How to Use
Vector Design Studio
ORF Search
VectorBuilder’s ORF Search tool helps you find specific ORFs for a wide range of research applications
including gene identification, annotation, or phylogenetic analysis. Simply enter the gene name, symbol,
or accession number to get instant access to the corresponding ORFs, view full sequences, and copy them
for further analysis or cloning. Whether you are working on overexpression studies or functional
genomics, our tool simplifies the search process to provide reliable access to the ORFs you need.
Our tool retrieves ORFs from the NCBI database and undergoes regular synchronization to ensure that we
always download the latest available version from NCBI.
Open reading frame (ORF)
The genetic code is a set of rules used by living cells to translate information encoded in the genetic material (DNA) in the form of genes into a particular protein. The process of genetic information transfer within cells involves transcription of DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA), which then gets translated and dictates the sequence of amino acids that make up the protein as shown in Figure 1. The mRNA typically contains untranslated regions (UTR) at the 5’ and 3' ends. The UTRs are not translated into protein, but play critical roles in regulating the expression of the gene.
An ORF is a DNA sequence that starts with a start codon (ATG) and ends with a stop codon (TAA, TAG, or TGA) and can be translated into a functional protein. Unlike cDNA, which contains the 5’ and 3’ UTRs and is typically used for studying native gene regulation, ORFs do not contain the UTRs, providing a more direct and efficient path to protein expression. ORFs are therefore widely used for gene overexpression and protein function studies, which then serve as a basis for applications such as gene therapy, drug discovery, recombinant protein production, and functional genomics research.
Figure 1. Protein translation.