MyoD Reporter Lentivirus

Background

MyoD (MYOD1) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor and a master regulator of skeletal muscle differentiation. Together with the related myogenic regulatory factors Myf5, Myogenin, and MRF4, MyoD binds E-box elements in muscle-specific gene promoters, including those containing the muscle creatine kinase enhancer sites, to drive the myogenic program. MyoD and Myf5 act in proliferating myoblasts to specify muscle identity, whereas Myogenin and MRF4 function after cell cycle exit to promote terminal differentiation. By coordinating this cascade, MyoD orchestrates the conversion of progenitor cells into mature muscle. MyoD is a key model in developmental biology and a central focus of muscle and regeneration research.

Product Description & Applications

The MyoD Reporter Lentivirus is a lentiviral reporter system for monitoring the activity of myogenic transcription factors in mammalian cells. It contains tandem repeats of a response element built from the muscle creatine kinase MCK-L and MCK-R sites, the DNA-binding motifs recognized by MyoD, Myf5, Myogenin, and MRF4, driving expression of a fluorescent (GFP, RFP, EGFP, mCherry) or luminescent (firefly or Renilla luciferase) reporter. The product enables sensitive monitoring of myogenic factor activity during myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Antibiotic selection markers (puromycin or blasticidin) support establishment of stable reporter cell lines. Supplied as lentiviral particles purified by PEG precipitation and sucrose gradient centrifugation, it efficiently transduces difficult-to-transfect cells, including primary and thawed muscle cells.

About This Product

This reporter lentivirus places a EGFP, Firefly Luc, mCherry, Renilla Luc, GFP, RFP, Luc reporter gene under the control of tandem consensus response elements specific for the MyoD/Myogenic factors transcription factor, coupled to a minimal TATA-box promoter and a proprietary upstream enhancer that maximizes signal-to-noise. The constitutively expressed selection marker (Blasticidin, Puromycin) and/or secondary reporter enables stable polyclonal cell line generation and flexible readout by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, or luminometry.

Stable integration via the lentiviral backbone ensures consistent, clonally representative reporter expression in dividing and post-mitotic target cells — including primary T cells, macrophages, organoids, and cryopreserved material — eliminating the variability inherent to transient transfection. The self-inactivating LTR design and third-generation packaging minimize insertional mutagenesis risk and ensure biosafety classification at BSL-2.