Download Transient Overexpression of Recombinant Proteins in Mammalian

Transient Overexpression of Recombinant
Proteins in Mammalian Cells
pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vectors
Ultra­high expression of a protein of interest in HEK 293 cells
Flexibility of a single­ or double­vector system
Protein expression up to 10 times higher than with CMV­derived promoters
Ideal for production of biomedically relevant proteins, including monoclonal antibodies
E. coli is commonly used to express recombinant proteins in life science research. However, mammalian cell­
based expression systems have several advantages over E. coli, especially for eukaryotic protein expression.
Expression in mammalian cells allows for proper protein folding and post­translational modification, features that
are key for proper protein function in vitro. The pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vectors enable ultra­high, transient
overexpression of a protein of interest in human HEK 293 cells. Please visit our tech note for data specific to the
use of these vectors for producing monoclonal antibodies.
Principles of high expression with the TAR­Tat system
High levels of recombinant protein expression with the pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vectors is accomplished by a
transcriptional activation mechanism based on the HIV­1 virus TAR­Tat system. The TAR (transactivation
response) element is an RNA sequence derived from HIV­1 that forms a stem loop structure at the 5' end of the
viral RNA. Tat is an RNA­binding protein that binds to TAR and promotes transcription.
pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vector I and Vector II systems incorporate the TAR­Tat elements in order to provide
ultra­high expression of your protein of interest. Both Vector I and Vector II systems incorporate the TAR
sequence in the 5' untranslated region of the target gene, where it will not affect the amino acid sequence of the
expressed target protein. For the Vector I system, a Tat cassette is included on the same vector; the Vector II
system includes the Tat cassette on a separate Enhancer Vector, enabling greater control of the protein of
interest’s expression level. With both systems, expression of the Tat protein greatly increases the expression of
the protein of interest.
pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vector I (Cat. # 3390)—Obtain high expression with the convenience of a single­plasmid
system
pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vector II (Cat. # 3392)—Optimize expression levels by varying the ratio of Vector II and the
included Enhancer Vector
Schematic of protein overexpression using the pHEK293 Ultra Expression vector systems. The TAR element forms a
stem loop structure at the 5' end of the transcribed RNA. Expression of the Tat element produces the Tat protein which
binds to the TAR element in the RNA loop structure. This activates TAR, which in turn promotes high expression of your
protein of interest. The cassette in the image above is from the single­vector system, where TAR and Tat are both on the
same plasmid as your target gene, enabling more convenient transfection. In the two­vector system, Tat is on a separate
plasmid, allowing you to have control over expression levels by varying the ratio of the two vectors.
Visualization of high expression using fluorescent proteins
In order to assess protein expression capabilities, both pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vector systems were used to
introduce a fluorescent protein (AcGFP1) into adherent and suspension HEK 293 cells. For comparison, the same
assay was conducted with a vector expressing AcGFP1 from a CMV promoter (pBApo­CMV DNA) and a high­
expression vector from Company A. Constructs were made by inserting AcGFP1 into the appropriate vectors
(details listed in the table at the end of this page).
Higher fluorescence intensity was observed for the pHEK293 systems (conditions 2, 3, and 4) than for either of the
other two vectors (conditions 1 and 5). Additionally, a color change in suspension cells was readily apparent to the
naked eye for cells transfected with the pHEK293 vectors.
Visualization of AcGFP1 expression in adherent and suspension HEK 293 cells. Adherent cells (experimental
conditions 1–5) were cultured in 12­well plates. Suspension cells (experimental conditions 6–10) were cultured in 125­ml
flasks. Imaging was done two days post­transfection. Panel A. Fluorescent microscopy images (adherent cells). Panel
B. Representative images of suspension cell cultures (condition 7 on the left; condition 10 on the right; conditions 6, 8, and
9 not shown). For Panels A and B, experimental conditions are as follows. Conditions 1 and 6: pBApo­CMV; conditions 2
and 7: pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vector I; conditions 3 and 8: pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vector II + Enhancer Vector;
conditions 4 and 9: same as 3 and 8, but with a larger amount of Enhancer Vector; conditions 5 and 10: Company A’s high­
expression vector. Quantitative data for all conditions are shown in the figure below.
Flow cytometry was used to quantify the expression levels of AcGFP1 in adherent and suspension cells. Cells
transfected with pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vector I (conditions 2 and 7) and pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vector II
(conditions 3, 4, 8, and 9) displayed fluorescence intensities 5–11 times higher than that obtained with a typical
CMV promoter (conditions 1 and 6), and 2–7 times higher than Company A’s high­expression vector (conditions 5
and 10). Additionally, cells transfected with the two­vector system displayed an expected increase in AcGFP1
expression when the amount of Enhancer Vector was raised from 0.008 µg (condition 3) to 0.2 µg (condition 4) for
adherent cells, and from 0.24 µg (condition 8) to 6 µg (condition 9) for suspension cells.
Flow cytometry analysis of fluorescence intensity of AcGFP1 positive cells. AcGFP1 expression in adherent and
suspension cells (transfected with constructs as described above) was quantified two days post­transfection. The table
column directly below each bar on the graph lists the amount of each vector used in that specific experimental condition.
Visit our antibody tech note for more data >>
Visit the product page for pHEK293 Ultra Expression Vectors >>
http://www.clontech.com/US/Products/Protein_Expression_and_Purification/Mammalian_Expression/
pHEK293_Ultra_Expression_Overview