Notes: Mice that overexpress Klotho exhibit an extended lifespan and delayed aging. In this study, the authors show that Klotho protein protects against oxidative stress and activates the FoxO transcription factors, inducing expression of manganese superoxide dismutase. Two luciferase constructs were made, one with luciferase under the control of the Fas ligand promoter and one under the control of the human SOD2 promoter. HeLa cells were transfected with one of the two luciferase constructs and the pRL-CMV Renilla control vector. Transfected cells were treated with or without Klotho protein, and cell lysates were analyzed using the Dual-Luciferase^® Assay. Klotho protein stimulated the activity of the Fas ligand gene promoter and the SOD2 promoter. (3667)

Notes: The authors of this study investigated the role of Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing inositol-5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) response. RAW264.7 macrophages were transfected with wildtype or mutant SHIP1 or control plasmid. Anti-ACTIVE^® JNK and p38 antibodies were used in Western analyses to determine phosphorylation of these kinases in response to overexpression of SHIP1 or mutant SHIP1. To investigate any effects on IκB-alpha and NF-κB expression, RAW264.7 macrophages were cotransfected with pGL3-XκB-luciferase reporter plasmid and pRL-TK Renilla luciferase control plasmid. Transfected cells were treated with LPS for 6 hours or left untreated (control). The Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System was used to monitor reporter gene expression. (3524)

Notes: A fragment containing HIV-1 LAI 5' LTR was cloned into the unique EcoICRI-XhoI site of the pGL3-Basic Reporter Vector. The Luciferase Reporter Assay was used to analyze DNA transfected cells for luciferase activity. The pRL-TK Vector was used as a transfection efficiency internal control with a Renilla cDNA under control of HSV-TK. Firefly luciferase activity derived from the HIV-1 LTR was normalized to the Renilla luciferase activities using the Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay. (3703)

Notes: These authors investigated the mechanisms by which anti-carcinogenic compounds derived from Japanese and subtropical vegetables and fruits attenuate LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression in RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. Using Western blot analysis, 10µg nuclear or 20µg cytosolic protein fractions isolated from LPS-treated macrophages in the absence or presence of various phytochemicals were stained with several antibodies for signal pathway proteins, including the Anti-ERK1/2 pAb. Further analysis of the MAPK and NF-κB systems was performed using firefly luciferase constructs co-transfected with the control pRL-TK Vector at a 1:1 ratio. Transfected cells were exposed to the plant compound for 12 hours and then to LPS for a further 12 hours. Reporter activity was measured using the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System. To determine the effect of the phytochemical zerumbone on the kinase reaction, a cell-free kinase assay was performed using Kinase-Glo^® Assay System. In this assay, 1.5µl recombinant MAPKAPK-2, 0.2µl recombinant active p38α, 1µl zerumbone and 4µmol/l ATP were incubated for 3 hours at 28°C before addition of an equal volume of Kinase-Glo^® Reagent. (3333)

Notes: The research in this article describes differences in the regulatory region of the lactate dehydrogenase-B (Ldh-B ) gene between isolates of Fundulus heteroclitus. To study Ldh-B regulation, 5’ regulatory sequences were cloned from isolates that live at different temperatures. These sequences were subsequently cloned upstream of the firefly luciferase gene. Between 10-60μg of this construct and 5μg of pRL-CMV Vector in physiological saline were injected directly into the liver of the fish using tempera paint as an injection indicator. Seven days after injection, the livers were removed and homogenized with a Polytron homogenizer in Passive Lysis Buffer. The lysate was cleared twice at 10,000 x g for 15 minutes and then stored frozen for 24 hours before being used in the Dual Luciferase^® Assay. (3068)

Notes: These authors demonstrated that the human CD1D gene has distal and proximal TATA boxless promoter sequences. Distal and proximal promoters to CD1D were cloned into the pGL3-Basic Vector to create reporter constructs. One construct contained the entire 4,986 base pair region containing distal and proximal CD1D promoter.  Transient transfections were performed using 5 x 10⁵ Jurkat cells in 24-well plates, 0.8 μg of pGL3 Basic Vector with the insert of interest, and 30ng of pRL-CMV Vector as a transfection normalization control. The Dual-Glo™ Luciferase Assay System was used to assay luciferase activities.  (3061)

Notes: The LY294002 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor was used to identify Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug-activated Gene (NAG-1) as a novel downstream target of the PI3K pathway during cell activation. For these experiments, HCT-116 cells were treated with 50μM LY294002 and NAG-1 protein expression was assessed by Western blotting. Gene upregulation during LY294002 treatment was measured with a luciferase reporter construct containing the NAG-1 promoter, the pRL-null Vector as a transfection control, and the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System. (3262)

Notes: The authors cloned five distinct silencing suppressor proteins from five different plant viruses in order to examine the pathways involving both small interfering RNA and micro RNA in Arabidopsis thaliana. These viral factors [P1- HcPro of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), P38 protein of Turnip crinkle virus (TCV), P19 protein of Tomato bushy stunt virus(TBSV), P25 protein of Potato virus X, and the P15 protein of Peanut clump virus (PCV)] were inserted into a mammalian expression vector and tested for protein production using the TNT^® Quick Coupled Transcription/Translation System. The suppression effects of these plant viral proteins were also tested in HeLa cells. The CMV promoter was cloned from pRL-CMV into the pGL3-Basic Vector and both plasmids were transfected at 500ng each plus 1µg of each of the five suppressor-expressing vectors. After one day, 300ng siRNA targeting the firefly luciferase gene was added. Twenty-four hours later, the Dual Luciferase® Reporter Assay System was used to determine the ratio of firefly:Renilla luciferase expression and see if the viral suppressor protein had an effect. (3085)

Notes: The authors investigated the ability of activin proteins to regulate a reporter gene under the control of androgen response elements by transiently transfecting 50,000 CHO cells per well in 24-well plates at 70–80% confluence for 24 hours using the FuGENE® 6 Transfection Reagent at a ratio of 1:3 (µg of reporter plasmid to µg of reagent). The authors also examined the effect of activins on a reporter gene under the control of GnRH receptor-activating sequences by transiently transfecting 500,000 LβT2 cells per well in 24-well plates at 80–80% confluence for 24 hours using the FuGENE® 6 Transfection Reagent at a DNA:reagent ratio of 1:3. In both cases, reporter gene activity was measured 24 hours post-transfection. (4387)

Notes: These authors analyzed gene expression profiles in the prostate cancer cell line PC3 upon induction of Akt activity to try to identify genes regulated by Akt that participate in the transformation of cells. They identified one mRNA of interest (Fra-1) and cloned its 5' regulatory region into a pGL3-Basic firefly luciferase reporter construct. This construct was used to transiently transfect MCF7 human breast cancer cells along with an Akt plasmid construct and a control vector expressing Renilla luciferase. The firefly construct was induced 4- to 5-fold by co-transfection with Akt3. Transfection conditions were as follows: MCF-7 cells were grown to 70% confluence in six-well plates, then incubated for 15 min with a mixture of 5ng of the control Renilla plasmid, 0.5μg of the Akt-expressing plasmid, and 0.5μg of pFra-luc construct and Fugene® 6 reagent at a 3:1 transfection reagent:DNA ratio. After 48 hours, luciferase activity was assessed using the Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System.

(4361)

Notes: These authors created a construct encoding a Renilla and firefly luciferase fusion protein to examine the efficiency of site-specific DNA repair. The Renilla gene was taken from the pRL-null Vector and the firefly luciferase gene originated from the pSP-luc+NF Fusion Vector. The fusion construct was created by ligating the C-terminus of the Renilla luciferase gene to the N-terminus of the firefly gene.  The fused proteins were expressed at a constant ratio when transfected into mammalian cells.  Firefly luciferase expression was eliminated by deleting a T at position 213 creating an ochre translational stop codon and placing the downstream sequence out of frame. The mutant protein was then tested for repair using two methods: small fragment homologous replacement and oligonucleotide-mediated repair. The Renilla:firefly expression ratio was tested in several human, murine and simian cell lines and assayed 48 hours post-transfection using the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System.  In addition, the repaired plasmids were recovered to verify the sequence correction. (3064)

Notes: MCF-7 cells were transfected with a plasmid encoding constitutively active Akt-3. To assess estrogen-related transcriptional activity, the cells were transfected with an ERE-luciferase (firefly) reporter and a Renilla luciferase control plasmid. Dual luciferase assays were performed to determine the effect of estrogen on transcription in these Akt-3 expressing cells. Additionally, proliferation assays were performed using the CellTiter® AQ_ueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay and showed that the Akt-3 expression confers serum-independent growth on the cells. (2709)

Notes: These researchers used luciferase-containing T-DNA insertions in Arabidopsis thaliana for gene trapping. Luciferase was chosen because its transient expression allowed temporal expression studies. Several insertion vectors were constructed and found to have different insertion frequencies. Vectors containing the luc+ gene had substantially higher insertion rates than native luciferase vectors. Luciferase activity was measured in vivo with a CCD camera or, for longer term studies, with an automated scintillation counter sampling every 15-25 minutes over one week. The application of IRES sites in gene trapping experiments was also investigated using firefly and Renilla luciferases. The Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System was used to monitor luciferase activity in vitro. Finally, to sequence the T-DNA insertion sites, genomic DNA was isolated from T₂ seedlings using the Wizard® Magnetic 96 DNA Plant System and was subsequently amplified and sequenced. (2787)

Notes: To investigate how interferon gamma stimulates expression of the murine Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP) gene, the 280bp CCSP promoter region was radiolabeled and incubated with nuclear extract from mouse transformed Clara cells (mtCC). Transcription factor binding sites were identified using the Core Footprinting System. A 30bp section of the CCSP promoter containing three transcription factor consensus sites was synthesized with 0, 1 or 2 mutated binding sites and tested in the presence of mtCC nuclear extract. Oligos and nuclear extract were allowed to form complexes with or without interferon gamma in Gel Shift Binding Buffer. A 166bp section of the CCSP promoter was also cloned into the pGL3-Basic Vector and co-transfected with the pRL-TK Vector into mtCC. The cells were subjected to interferon gamma treatment and the cell lysates assayed using the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System. (3112)

Notes: Researchers created promoter constructs in the pGL3-Basic vector to study NHE3 promoter function in cotransfection experiments with the pRL-null vector.  Transfected Caco-2 cells were analyzed by the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System. Beta-Galactosidase Assays were also performed on SL2 cells cotransfected with the pRL-null vector. The Renilla Luciferase Assay System was used to normalize these transfectants. (2642)

Notes: The promoter region of human CYP19 was amplified from a lambda library and cloned into the pGEM^®-T Easy Vector for sequencing. Several mutants of this aromase cytochrome P450 promoter were created and cloned into the pGL3-Basic Vector. One microgram of the various reporter constructs along with 25ng pRL-null Vector (as an internal control) were transfected into HMEC-1 and MCF-7 cells in six-well plates. Luciferase levels were assayed 48 hours post-transfection using the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System. To further characterize the CYP19 promoter, a 30-mer region with a GATA motif was added to 250ng HMEC-1 nuclear extract in the presence of oligonucleotide competitors or antibodies using the Gel Shift Binding 5X Buffer, then analyzed by gel electrophoresis. (3110)

Notes: An IL-1 inducible fragment of the murine IL-2 promoter and five tandemly-arranged NFκB binding sites were cloned into the pGL3-Basic Vector, creating the constructs pGL3-IL-2 and pGL3-5xNFκB, respectively. IL2 promoter activation and NFκB activation were measured after rhIL-1α - or PMA-stimulation of EL4D6/76 cells transiently transfected with these constructs. Luciferase activity was measured using the Steady-Glo® Luciferase Assay System. As an internal control, cells were co-transfected with the pRL-SV40 Vector, and expression of firefly and Renilla luciferase was measured using the Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System. (2427)

Notes: In this paper, total RNA isolated from transgenic mouse pre-B cells was used as template for semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The RNA was isolated using the RNAgents^® Total RNA Isolation System. Promoter studies were performed in 293T cells with the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System. Firefly luciferase activity controlled by Renilla luciferase activity was provided by the pRL-TK Vector. (2566)

Notes: Firefly and Renilla luciferase mRNA transcripts were synthesized with the Riboprobe^® kit for use in in vitro translation and dicer experiments.  The Dual-Luciferase^® Assay was used to analyze cotransfection experiments with the pRL-SV40 and pGL3-Control Vectors, and dsRNAs in P19 mouse embryonyl carcinoma cells. (2621)

Notes: The authors examined how the transcription factor AP-2 interacts with and is affected by UBC9, a SUMO-conjugating enzyme. Promega's GeneEditor™ in vitro Site-Directed Mutagenesis System was used to create a single amino acid change (K10R) in AP-2γ once it was determined that the lysine was required for sumolation in vivo. Transient transfection assays were performed using the TransFast™ Transfection Reagent. All cell lines (MDA MB 436, MCF7, T47D and HepG2) were transfected in 12-well plates when 60-70% confluent. Various amounts of plasmid were used during transfection and detailed in the paper. For reporter genes, the AP-2 firefly reporter (3xAP2-Bluc) and Promega's pRL-TK Vector were used in a 1:1 ratio, the Renilla luciferase used to normalize firefly expression.  Lysates were made 48 hours post-transfection and assayed using the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System. (2558)

Notes: NIH3T3 and HEK293-T cells were transfected with different expression plasmids together with 0.1 µg of each reporter plasmid and 0.01 µg of pRL-null plasmid as an internal control. Cells were grown in 6 well plates. (2136)

Notes: In general, transient transfections were performed using 2 × 10⁵ to 4 × 10⁵ cells plated in 6-well plates 24 hours before transfection, with a total of 2µg of plasmid (1µg of reporter vector and 1µg of control) using FuGENE® 6 reagent. The reporter vectors were based on the pGL3-Basic and pGL3-Promoter Vectors.

For MLE-15 (mouse lung), mtCC1-2 (mouse Clara cell), NIH-3T3 (mouse embryo), TCMK (mouse kidney), ST3, (mouse thymus) CP-MRI (sheep choroid plexus) and CP-ATCC (sheep choroid plexus) transfections used 0.5µg of reporter plasmid and 0.5µg of pRL-TK or 50ng pRL-null Vector. Reporter plasmid activity was assessed using the Dual-Luciferase® Assay System. (4271)

Notes: To explore the regulatory effect of a (GT)n repeat on HO-1 gene expression in either A549 cells or Hep3B cells, HO-1 promoter/luciferase fusion genes were constructed using pGL3-Basic Vector and co-transfected with the Renilla luciferase expression vector, pRL-TK Vector. Reporter activities were determined with the Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System. (0130)

Notes: The pRL-null Vector was used as a reporter for a DLR^® assay (Dual-Luciferase^® Reporter Assay System). The promoter from human IRBP (interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein) was cloned into the HindIII site of pRL-null. Transient transfections were done with 1µg of the pIRBP, 0.4µg of expression construct, and 0.2µg of pGL3-promoter as a transfection efficiency control. Activity of the Renilla luciferase was normalized to the activity of the firefly luciferase. Cells used for this assay were COS-7 and Weri-Rb-1 retinoblastoma cells. (2149)

Notes: Promega's pRL-null Vector was used as a source of the Renilla luciferase gene to make C-terminal fusions to this gene. This was used in concert with C-terminal fusions made to the EYFP gene (CLONTECH). Protein:protein interactions between the fusion partners of Renilla luciferase and EYFP brought these proteins close enough together to allow energy transfer of the bioluminescent signal generated by Renilla luciferase to excite EYFP, which then emitted light at its wavelength (527 nm). (0128)