Introduction to MIA PaCa-2 Cells
MIA PaCa-2 is a human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell line that was originally established in 1977 from a pancreatic carcinoma of a 65-year-old Caucasian male patient. This cell line has become a fundamental in vitro model for pancreatic cancer research due to its well-characterized genetic and phenotypic features that closely resemble aggressive pancreatic tumors in patients. MIA PaCa-2 cells exhibit epithelial morphology with a tendency to grow as adherent monolayers but can also form spheroid structures under specific culture conditions, facilitating studies of tumor microenvironment and 3D tumor biology.
Genetically, MIA PaCa-2 cells harbor oncogenic mutations in key driver genes commonly altered in PDAC, including an activating mutation in the KRAS gene (G12C), which promotes constitutive activation of downstream signaling pathways such as MAPK and PI3K/AKT. This mutation contributes to the cells’ highly proliferative and invasive phenotype. Additionally, mutations or loss of function in tumor suppressor genes such as TP53 and CDKN2A have been identified, further enhancing their utility as a model for studying pancreatic tumor progression, apoptosis resistance, and cell cycle deregulation.
Metabolically, MIA PaCa-2 cells demonstrate the hallmark metabolic reprogramming observed in PDAC, including elevated glycolysis (Warburg effect), altered glutamine metabolism, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which are key contributors to tumor growth and chemoresistance. These metabolic features make MIA PaCa-2 cells a valuable system for investigating metabolic vulnerabilities and developing targeted therapies.
The aggressive nature of MIA PaCa-2 is also evident in their ability to form tumors in immunocompromised mouse models, making them instrumental for preclinical testing of novel therapeutics, gene function studies, and evaluation of drug resistance mechanisms. Their relatively robust growth characteristics, combined with genetic and phenotypic relevance, have led to widespread adoption of MIA PaCa-2 cells in cancer biology, drug discovery, and molecular oncology research.
Despite their utility, MIA PaCa-2 cells pose challenges for genetic manipulation due to their dense cytoskeletal network and intrinsic cellular stress responses. This has necessitated the development of specialized transfection reagents and protocols to ensure efficient nucleic acid delivery with minimal cytotoxicity, enabling more reliable gene expression and silencing studies.
Importance of Transfection in MIA PaCa-2 Cells
Transfection is crucial for manipulating gene expression in MIA PaCa-2 cells to investigate oncogenic pathways, gene function, and potential therapeutic targets. It allows delivery of plasmid DNA, siRNA, miRNA, or CRISPR/Cas9 complexes to induce gene overexpression, silencing, or genome editing. However, MIA PaCa-2 cells are notoriously difficult to transfect due to their dense cytoskeletal network, low rates of endocytosis, and sensitivity to cytotoxic effects from transfection reagents. This makes choosing an optimized reagent essential.
Altogen MIA PaCa-2 Transfection Reagent Overview
Altogen’s reagent for MIA PaCa-2 cells is specifically formulated to overcome these challenges. It combines optimized cationic lipids with polymer enhancers to maximize nucleic acid delivery efficiency while minimizing cytotoxicity. The reagent works effectively in serum-containing media, preserving physiological growth conditions. It supports delivery of plasmid DNA, siRNA, miRNA, mRNA, and CRISPR/Cas9 constructs. Typical transfection efficiencies range from 70% to 85%, with cell viability post-transfection consistently over 80%. These results have been validated across diverse applications including KRAS knockdown, TP53 overexpression, and reporter gene assays.
Transfection Protocol and Optimization
Optimal transfection requires seeding MIA PaCa-2 cells at 40–60% confluence and allowing attachment overnight in complete growth medium. The reagent and nucleic acids are mixed in serum-free medium to form complexes, which are then added directly to the cells without changing the medium afterward. Gene expression or silencing can be detected 24–72 hours post-transfection. Fine-tuning reagent-to-DNA/siRNA ratios, ensuring nucleic acid purity, and maintaining healthy cell culture conditions are key for best results. The reagent is sterile-filtered, endotoxin-free, and stable for 12 months at 4°C. Troubleshooting guidance is available for common issues like low efficiency or cytotoxicity.
Product Availability and Competitive Advantages
Altogen offers the MIA PaCa-2 Transfection Reagent in various volumes (0.5 mL, 1.5 mL, 8 mL) to suit small- to large-scale experiments. Compared to standard agents like PEI or Lipofectamine, Altogen’s reagent demonstrates superior transfection efficiency and reduced toxicity specifically for MIA PaCa-2 cells. This makes it a preferred choice for research targeting pancreatic cancer mechanisms, drug resistance, and molecular oncology.
Research Applications
The reagent is ideal for gene knockdown of oncogenes such as KRAS and MYC, overexpression of tumor suppressors, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, and reporter assays (e.g., luciferase, GFP). It supports co-transfection protocols, enabling multiplex experiments combining gene silencing with reporter analysis. This versatility is valuable for studying therapeutic resistance, metastasis, and metabolic reprogramming in pancreatic cancer models.
Request the Altogen MIA PaCa-2 Transfection Reagent
For reliable, efficient, and low-toxicity transfection of MIA PaCa-2 cells, request the Altogen MIA PaCa-2 Transfection Reagent today. Visit the official product page to learn more and place your order.