CHO cells were transfected with pcDNA6v5lacZ, a version of the vector used in SK13b1 construction that also contains a b-galactosidase gene. The b-galactosidase gene causes cells to turn blue when treated with a staining solution. In this manner, the efficiency of the transfection can be easily detected. CHO cells were transfected with pcDNA6v5lacZ using Lipofectamine. After another one day incubation, a staining solution containing a substrate for b-galactosidase was applied.
Cells expressing the b-galactosidase gene cleave the substrate.
All transfected cells turn blue within one day. Similarly transfected dishes are now being selected using blasticidin to obtain stably transfected cell lines.