Reporter gene technologies are powerful tools by which to study gene expression and regulation. Among reporters used in mammalian cells, the luciferases are preferred because they are highly sensitive, flexible, easy to quantify and detectable over a broad dynamic range. We have developed several new reporter designs for firefly and Renilla luciferases, which allow a range of uses from measurement of transcriptional activity in cell biology applications to high-throughput screening in drug discovery. The resulting vectors yield higher expression with decreased signal-to-background ratios and respond more rapidly to transcriptional dynamics. The vectors are also designed to reduce the risk of anomalous effects.
Promega Notes 89, 7–10.
Aileen Paguio, Brian Almond, Frank Fan, Pete Stecha, Denise Garvin, Monika Wood and Keith Wood