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Updated: May 27, 2026

Tracing Gene Expression Through Detection of β-galactosidase Activity in Whole Mouse Embryos
Published on: June 26, 2018
An artifact in studies of gene regulation using β-galactosidase reporter gene assays
Claudia Lefimil1, Eugenia Jedlicki, David S Holmes
1Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia para la Vida and Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
Abstract:
Reporter gene assays are important tools for evaluating gene expression. A frequently used assay measures the activity of β-galactosidase (β-gal) expressed from lacZ in plasmid or genomic constructions. Such constructions are often used to interrogate the ability of DNA (query DNA), potentially encoding a transcription factor, to regulate in trans the expression of a promoter fused to the reporter lacZ. Query DNA is frequently inserted into a second plasmid within the α-subunit of β-gal, interrupting its function. However, this plasmid can induce up-expression of β-gal even when void of query DNA, leading to confusion between artifact and authentic regulation.
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