Which retroviral packaging cell line or system should I use to transduce my target cells?

Viral envelopes are classified by the receptors they use to enter host cells. Your virus' range of infectivity (cell tropism) is determined by its envelope, which is in turn conferred by the packaging cell line or system. You should choose your packaging cell line or system based on your target cells. EcoPack 2-293 Cell Line (HEK 293), Tropism: Ecotropic, Envelope: gp70, Receptors: mCAT1, [...]

Are Takara Bio’s retroviral packaging cell lines and retroviral systems compatible with retroviral vectors from other sources?

Yes, Takara Bio's retroviral packaging cell lines and retroviral systems are compatible with MMLV-based retroviral vectors from other sources.Retrovirus [...]

Are Takara Bio’s retroviral vectors compatible with retroviral packaging systems from other sources?

Our MMLV-based retroviral vectors are compatible with MMLV-based retroviral packaging systems. However, we cannot guarantee the performance or biosafety of retroviral packaging systems from sources other than ours.Retrovirus [...]

How do you guarantee the biosafety of Takara Bio’s retroviral packaging cell lines?

Takara Bio's retroviral packaging cell lines are routinely tested to ensure the absence of replication-competent virus, using control NIH 3T3 pLAPSN stable cells. Please see each packaging cell line's Certificate of Analysis (located under the Documents tab on the Retroviral Packaging Systems product page) for more information.Retrovirus [...]

Are there size limitations for cloning into IRES vectors?

Typically, expression of the gene downstream of the IRES is optimal only if the gene cloned upstream of the IRES is 0.5–1.5 kb in size. Therefore: You can expect reduced expression of the downstream gene when a gene larger than 2 kb is cloned upstream of the IRES. It is better to clone a stuffer into the vector than to use the empty vector as a control.Retrovirus [...]