Open AccessUse of transcriptional fusions to monitor gene expression: a cautionary tale
Author(s) -
Åke Forsberg,
Graham D. Pavitt,
Christopher F. Higgins
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.176.7.2128-2132.1994
Subject(s) - biology , reporter gene , gene , promoter , genetics , bioreporter , coding region , gene expression , transcription (linguistics) , regulation of gene expression , enhancer , linguistics , philosophy
Gene fusions are frequently used to facilitate studies of gene expression and promoter activity. We have found that certain reporter genes can, themselves, influence promoter activity. For example, the commonly used luxAB reporter genes can activate or repress transcription from a subset of promoters, generating data apparently at odds with those obtained with other reporter genes. These effects are probably related to an intrinsically curved DNA segment in the 5' coding sequence of the luxA gene. Thus, caution must be observed when one is interpreting results obtained with a single reporter gene system such as luxAB.