TGF-β Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway is a complex and versatile regulatory system that influences numerous cellular and physiological processes. It is involved in both normal physiological functions and pathological conditions, such as cancer and fibrosis. Its precise modulation is critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing pathological conditions [Ref1].

2. Lentivirus Detects TGF-β Pathway:

GenTarget developed a set of reporting lentivirus to monitor TGF-β 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 TGF-β pathway-specific transcriptional response element (TRE / SMAD binding sites ), sequence motif (5′- AGCCAGACAGAGGGGACTGCCC-AGCCAGACAGAGGGGACTGCCC 3′) [Ref 2].

When the pathway ligands (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) bind to their receptors, the final formed transcriptional regulation complex, composed of SMAD proteins, translocates to the nucleus. There, it binds to specific SMAD site in the promoter regions of the report, leading to regulated expression of the report, the 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.