SCREENflex
Stable Recombinant Cell Line Service
Customised mammalian stable cell lines (CHO, HEK293 or custom cells) with stable and homogenous expression of your target.
Difficult to express target?
We screen multiple of our master cell lines with varying expression characteristics to find the optimal stable cell line, even for difficult to express targets (e.g. GPCRs, ion channels). Learn more
Unsure which target expression level?
We screen multiple expression setups. You receive a complete stable cell line set (e.g. low, medium, high target expression) rather than just on cell line. Learn more
Need results fast?
No time-consuming clone screening necessary. Stable cell lines within weeks instead of months. Learn more
Core technology
The SCREENflex technology builds on the principles of targeted integration and has been published multiple times. Our master cell line carries a single-copy tag at a defined chromosomal site. This site has been found optimal for stable transgene expression.
The recombinase and target are transiently transfected into the master cell line. The recombinase replaces the tag with the target (gene of interest; GOI). Resulting stable cell clones are isogenic and express similar levels of the target, eliminating time-consuming large-scale clone screenings. They fully maintain positive expression features and growth characteristics of the master cell.
Typical project timeline
Ready-to-use stable cell lines within weeks. The first recombinant cells 4 weeks after transfection, first results of expression analysis after 6 weeks.
This is a timeline for a standard project: expression of a drug-target GPCR in suspension CHO cells (time for optional gene synthesis not included).
Optimised master cell lines
Up to 5 master cell lines for each cell type (CHO or HEK293) may be used for transfection. Each master cell line carries a single-copy tag at different chromosomal loci. All master cell lines allow stable expression of targets (e.g. GPCRs, ion channels).
Because of differences in the chromosomal surrounding, they may however be more or less suitable for specific targets (gene of interest; GOI). We screen all our master cell lines to make sure to find the one that expresses even the most difficult target.
Expression setups
Your target (gene of interest; GOI) is cloned into up to 5 different optimised expression setups (i.e., promoters). This results in stable cell lines expressing varying amounts of the target (e.g., low, medium, high).
If you wish, you receive a full stable cell line set rather than just one cell line. Using this set for your assay may give you more meaningful results than using only high-expressing cells. See the case study if you want to know why this might be relevant for your research.
Cell line characterisation
To ensure you receive a high-quality and reliable assay-ready stable cell line, we offer an in-depth analysis of your cells.
General characterisation:
- viability, sterility, stability
Target-specific characterisation:
- mRNA expression (RT-PCR, RT-qPCR)
- protein expression (Flow cytometry, Immunofluorescence, Western Blot)
- functional assays (e.g., calcium flux)
Further options
We strive to generate exactly the cells you need for your assay. Get in touch and we are happy to discuss your project with you.
- You require a different parental cell line than listed? We are happy to generate a recombinant cell line, based on your preferred cell line.
- Expression of more than one target from the same promoter or different promoters.
- Target sequence modification e.g., codon-optimisation, tagging etc.
Case study GPCR expression
Expression of a human GPCR in HEK293 cells. As specified in the project plan, our customer initially received a high-expressing, assay-ready cell line.
Despite high expression of the GPCR, the cell line did not perform as expected in the functional assay (stimulation with GPCR agonist).
Thanks to the SCREENflex technology, cell expressing the GPCR at medium to low levels could be provided within days, without additional costs, as they were already generated and characterised.
The customer found them to perform much better in the functional assay showing a much higher signal-to-noise ratio. The flexibility in expression level is a consequence of our unbiased screening of optimised master cell lines and expression setups.
SCREENflexYOUR BENEFITS
Flexible
Exactly the cells you need for your assay. Expression of any target to any level.
Rapid
Rapid cell line generation within 8 to 10 weeks. No time-consuming large-scale clone screening necessary.
Tailor-made
We tailor the project exactly to your requirements and you have our full technical support even after the project is finished.