A strategy to obtain recombinant cell lines with high expression levels. Lentiviral vector-mediated transgenesis

Background The primary goal of any recombinant protein production is to achieve successful gene transfer and expression in a target cell. There are two general categories of delivery vehicles/vectors employed in protein expression protocols. The first category includes the non-viral vectors, ranging from direct injection of DNA to complexing DNA with cationc lipds, polylysine, etc. The second category comprises DNA and RNA viral vectors. Viruses have evolved specific mechanism to deliver their genetic material to target cell nuclei. Virus members of family Retroviridae, e.g. retroviruses and lentiviruses, are among the most widely used viral vectors. The use of lentiviral vectors has been increasing because the vector system has attractive features. Lentiviruses have an advantage over retroviruses in that they can infect both dividing and non-dividing cells and therefore have attracted much attention regarding the potential as vectors for gene delivery/therapy. Once integrated into the genome, recombinant cell lines are selected using different selection mechanisms.