CFLAR Plasmids

CFLAR (Caspase 8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulator), also known as FLIP (FLICE-like inhibitory protein), is a key regulator of apoptosis, necroptosis, and cell survival. CFLAR inhibits Caspase-8 activation by preventing the formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). This anti-apoptotic function is critical in maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing excessive cell death. Dysregulation of CFLAR is associated with cancer, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections.

Content of CFLAR Plasmids

• CFLAR Coding Sequence:
  • Encodes the full-length CFLAR protein or its isoforms, such as CFLAR(L) (long isoform) or CFLAR(S) (short isoform).
• Promoter:
  • Constitutive Promoters: (e.g., CMV, EF1α) for high-level expression.
  • Inducible Promoters: (e.g., tetracycline-inducible systems) for controlled expression.
  • Cell-Specific Promoters: For tissue-specific or cell-type-specific studies.
• Tagging Sequences:
  • Fusion tags (e.g., FLAG, GFP, His6) for detection, visualization, or purification.
• Replication Origin (Ori):
  • Enables replication in bacterial systems (e.g., ColE1) or eukaryotic cells (e.g., SV40).
• Multiple Cloning Site (MCS):
  • Allows insertion of additional regulatory elements, reporter genes, or specific mutations.

Applications of CFLAR Plasmids

• Apoptosis Inhibition Studies:
  • CFLAR plasmids are used to study how CFLAR prevents Caspase-8 activation and inhibits death receptor-mediated apoptosis.
• Necroptosis Regulation:
  • CFLAR’s role in switching between apoptosis and necroptosis is studied using plasmids expressing its full-length or specific isoforms.
• Cancer Research:
  • Investigate the overexpression of CFLAR in cancer cells, which contributes to resistance against apoptosis-inducing therapies.
• Therapeutic Screening:
  • CFLAR plasmids are employed to screen small molecules or drugs that modulate its expression or function, particularly in cancer or inflammatory diseases.

CFLAR plasmids are indispensable tools for studying the regulation of cell death pathways, particularly the interplay between apoptosis and necroptosis. They are vital in cancer research, immune modulation studies, and therapeutic development, providing insights into CFLAR’s roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and its dysregulation in disease.