Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
11:12
Transient Expression of Foreign Genes in Insect Cells (sf9) for Protein Functional Assay
Published on: February 22, 2018
The SFV Gene Expression System
V C Ciccarone1, J A Jessee, P Liljeström
1Molecular Biology Research and Development, Life Technologies, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD.
Methods in Molecular Medicine
|March 11, 2011
Summary
The Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) expression system enables high-level recombinant protein production in eukaryotic cells. Its unique RNA genome and cytoplasmic replication offer advantages for efficient gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
Background:
- The Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) expression system utilizes a DNA-based approach for recombinant protein production in eukaryotic cells.
- SFV offers distinct advantages due to its RNA genome's positive polarity, functioning directly as mRNA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the features of the SFV expression system for efficient recombinant protein production.
- To underscore the benefits of SFV's RNA replication for overcoming common expression challenges.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the SFV RNA genome, which directly functions as mRNA.
- Leveraging SFV's RNA replicase for rapid amplification of RNA molecules within the host cell.
- Exploiting cytoplasmic replication to bypass issues like mRNA splicing and capping efficiency.
Main Results:
- Achieved up to 200,000 copies of plus-RNAs per cell within hours of infection.
- Demonstrated high expression levels of SFV structural proteins within an extended 4-24 hour window post-infection.
- Confirmed SFV's broad infectivity across various cultured cell types, including mammalian, avian, reptilian, amphibian, and insect cells.
Conclusions:
- The SFV expression system provides a robust platform for high-yield recombinant protein production.
- SFV's unique biological characteristics facilitate efficient gene expression in eukaryotic systems.
- The system's broad host range and extended expression window make it a versatile tool in biotechnology.
More Related Videos
10:13An Efficient In Vitro Transposition Method by a Transcriptionally Regulated Sleeping Beauty System Packaged into an Integration Defective Lentiviral Vector
Published on: January 12, 2018
13:47Lentiviral Vector Platform for the Efficient Delivery of Epigenome-editing Tools into Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Disease Models
Published on: March 29, 2019
Related Concept Videos
02:11Reporter Genes
Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.
Commonly used reporter...
Commonly used reporter...
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
01:27Constitutive and Regulated Gene Expression
Gene expression in prokaryotes is governed by constitutive and regulated systems, allowing cells to balance the production of essential proteins with adaptive responses to environmental changes.Constitutive Gene ExpressionConstitutive, or housekeeping, genes are continuously expressed as they encode proteins vital for fundamental cellular processes. These include enzymes for glycolysis, ribosomal components for protein synthesis, and proteins involved in DNA replication. Their constant...
01:36What is Gene Expression?
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then processed and...
01:42What is Gene Expression?
Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...