Editing of PSMD7 gene in U2OS-(Ubi)EGFP cells using Edit-R Cas9 Nuclease protein NLS delivered by DharmaFECT transfection reagents

U2OS-(Ubi)EGFP cells were plated at 10,000 cells/well in 96-well plates and co-transfected using DharmaFECT transfection reagents with 25 nM Edit-R Cas9 Nuclease protein NLS and synthetic crRNA:tracrRNA at 50 or 100 nM targeting PSMD7. Cells were harvested 72 hours post-transfection and the relative frequency of gene editing was calculated based on a DNA mismatch detection assay with T7 Endonuclease I. UT = untreated sample, MW = FastRuler Low Range DNA Ladder (Thermo Scientific).

DharmaFECT reagents provide an improved dynamic range

DharmaFECT reagents are effective across a broader range of experimental conditions when compared to Lipofectamine® 2000 (Invitrogen). Several cell densities and lipid volumes were investigated to determine optimal transfection conditions, shown by the shaded boxes. Three cell densities of HepG2 cells were transfected with GAPD siRNA (100 nM) using a range of volumes (0.05 to 1.6 μL/well) of Lipofectamine 2000 and DharmaFECT 4 transfection reagents. mRNA levels (bars) were assessed by branched DNA assay (Panomics Quantigene® Reagent System) and cell viability (data points) was determined by alamarBlue® (Biosource International).

DharmaFECT Transfection Reagents provide highly efficient delivery at low siRNA concentrations

To determine transfection efficiencies at low siRNA concentrations, two genes were targeted with various amounts of SMARTpool siRNA reagent. DharmaFECT achieved > 80% silencing at all siRNA concentrations, while HiPerFect (Qiagen) only achieved this level with PPIB at 100 nM. HeLa cells were transfected with SMARTpool TM reagents targeting Cyclophilin B (PPIB) or MAPKI at concentrations of 1, 5, 25, and 100 nM. mRNA expression (bars) was determined by branched DNA assay (Panomics Quantigene® Reagent System) and cell viability (data points) was determined by alamarBlue® (Biosource International).

DharmaFECT outperforms other reagents in optimization study

Table adapted from Borawski et al. A study by scientists at Novartis concluded that in transfection optimization in 384-well format (in preparation for screening) one of the four DharmaFECT transfection reagents outperformed all other reagents in delivery efficiency and overall cell viability in 9 of 10 cell lines. Lipid transfection reagents tested were DharmaFECT 1-4, HiPerFect® (Qiagen), TransIT-TKO® (Mirus) Lipofectamine® 2000 and Oligofectamine® (Invitrogen). J. Borawski et al., Optimization Procedure for small interfering RNA Transfection in a 384-well format. J. Bimolecular Screening, 12, 546-559 (2007).

J. Borawski et al., Optimization Procedure for small interfering RNA Transfection in a 384-well format. J. Bimolecular Screening. 12, 546-559 (2007).