| Field | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Type | |
| Promoter | |
| Reporter | |
| Selection Marker | Blasticidin, Puromycin |
| Shipping | |
| Species |
Background
The retinoic acid response element (RARE) is a DNA sequence recognized by heterodimers of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and the retinoid X receptor (RXR). The DR5 element, consisting of direct repeats of a half-site spaced by five nucleotides, is a high-affinity RARE. In the presence of the ligand all-trans retinoic acid, RAR/RXR heterodimers bound to DR5 recruit coactivators and activate transcription of retinoid-responsive genes. Retinoic acid signaling is essential for embryonic development, cell differentiation, and tissue homeostasis, and modulating this pathway is therapeutically relevant in cancer and dermatology, making RARE/DR5 reporters valuable tools for studying retinoid biology.
Product Description & Applications
The RARE/DR5 Reporter Lentivirus is a transcription factor reporter system that provides a sensitive fluorescent or luminescent readout of RAR/RXR heterodimer transcriptional activity in mammalian cells. The construct contains tandem repeats of the consensus DR5 DNA-binding element, which is activated by RAR/RXR heterodimers in response to all-trans retinoic acid. Stable lentiviral integration, supported by a drug selection marker, enables generation of polyclonal reporter cell lines for analysis by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, or luminometry. The system is applied to study the retinoic acid signaling pathway, cell differentiation, and retinoid pharmacology. Particles are purified by PEG precipitation and sucrose gradient centrifugation, supporting efficient transduction of difficult-to-transfect cells, including primary and cryopreserved cultures.
About This Product
This reporter lentivirus places a EGFP, Firefly Luc, GFP, Luc, mCherry, Renilla Luc, RFP reporter gene under the control of tandem consensus response elements specific for the RAR signaling pathway 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.
Can't find the lentiviral construct you need, or want to adjust key design elements? Contact us to discuss custom LV design and optional add-ons.
Common customization requests
- Insert / payload: replace the gene/sequence, swap to a different isoform, add mutations, or optimize cloning features.
- Expression design: change promoter (e.g., CMV/EF1α/PGK), add enhancers, or adjust regulatory elements.
- Reporters: add/swap GFP/RFP/mCherry/luciferase (single or dual reporters where applicable).
- Selection markers: add/swap puromycin/blasticidin/neomycin or fluorescent selection options.
- Vector format: switch between OE, shRNA, CRISPR (sgRNA/Cas systems), or control vectors (where supported).
Add-ons you can request
- Control viruses: empty vector, non-targeting shRNA, reporter-only controls, or matched backbone controls.
- Packaging / format: concentration options, aliquoting, or custom fill volume for screening workflows.
- Documentation: construct map/sequence confirmation package (as available) and batch documentation.
What to include in your request
- Target cell type/model (cell line or primary cells) and intended readout (reporter, knockdown, OE, etc.)
- Insert sequence (FASTA) or reference ID, plus any required tags/mutations
- Promoter, reporter, and selection marker preferences
- Desired scale and preferred format (aliquots / concentration requests)
Email us at support@biohippo.com or use the Talk to a Scientist request form.
Modelling co-development between the somites and neural tube in human trunk-like structures.
Makwana K, Tilley L, Chakravarty P, Thompson J, et al.
Nature Cell Biology, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41556-025-01813-8
Product(s) used: LTV-0043
Usage: RARE/DR5 Retinoic Acid Reporter Lentivirus (LipExoGen) used to generate stable RA-responsive reporter human trunk-like structures (hTLS); blasticidin-selected clonal and polyclonal reporter lines used to validate retinoic acid signaling in human somite/neural tube co-development.
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