COS cells, short for CV-1 in Origin with SV40 genes, are a commonly used type of mammalian cell line in biological research. These cells are derived from the kidney tissue of African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) and are primarily used for various molecular and cell biology experiments, including protein expression and virus production.
COS cells were originally developed by transforming the CV-1 cell line with the Simian Virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen, a viral gene that enables the cells to proliferate continuously. This transformation allows COS cells to easily grow in culture and exhibit fast growth rates, making them highly suitable for laboratory research purposes.
These cells have proven to be particularly useful in the production of recombinant proteins, as they have a high transfection efficiency and can efficiently express exogenous genes. COS cells are commonly used for transient transfection experiments, where foreign DNA is introduced into the cells for a short period of time to study gene functions or protein interactions.
Moreover, COS cells have been instrumental in studying viral replication, as they support the growth of various viruses, including adenoviruses and lentiviruses, facilitating the production of viral vectors for gene delivery experiments.
Overall, COS cells have become an indispensable tool in molecular and cell biology research due to their robust growth characteristics and versatility in expressing foreign genetic material, aiding in the advancement of many scientific discoveries and the development of novel therapeutics.
