PiggyBac Vector

The PiggyBac vector system, combined with the FLEX conditional Cre-On gene expression system, offers a powerful tool for achieving transfection-mediated permanent integration of Cre-responsive genes into the host genome. This system utilizes the FLEX Cre-On switch, which consists of two pairs of LoxP-variant recombination sites that flank a gene of interest. In the absence of Cre recombinase, the gene is not expressed due to its antisense orientation relative to the promoter.

The PiggyBac vector system is simple and efficient, relying on transfection rather than viral transduction to achieve permanent gene integration. It consists of a transposon plasmid containing the gene of interest flanked by terminal repeats (TRs) and a transposase (helper PBase) that mediates the integration of the transposon into the host genome. The transposase can be delivered through transient transfection of a helper plasmid or injection of in vitro transcribed PBase mRNA. This integration is stable and can be passed on to subsequent generations.