Transfection Service
BOC Sciences offers transfection services for eukaryotic cells, which can be used to enhance or inhibit specific gene expression. Based on our extensive experience in microbial strain development, we can integrate diverse genetic material, such as plasmid DNA, microRNA, siRNA, into microbial host cells of choice. We utilize optional transfection strategies, including chemical-based transfection (e.g., using liposomes, dendrimer, cyclodextrin, etc.) and non-chemical methods (e.g., electroporation, protoplast fusion, etc.), to meet the requirements of our customers.
What is Transfection?
Transfection involves delivering exogenous DNA, RNA or oligonucleotides into cells, using non-viral methods, including chemical, biological, or biophysical methods to manipulate gene expression. Transfection can be divided into stable transfection and transient transfection according to the term of effects. Stably transfected cells continuously express transfected nucleic acids and pass them onto daughter cells, while transiently transfected cells are expressed for a limited period of time. Stable transfection allows the transfected DNA to remain in the cellular genome and daughter cells. The use of the co-transfected method enables cells to resist selection pressure related to the culture environment.
Application of transfection
The capability of transfection includes enhancing or inhibiting gene expression and expressing recombinant proteins in transfected host cells. Transfection is usually used in the development of RNA interference (RNAi), which integrates plasmid DNA into the cellular genome to silence target genes and inhibit target protein expression permanently. Transfection can also be an optional tool for microbial strains development that facilitates efficient production of target proteins from microorganisms.
Our advantages of transfection
- Personalized transfection services using microbial host and expression vectors with the choices of our customers.
- Optimized transfection condition, including cell culture and transfection strategies selection.
- High-efficiency transfection and high activity cells.
- Optimized medium selection.
- Transfected cells can be used for scientific research regarding gene function in cells.
- Comprehensive transfected cells libraries with variable expression levels of protein.
- Various strain expression systems.
- Extensive experience in strain breeding.
- Cost-effective and high-quality products.
- Detailed reporting documents related to transfection efficiency and cell viability
Our methods of transfection
Chemical-based transfection
Utilizing chemical materials such as liposomes, cationic polymers, and dendrimers to bind nucleic acids and form aggregates that penetrate the cells.
Non-chemical transfection
- Electroporation: applying an electric field to the cells and increasing cellular membrane permeability, often used in bacteria or yeast transformation by introducing foreign DNA.
- Protoplast fusion: transformed bacterial cells are treated with lysozyme to remove the cell wall； subsequently, fusogenic agents fuse with protoplast carrying gene of interest with the target recipient cell.
- Optical transfection: the process of introducing nucleic acids into cells using light. The plasma membrane is exposed to highly focused light for a limited time (typically tens of milliseconds to seconds) and generates a transient pore on the membrane.
Validation of stably transfected cells using protein blotting or flow cytometry
Project workflow of transfection service
- Customer advisory
- Project discussion
- Microbial host selection
- Transfection, introducing exogenous DNA or RNA into host cells
- Novel strains evaluation
- Project delivery
