Co-transfection and tandem transfection of HEK293A cells for overexpression and RNAi experiments

Cell Biol Int. 2011 Mar;35(3):187-92. doi: 10.1042/CBI20100470.

Abstract

pIRES2-EGFP was employed and a non-target shRNA expressing plasmid was constructed to simulate overexpression and RNAi (RNA interference) experiments. Transfection of pIRES2-EGFP into HEK293A cells by cationic lipids VigoFect demonstrated that transfection efficiency increased in a dose-dependent manner with amount of DNA plasmid used, and optimal transfection time and cell density should be identified to reach a compromise of higher transfection efficiency and lower toxicity. Co-transfection experiments indicated that the two co-transfected plasmids were equivalently delivered into the same cells, and the co-transfection efficiency was rarely affected by cell density and proportion of the two plasmids. However, plasmid-receipted cells seemed indisposed to accept plasmid again during the second transfection, and very low co-transfection efficiency was observed in tandem transfection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Transfection*

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins