Tet-On and Tet-Off brands are the highest-performing and most-cited inducible mammalian expression systems. Since the orignal first generation of Tet-On and Tet-Off Systems a series of improvements to the system have resulted in three distinct generations of the technology. This page lists the remaining 2nd generation Tet-On and Tet-Off vectors (Tet-Advanced). To learn about the highest-performing 3rd generation Tet-On inducible expression systems, visit our Tet-On 3G and Tet-One pages.

First generation: Tet-On and Tet-Off vectors

The vectors from the original systems described by the laboratories of Hermann Bujard, Manfred Gossen and Wolfgang Hillen and launched by Clontech (now Takara Bio USA, Inc.) in 1996. Their performance has been surpassed by two subsequent generations.

Second generation: Tet-On Advanced and Tet-Off Advanced vectors

Compared to the vectors from the original Tet-On and Tet-Off systems, our Tet-Advanced vectors have been optimized for improved expression in mammalian cells by utilizing human codon preferences and removing cryptic splice sites from the mRNA sequence of the transactivator. These enhancements lead to higher and more stable expression levels, while thethree minimal VP16 transcription activation domains minimize off-target effects and reduce toxicity. The P_Tight promoter contains a modified TRE that both reduces basal expression and promotes tight binding to the Tet-Advanced transactivator proteins during induction to permit specific and high-level transcription of your downstream gene.

Third generation: Tet-On 3G systems

The Tet-On 3G system is the most advanced inducible expression system for mammalian cells. The transactivator is similar to that of the Tet-On Advanced system but additional mutations lead to further sensitivity to doxycycline. Moreover, sequence optimization within the P_TRE3G promoter further reduces basal expression up to 15-fold compared to second-generation systems. To read more about Tet-On 3G systems, please visit the Tet-On 3G and Tet-One pages.