Thermo Scientific Dharmacon SMARTvector 2.0 Lentiviral shrna Particles Long-term gene silencing shrna-specific design algorithm High titer, purified particles
Thermo Scientific Dharmacon SMARTvector shrna technology incorporates state-of-the-art design features SMARTvector 2.0 lentiviral shrna platform merges innovations that greatly improve the functionality and specificity of DNA-mediated RNAi and reduce the toxicity associated with low-titer lentiviral preparations. With the advancements embodied in the SMARTvector 2.0 technology, functional silencing sequences can be delivered into a broad range of cell types for long-term knockdown. This includes cells that are resistant to standard transfection such as stem cells, primary cells and neuronal cells. Unique microrna expression scaffold for efficient processing of the shrna Groundbreaking SMARTvector 2.0 shrna design algorithm - Maximizes selection of functional silencing sequences - Seed-based bioinformatic filters and strand bias increase specificity Ready-to-use lentiviral particles allow ease of application - Viral vector system with broad tropism enables delivery into many cell types including difficult-to-transfect cells - Expression of turbogfp permits visualization of transduction efficiency - Generation of stable cells lines facilitated by puromycin selection marker The SMARTvector 2.0 platform utilizes lentiviral vectors to deliver and constitutively express gene silencing reagents capable of entering the RNAi pathway. gene targeting duplex protein expression 5 Dicer mrna RNA DNA shrna expression reverse transcription 3 preintegration complex 4 integration 2 nucleus 2 3 4 5 The lentiviral vector particle binds to cells and delivers its engineered RNA genome to the cytoplasm. The viral genome is reverse-transcribed in the cytoplasm (i.e. RNA to DNA). The DNA intermediate form is imported into the host cell nucleus. The viral DNA intermediate is stably integrated into the host genome. The silencing construct is constitutively expressed and processed into short interfering hairpins (shrnas) capable of gene silencing.
Rational design for reliable and stable silencing SMARTvector 2.0 lentiviral shrna constructs incorporate design elements critical to the successful delivery and processing of gene targeting sequences. Each element of the vector was experimentally assessed in a systematic series of studies. The results were used to build the most effective and potent shrna gene silencing platform available today. Our studies led to the incorporation of: Bioinformatic strategies that enhance specificity An efficiently and correctly processed mirna expression for specific gene silencing Critical attributes for rational design of the targeting sequence - The algorithm selects targeting sequences predicted to be compatible with the proprietary Thermo Scientific Dharmacon mirna scaffold SMARTvector 2.0 Lentiviral shrna is highly functional across a broad range of cell lines 00% 90% 80% % Normalized mrna Expression 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 0% 75% knockdown 0% MOI 30 MOI 5 MOI 7.5 MOI 60 MOI 30 SH-SY5Y K-562 HELA MDA-MB- 23 HEK293 HUVEC MCF-0A MCF-7 PC-2 NIH-3T3 RHOA GAPDH Rac Gapdh Ten different cell lines were transduced with SMARTvector 2.0 Lentiviral shrna Particles targeting either RHOA, GAPDH or Rac (as indicated) at three MOIs (multiplicities of infection). mrna knockdown was assessed 72 hours post-transduction using the QuantiGene branched DNA assay (Panomics, Inc.) and normalized to SMARTvector 2.0 Non-targeting Control. In most cases, 75% or greater gene knockdown was achieved by at least out of 3 constructs in the absence of puromycin selection.
Highly functional microrna scaffolds were chosen for shrna expression Multiple human micrornas were tested for the ability to silence their respective targets. Each microrna exhibited a distinctive level of functionality. Our evaluation led to the application of a novel, efficiently processed microrna scaffold for specific gene silencing. We found that: Not all micrornas are processed with the same efficiency Some micrornas exhibit passenger (star) strand activity that can compromise specificity, especially if working at high MOIs The incorporation of the highly functional and appropriately processed SMARTvector 2.0 mirna scaffold into lentiviral silencing constructs greatly enhances the functionality of DNAbased RNAi silencing. The SMARTvector 2.0 algorithm selects targeting sequences predicted to be compatible with the proprietary Thermo Scientific Dharmacon mirna scaffold. The microrna scaffolds having potent mature strand activity with minimal passenger strand function were selected for SMARTvector 2.0 shrna construct development Normalized Luciferase Expression 0.88 0.66 0.44 0.22 00 mir-486 mir-526a- mir-96a- mir-374 mirna-f mirna-a 75% knockdown mirna-b mirna-c mirna-d mirna-e(5 ) mirna-e(3 ) Empty Vector hluc sirna Normalized Luciferase Expression 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 mir-96a- mir-96a- mirna-f mirna-f 75% knockdown mirna-a mirna-a mirna-c mirna-c mirna-d mirna-d mirna-e(5 ) mirna-e(3 ) Empty Vector hluc sirna Proprietary mirna scaffolds Proprietary mirna scaffolds Five microrna scaffolds (a-e) were identified as efficiently processed, and silenced their respective targets by > 75%. These highly functional micrornas represent a significant improvement over currently available microrna-based scaffolds used in other RNAi expression platforms. The functionality of the passenger (star) strand for six human microrna expression scaffolds was assessed. Candidate microrna scaffolds were selected based on high levels of knockdown by the mature strand and minimal activity of the passenger (star) strand.
First rational shrna design algorithm for the selection of potent and specific gene-silencing constructs The SMARTvector 2.0 shrna algorithm selects targeting sequences predicted to be compatible with the proprietary microrna scaffold and incorporates multiple determinants including: Thermodynamic profiles for strand bias Global and region-specific GC content Secondary structure essential for correct processing Position-dependent nucleotide preferences Seed-complement frequency filters shrna rational design results in highly functional gene knockdown Until now, the design of gene-targeting sequences for DNA-mediated RNAi relied predominantly on converting sirna sequences into hairpins to target genes for knockdown. Many highly functional sirnas do not provide efficient knockdown when expressed as shrnas. Additionally, not all microrna scaffolds are amenable to the introduction of foreign sequences. Our research scientists have identified design criteria that enhance shrna expression and silencing. We have developed the first microrna-based rational shrna design algorithm for the selection of potent and specific gene silencing constructs..2 Normalized Luciferase Expression 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 75% knockdown Performance of the SMARTvector 2.0 shrna rational design algorithm. The top five sequences targeting EGFR, MAPK, CDC2 and GAPDH were tested for the ability to knock down dual-luciferase reporter constructs containing complementary target sequences. Greater than 75% knockdown was achieved with 8 of the 20 SMARTvector 2.0 constructs. 0 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 A B EGFR MAPK CDC2 GAPDH CONTROL
SMARTvector 2.0 lentiviral backbone functional attributes SMARTvector 2.0 lentiviral shrna possess a number of functional attributes to drive expression, protein translation, selection for stable integrants and efficient knockdown of gene targets. A VSVg envelope facilitates transduction of a wide range of cells including difficultto-transfect cell types such as primary cells, non-dividing cells, stem cells and neuronal cell lines. Expression of turbogfp (Evrogen, Moscow, Russia) reporter allows assessment of transduction efficiency by fluorescence microscopy or FACS and correlates qualitatively with shrna expression. Some additional vector attributes include: Human CMV promoter to drive complete transgene expression Self-inactivating 3 long terminal repeat to generate safe, replication-incompetent particles Puromycin resistance marker permits long-term antibiotic selection pressure and therefore stable silencing An IRES (internal ribosomal entry site) to increase efficiency of protein translation SMARTvector 2.0 efficiently transduces many cell types SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cells MCF-7 K-562 Suspension leukemic HELA TurboGFP expression in eight different cell lines visualized 72 hours post-transduction without puromycin selection. HUVEC Primary cells MDA-MB-23 PC-2 Rat neuronal cells MCF-0A Puromycin resistance marker permits stable gene silencing Relative mrna Expression Normalized to NTC 20 00 80 60 40 20 MOI Stable gene knockdown using SMARTvector 2.0 Lentiviral shrna Particles. HeLa cells were transduced at MOI of 5 or with a SMARTvector 2.0 lentiviral shrna construct targeting RHOA, GAPD or NTC. Cells were cultured in the presence of puromycin and gene knockdown was assessed at 42 days post-selection using QuantiGene branched DNA assay (Panomics, Inc). Relative expression was normalized to a non-targeting control stable cell line. 0 RHOA GAPDH NTC
SMARTvector 2.0 shrna is provided as ready-to-use packaged lentiviral particles In-house production of lentiviral particles for use in RNAi experiments requires substantial investments of time, labor and money. SMARTvector 2.0 shrna products are provided as high-titer, purified and concentrated packaged lentiviral particles, eliminating the significant work required to design functional shrna, clone multiple constructs and produce sufficient viral particles for RNAi experimentation. We have now internalized the full process of cloning, packaging and performing quality control checks for all SMARTvector 2.0 shrna products. Additionally, SMARTvector 2.0 lentiviral shrna products are packaged into viral particles using the newest generation Thermo Scientific Open Biosystems Trans-Lentiviral Packaging System for enhanced biosafety. Developing a lentiviral RNAi system Thermo Scientific Dharmacon Proprietary Design Gene (mrna) target 5 3 2 3 Thermo Scientific Open Biosystems Lentiviral Technology 4 5 6 Assess gene knockdown at mrna and/or protein level SMARTvector 2.0 design and manufacturing process All you have to do 2 3 4 5 6 Bioinformatically identify top target sites to design functional & specific shrnas Clone oligonucleotides into a highly functional scaffold Sequence multiple clones to identify constructs with correct sequence Transfect into packaging cells with helper plasmids encoding Gag/Pol and appropriate envelope proteins Isolate high titer viral supernatant Transduce into cells of choice
Thermo Scientific Dharmacon SMARTvector 2.0 Lentiviral shrna Particles Contact Information North America 2650 Crescent Dr., Suite 00 Lafayette, CO 80026 Toll free: 800 235 9880 Tel: 303 604 9499 Fax: 303 604 3286 US web: www.thermo.com/dharmacon US e-mail: dharmacon.lab@thermofisher.com Other Countries: Technical support: 00800 73724648 Belgium Tel: 0800 80543 Fax: 0800 8078 Technical support: 053 85 7 92 France Tel: 08009 4294 Fax: 08009 885 Technical support: 0800 50 84 97 Germany Tel: 0800 830746 Fax: 0800 80366 Technical support: 0228 2427409 The Netherlands Tel: 08000 223464 Fax: 08000 22329 Technical support: 076 50 3 880 United Kingdom Tel: 08009 750 Fax: 0372 840545 Technical support: 0800 252 85 Switzerland Tel: 08005 63505 Fax: 08008 38669 Technical support: 0800 56 3 40 US Literature # 0065-07-J-02-U Euro Literature # PB 2009 46 2009 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. Alexa Fluor is a trademark of Invitrogen. turbogfp is a trademark of Evrogen. All other trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and its subsidiaries.