title: Optimized expression of dual reporter genes in transient transfection of purified  Toxoplasma gondii  using different promoters.
abstract: Fluorescent protein and luciferase genes are valuable reporter genes and have been widely used for noninvasive monitoring of gene expression in living tissues and cells. We tested expression of the dual reporter genes in transient transfection of purified  Toxoplasma gondii  tachyzoites. Two copies of the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) gene were put under the control of 3 representative T. gondii promoters (GRA1, SAG1, and DHFR). Fluorescence from each EYFP reporter was significantly higher than that from a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter. The GRA1-EYFP reporter gave the highest fluorescence. Although both fluorescence and luciferase were expressed in the dual reporter system, the luciferase reporter was more efficient than either the EYFP or GFP reporters, and it required fewer parasites to be successfully used.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xuelian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015870:Gene Expression; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000502:physiology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008156:Luciferases