In the world of molecular biology, researchers have been exploring innovative ways to manipulate cellular processes and understand the complex workings of genes. Transfection, a powerful technique, allows scientists to introduce foreign genetic material including DNA,RNA and other nucleic acids into cells, offering the potential for understanding cellular function and disease.
Some of the most popular molecular techniques used to alter gene expression that require transfection include CRISPR-CAS9 and siRNA. CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary gene editing technology that allows scientists to make precise changes to the DNA of living organisms, including plants, animals, and even humans. The technology is derived from a natural defense mechanism that bacteria use to protect themselves from viruses. Short interfering RNA, commonly abbreviated as siRNA, is a type of small RNA molecule that plays a crucial transient role in gene regulation.
To achieve successful transfection, researchers employ various types of transfection reagents. Lipid-based reagents encapsulate nucleic acids within lipid vesicles, promoting their entry into cells. Additionally, electroporation, enables efficient transfection, each offering distinct advantages based on the cell type and experimental requirements.
MSC has partnered with MirusBio, a company founded in 1995 by the Internationally recognised molecular biologist Jon Wolf in University of Wisconsin-Madison
MirusBio offer a wide array of different transfection reagents, designed for a plethora of both adherent (transit), suspension cells (inGenio) cell lines. Adddionally, Mirusbio boast a range of transfection reagents designed for invivo delivery of nucleic acids. Both the TransIT-EE delivery solution and pLIVE® In Vivo Expression/Reporter Vectors are designed to achieve long term stable expression of the transfected nucleic acid in the livers of laboratory mice.
What are the applications of transfection?
- Gene Function and Regulation: By introducing specific genes or interfering RNA molecules, researchers can study how genes function and regulate various cellular processes. This aids in identifying key genetic factors involved in diseases and potential therapeutic targets.
- Protein Expression and Production: Transfection plays a crucial role in producing recombinant proteins for medical and biotechnological applications. By introducing genes encoding specific proteins, researchers can harness cellular machinery to produce large quantities of the desired protein.
- Disease Modeling: Transfection allows researchers to create cellular models of various diseases, providing a better understanding of disease mechanisms and potential treatment strategies.
- Gene Therapy: Transfection is a fundamental technique in gene therapy, where it enables the delivery of therapeutic genes to correct genetic disorders or treat diseases at the genetic level.
Why choose MirusBio?
- low cellular toxicity
- enhanced transfection efficiency
- Serum Compatible: Perform transfections in presence of serum which eliminates need for media change and maintains cellular health
- Deliver Various Sizes of RNA: Ideal for specialized applications, such as viral production and protein expression from mRNA
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