pTA-Luc is a member of the MercuryTM product line of signal transduction reporter vectors. This vector is designed for analyzing enhancer sequences by assaying for expression of the firefly luciferase (luc) gene from Photinus pyralis (1). In addition, pTA-Luc contains the minimal TA promoter, the TATA box from the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter (PTA). Located downstream of PTA is the luciferase reporter gene. pTA-Luc vector maintains constitutive levels of luciferase in transformed cells.
The vector backbone also contains a pUC origin of replication, and an ampicillin resistance gene for propagation and selection in E. coli.
pTA-Luc is provided as a control for monitoring constitutive levels of luciferase activity in MercuryTM pathway profiling experiments. This vector is ideal for use as a negative control or for studying putative enhancers that are inserted upstream of the luciferase reporter gene. Luciferase is a highly sensitive enzymatic reporter that can be assayed by any standard luciferase-detection method, providing quantitative data on induction levels. pTA-Luc can be transfected into mammalian cells by any standard method. For selecting stable clones, cotransfect with a vector containing an antibiotic resistance gene, such as neomycin, hygromycin, or puromycin, and select resistant clones.