Differences Between U6, EF1α, and Ubc Promoters
The U6 promoter originates from the RNA polymerase III (Pol III) system and is used to drive the expression of non-coding RNAs. Its most common applications include driving the expression of small RNA molecules such as short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and small guide RNA (sgRNA). If you need to express short RNA molecules like shRNA or sgRNA for RNA interference (RNAi) or CRISPR gene editing, the U6 promoter is the best choice. For efficiently and stably expressing exogenous proteins in a variety of cell lines, the EF1α promoter is a powerful and durable option, especially suited for long-term expression in lentiviral vector systems. The Ubc promoter is ideal for applications requiring stable gene expression with moderate strength, particularly in experiments where immunogenicity is a concern, such as with stem cells or primary cells.