MiRNA Luciferase Reporter Vectors

pMiR-Luc reporter vectors are a series of firefly luciferase-based reporter constructs for quantitative measurement of miRNA expression in cells. Each vector contains the CMV promoter, firefly luciferase gene, a unique miRNA target site at 3’UTR, and a SV40 terminator sequence. The target site is a sequence perfectly complementary to a specific miRNA. When the miRNA is expressed, it binds to the sequence and results in repression of luciferase gene expression. Therefore, luciferase activity represents the expression and activity of a miRNA.

A. Benefits:

MiRNA Luciferase Reporter Vectors offer the following benefits:

• Functional assay - It provides functional assays to monitor miRNA expression in cells.

• Quantitative analysis - Expression and activity of miRNAs are measured through repression of firefly luciferase gene expression.

• Stable cell lines - The vectors can be used for establishing stable cells expressing the reporters.

B. Principle of the technology

MiRNA targets its binding site at 3'UTR downstream of luciferase RNA to repress the expression of luciferase. It results in reduction of luciferase enzyme activity. Through comparison of luciferase activity in two samples, up- or down-reguated miRNA can be quantitatively measured.