Reporter gene

A reporter gene is a gene the specific qualities and effects of other genes can be demonstrated with the aid of. Here, a reporter enzyme, a fluorescent reporter protein or a detectable antigen is sometimes expressed as a fusion protein.

Known reporter systems

• The cat gene, coding for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT)
• The gfp gene from Aequorea victoria, encoding a green fluorescent protein ( GFP)
• The gusA gene from Escherichia coli encoding ( formerly known as the uidA gene ) for β -glucuronidase (GUS )
• The lac operon of Escherichia coli, coding for a β -galactosidase ( β -gal), most often to the blue - white selection
• Reniformis the luciferase gene from Photinus pyralis and Renilla, encodes a bioluminescent enzyme
• The phoA gene from Escherichia coli, coding for an alkaline phosphatase (AP )

Example from Plant Physiology

The DNA sequence of the β -glucuronidase ( GUS) enzyme is suspended behind the promoter sequence of the gene to be examined, and then transformed into a plant. Depending on the nature of the promoter glucuronidase is expressed then in various cell types, stages or environmental conditions, which produces a blue dye after addition of the artificial substrate X -Gluc colorless. With this system you can track gene expression in organ tissue and cellular level.