Reporter gene

A transfected gene that produces a signal, such as green fluorescence, when it is expressed.


A specific gene that is inserted into the DNA of a cell so that cell will “report” (to researchers) when signal transduction has occurred in that cell. For example, when researchers are testing numerous candidate drugs for their ability to stop cells from (over) producing a hormone or growth factor, the researchers need to quickly know when one of the candidate drugs has had the desired effect on the cell of interest. By prior insertion into that cell of a gene (e.g., that causes a certain chemical to be produced by the cell when signal transduction has taken place), that cell “reports” (when a candidate drug has had the desired effect on the cell) by producing the chemical (coded for by the reporter gene) which can be rapidly detected by the researcher (e.g., via biosensors placed adjacent to the cell).


A coding unit whose product is easily assayed. It may be connected to any promoter of interest so that the expression of that gene can be monitored.


 


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