Transient transfection into 293T cells is a convenient way to overexpress and obtain both cellular and extracellular (secreted or membrane) proteins. 293 is a human renal epithelial cell line which is transformed by adenovirus E1A gene product. 293T is a derivative which also express SV40 large T antigen, allowing episomal replication of plasmids containing the SV40 origin and early promoter region. They (both) have the unusual property of being highly transfectable.