Bio-Rad Launches new Website for Researchers Transfecting Mammalian Cells

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. has announced the launch of a new addition, entitled “Gene Transfer Protocols”, to the Bio-Rad Gene Expression Gateway Web-site, dedicated to researchers working with mammalian cells, including primaries, that are difficult to transfect.

The Gene Transfer Protocols site offers a library where scientists can search a database of gene transfer protocols to identify conditions for transfecting mammalian cells either by cell type or cell line. The database currently contains more than 300 different protocols, many of them collected from peer reviewed journals.

Since transfection plays a critical role in gene expression, determining the right method and parameters are paramount to a successful experiment. Methods such as electroporation, particle bombardment, and lipid-mediated protocols are found on the site, providing researchers with the ability to select the protocol specific for their needs.

“We are pleased to offer our customers this service, which not only provides them a way to browse an extensive set of protocols, but also offers them the opportunity to submit a protocol, which has proved successful for them,”  said Jamie Wibbenmeyer, marketing manager, Microarrays, Bio-Rad’s Gene Expression Division. “We plan to continuously update and expand this website.”

Bio-Rad instruments cited extensively throughout the posted protocol literature include the Gene Pulser series of electroporators, the MicroPulser™ electroporator, the Helios® gene gun and PDS-1000/He biolistic systems.

Chemically mediated methods discussed include transfection reagents such as TransFectin lipid reagent for delivery of plasmid DNA, siLentFect lipid reagent for siRNA delivery, and HEKFectin and COSFectin lipid for cell line-specific transfection.