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| Gene Expression Assays | ||||||
Reporter Gene Expression Assays |
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Reporter genes are nucleic acid sequences encoding easily assayed proteins. They are used to accompany other coding regions whose protein products are difficult to assay.
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Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) |
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The green fluorescent protein
(GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea Victoria is a frequently used reporter
protein for monitoring gene expression and protein localization in a variety
of cells and organisms. Applications using GFP reporters have expanded
due to the availability of mutants with altered spectral properties. Now
there are a number of GFP variants known with excitation maxima ranging
from blue to red excitation. The GFP emission can be effectively detected
and measured by a In-Vivo & In-Vitro Imaging System |
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Image Station 2000MM images: GFP expression living mouse |
mouse lung |
![]() mouse liver |
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Luciferase gene expression |
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| Firefly Luciferase is a nearly ideal reporter gene for plant cells. The first luciferase gene cloned was from the North American firefly Photinus pyralis. The active enzyme is a single polypeptide with a mass of 62kDa. The luciferase reaction emits yellow-green light (560nm) and requires only the enzyme, ATP, Mg2+, O2 and the substrate luciferin. In fireflies, the luciferase reaction occurs in the peroxisomes of a specialized light organ, but the reaction can also occur in bacteria, cell-free extracts and in plant tissues. Most frequently the detection of the luciferase activity is performed in a photon measuring device such as a luminometer or a scintillation counter. With a cooled CCD camera system or Kodak's In-Vivo & In-Vitro Imaging Systems, the luciferase expression can be detected and measured more elegantly in situ. |
![]() Image Station 4000MM Image: Firefly Luciferase gene expression in tobacco leave |
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