SMADs are a family of transcription factors that mediate signals from growth factors and play a crucial role in various cellular processes, including embryonic development, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, immune regulation, and fibrosis. The SMAD luciferase reporter vector is designed to study the transcriptional activity of SMAD. The vector contains a SMAD DNA consensus binding site and TA minimal promoter upstream of a firefly luciferase reporter gene, which can specifically report SMAD activity while maintaining a low basal level of transcription.
 
The inclusion of a hygromycin resistance gene in the vector allows it to be used for stable cell line selection. Additionally, a GFP-tagged version of the vector is available for monitoring transfection efficiency. Maps of the vector, including hygromycin and GFP configurations, can be found in the product's image gallery.