title: Recent developments of biological reporter technology for detecting gene expression.
abstract: Reporter gene assay is an invaluable tool for both biomedical and pharmaceutical researches to monitor cellular events associated with gene expression, regulation and signal transduction. On the basis of the alternations in reporter gene activities mediated by attaching response elements to these reporter genes, one sensitive, reliable and convenient assay can be provided to efficiently report the activation of particular messenger cascades and their effects on gene expression and regulations inside cells or living subjects. In this review, we introduce the current status of several commonly used reporter genes such as chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), β-galactosidase (β-gal), luciferases, green fluorescent protein (GFP), and β-lactamase. Their applications in monitoring gene expression and regulations in vitro and in vivo will be summarized. With the development of advanced technology in gene expression and optical imaging modalities, reporter genes will become increasingly important in real-time detection of the gene expression at the single-cell level. This synergy will make it possible to understand the molecular basis of diseases, track the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals, monitor the response to therapies and evaluate the development process of new drugs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Bengang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Jianghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001709:Biotechnology; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008156:Luciferases; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D001618:beta-Lactamases