimization of basic transduction conditions, transduce cells using the SMARTchoice Promoter Selection Plate to assess the activity of seven different promoters. Please note that some promoters may only be available as custom products or upon request.

Next, order shMIMIC lentiviral microRNAs or SMARTvector Lentiviral shRNAs of interest with your selected promoter and reporter for maximized experimental success. Don’t forget to order the matched positive and negative controls!

Inducible Workflow

Start by optimizing basic lentiviral transduction conditions such as optimal cell density and polybrene concentration. Following optimization, transduce cells using the SMARTchoice Inducible Non-targeting control four-pack and evaluate the cell-specific activity of the four different inducible promoters. Next, order shMIMIC Inducible Lentiviral microRNAs or SMARTvector Inducible Lentiviral shRNAs of interest with your selected promoter and reporter for maximized experimental success. Don’t forget to order the matched positive and negative controls!