Adeno-Associated Virus Serotype 2 (AAV2) is the best characterized AAV serotype. Nearly all recombinant AAV serotypes utilize the AAV2 inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). AAV2 requires the expression of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan (HSPG) on the surface of host cells for cell binding and internalization. Of nearly all the discovered AAV serotypes, AAV2 has the best transduction efficiency in cell culture and is the best tool for in vitro studies.These AAV2 particles constitutively express ZsGreen under a CMV promoter. ZsGreen is a human codon-optimized variant of the green fluorescent protein isolated from reef coral (Zoanthus sp). It has been engineered for higher expression in mammalian cells and is up to four times brighter than enhanced GFP (eGFP). ZsGreen expression and transduction efficiency can easily be verified and optimized by fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. ZsGreen has an excitation wavelength of 493 nm and an emission wavelength of 505 nm.