MTF1 Pathway

The MTF1 (Metal-Responsive Transcription Factor 1) signaling pathway is a critical cellular mechanism that responds to heavy metal stress, primarily to protect cells from the toxic effects of metals like zinc, copper, and cadmium. [Ref1].

2. Lentivirus Detects MTF1 Pathway:

GenTarget developed a set of reporting lentivirus to monitor MTF1 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 metal response element  as the transcriptional response element (TRE ), sequence motif (5′- TGCGCAC-GAGCTCTGCACTCCGCCC-TGCAGCC 3′) [Ref 2].

MTF1 senses intracellular levels of heavy metals such as zinc, copper, and cadmium. MTF1 is activated in response to heavy metal exposure. Upon metal binding, MTF1 undergoes conformational changes, translocates to the nucleus and binds to MTF1 binding motif in the report’s promoter region, leading to increased expression of the reporter protein (luciferase or GFP).

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.