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Reporter Genes

Reporter Genes

Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Effect of Fluorescent Proteins on Fusion Partners Using Polyglutamine Toxicity Assays in Yeast

Effect of Fluorescent Proteins on Fusion Partners Using Polyglutamine Toxicity Assays in Yeast

Published on: November 28, 2018

Genetically encoded fluorescent reporter for polyamines.

Pushkal Sharma^1,2, Colin Y Kim^1,3,4, Heather R Keys¹

¹Whitehead Institute of Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|September 10, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel genetic tool to measure polyamine levels in single cells in real-time. This innovation revealed a new link between cellular respiration and polyamine import, crucial for understanding Parkinson's disease progression.

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Effect of Fluorescent Proteins on Fusion Partners Using Polyglutamine Toxicity Assays in Yeast

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Published on: November 28, 2018

Genetically-encoded Molecular Probes to Study G Protein-coupled Receptors

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Published on: September 13, 2013

Assay to Measure Nucleocytoplasmic Transport in Real Time within Motor Neuron-like NSC-34 Cells

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Published on: May 16, 2017

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Metabolomics

Background:

Polyamines are vital metabolites essential for cellular functions.
Altered polyamine homeostasis is implicated in diseases like Parkinson's disease and cancer.
Accurate measurement of intracellular polyamine levels is technically challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel method for real-time monitoring of polyamine concentrations in living cells.
To investigate the dynamic regulation of polyamine levels in response to various stimuli.
To identify new genetic factors influencing polyamine metabolism and transport.

Main Methods:

Development of a genetically encoded polyamine reporter based on the OAZ1 ribosomal frameshift element.
Application of the reporter for real-time polyamine measurements in single cells.
Genome-wide CRISPR screening to identify genes affecting polyamine homeostasis.

Main Results:

Demonstrated the reporter's broad applicability across different cell types and conditions.
Revealed dynamic changes in polyamine levels upon genetic and pharmacological interventions.
Uncovered an unexpected connection between mitochondrial respiration and polyamine import.

Conclusions:

The novel reporter enables unprecedented insights into cellular polyamine biology.
The identified link between mitochondrial respiration and polyamine import offers new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease.
This tool has the potential to accelerate research on polyamines and related diseases.