pLVX-IRES-Puro is an HIV-1-based, lentiviral expression vector that allows the simultaneous expression of your protein of interest and puromycin resistance (Puro r ) in virtually any mammalian cell type, including primary cells. The vector expresses your protein of interest and Puro r from a bicistronic mRNA transcript, allowing puromycin resistance to be used as an indicator of transduction efficiency and a marker for selection.

Expression of the bicistronic transcript is driven by the constitutively active human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (CMVIE promoter) located just upstream of the MCS. An encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES), positioned between the MCS and Puro+, facilitates cap-independent translation of Puro r from an internal start site at the IRES/Puro r junction.

pLVX-IRES-Puro contains all of the viral processing elements necessary for the production of replication-incompetent lentivirus, as well as elements to improve viral titer, transgene expression, and overall vector function. The woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element (WPRE) promotes RNA processing events and enhances nuclear export of viral RNA, leading to increased viral titers from packaging cells. In addition, the vector includes a Rev-response element (RRE), which further increases viral titers by enhancing the transport of unspliced viral RNA out of the nucleus. Finally, pLVX-IRES-Puro also contains a central polypurine tract/central termination sequence element (cPPT/CTS). During target cell infection, this element creates a central DNA flap that increases nuclear import of the viral genome, resulting in improved vector integration and more efficient transduction. The vector also contains a pUC origin of replication and an E. coli ampicillin resistance gene(Amp+) for propagation and selection in bacteria.