ATF6 Pathway

Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized protein. It is best known for its role in transducing signals linked to stress to the endoplasmic reticulum. ATF6 plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and responding to ER stress  [Ref1].

2. Lentivirus Detects ATF6 Pathway:

GenTarget developed a set of reporting lentivirus to monitor ATF6 signaling pathway activity. Those reporting lentivirus has a luminescent report (Luciferase) or a fluorescent report (GFP), under a minimal CMV promoter (mCMV) that embedded with optimized tandem repeats of pathway specific UPRE motif as the transcriptional response element (TRE ), sequence motif (5′- CCAATAGTGCTACACCACG-atga-CCAATACTCCATGGCCACG  3′) [Ref 2].

When ER Stress induced, ATF6 is cleaved to release the cytosolic fragment of ATF6. This cytosolic portion of ATF6 then moves to the nucleus and acts as a transcription factor to cause the transcription of ER chaperones3. Once ATF6 is activated, it induces the expression of the reporter gene, Luciferase or GFP which can then be easily measured.

3. Structure of the Reporting Lentivirus:

The pathway specific reporting Lentivirus use either firefly-luciferase or GFP signal changes to detect the pathway’s activity.   Those reporting lentivirus also contains a constitutively expressed Puromycin antibiotic selection marker, or a GFP fluorescent selection marker, which makes it easier to select the stably transduced signal reporting cells, via Puromycin killing or GFP sorting respectively. See lentivector core scheme below.

The premade, ready-to-use reporter lentivirus provides a much easier tool to monitor the activity of the signaling pathways in virtually any mammalian cell type. It also allows to generate your own reporting cell line in your desired cell type for study or screening of pathway specific gene-knockdown, over-expression, or chemical / drug/protein treatment in the cell based assay.

Click the Product Manual (pdf) for all available products for this pathway reporter.