UPRE Reporter Lentivirus

Background

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an adaptive signaling network that maintains protein-folding homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum. When misfolded proteins accumulate, three ER sensors are activated: IRE1 (ERN1), which splices XBP1 mRNA to generate the active transcription factor sXBP1; ATF6, which is cleaved to release a transcriptionally active fragment; and PERK. The unfolded protein response element (UPRE) is a promoter motif bound by sXBP1 and ATF6 to induce genes encoding chaperones and components of ER-associated degradation. Sustained or unresolved ER stress contributes to metabolic disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer, making UPRE-dependent transcription a key readout of cellular stress signaling.

Product Description & Applications

The UPRE Reporter Lentivirus is a transcription-factor reporter system that detects unfolded protein response activity in human and mouse cells. The construct uses tandem repeats of the UPR element, containing DNA-binding motifs for sXBP1 and ATF6, to drive a fluorescent or luminescent reporter (firefly luciferase, Renilla luciferase, GFP, or RFP). A constitutively expressed selection marker supports stable polyclonal cell line generation, with readout by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, or luminometry.

The system is suited to monitoring ER stress, studying IRE1-XBP1 and ATF6 signaling, and screening compounds that modulate the UPR. Particles are purified by PEG precipitation and sucrose gradient centrifugation, enabling effective transduction of primary and thawed cells.

About This Product

This reporter lentivirus places a Firefly Luc, Renilla Luc, GFP, RFP, Luc reporter gene under the control of tandem consensus response elements specific for the Unfolded protein response (UPR) 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.