A transgenic reporter mouse model for assessment of retinoic acid receptor transcriptional activation.

Vitamin A is essential for a wide range of life processes throughout embryogenesis to adult life. With the aim of developing an model to monitor retinoic acid receptor (RAR) transactivation real-time in intact animals, we generated transgenic mice carrying a luciferase (luc) reporter gene under the control of retinoic acid response elements (RAREs) consisting of three copies of a direct repeat with five spacing nucleotides (DR5). : Transgenic mice carrying a RARE dependent luciferase reporter flanked with insulator sequence were generated by pronuclear injection.

Coffee, broccoli and spices are strong inducers of electrophile response element-dependent transcription in vitro and in vivo - studies in electrophile response element transgenic mice.

Scope: Cytoprotective gene products, e.g. phase II - and antioxidant enzymes, are important in cellular redox homeostasis.

Distinct function of 2 chromatin remodeling complexes that share a common subunit, Williams syndrome transcription factor (WSTF).

A number of nuclear complexes modify chromatin structure and operate as functional units. However, the in vivo role of each component within the complexes is not known. ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes form several types of protein complexes, which reorganize chromatin structure cooperatively with histone modifiers.

Bilberry extracts induce gene expression through the electrophile response element.

A number of genes important for detoxification and antioxidant defense induced by mild stress generated by, for example, physical activity/exercise, caloric restriction, or alcohol may provide health benefits by causing the organism to mount such a defense response. More recently, induction of these defenses has also been attributed to phytochemicals or secondary metabolites from dietary plants. Many polyphenols, which constitute a large fraction of these phytochemicals, increase cellular levels of antioxidants, such as glutathione and other components of the detoxification systems, via the transactivation of genes containing electrophile response elements (EpREs) within their promoters.

Molecular imaging of the transcription factor NF-kappaB, a primary regulator of stress response.

A wide range of environmental stress and human disorders involves inappropriate regulation of NF-kappaB, including cancers and numerous inflammatory conditions. We have developed transgenic mice that express luciferase under the control of NF-kappaB, enabling real-time non-invasive imaging of NF-kappaB activity in intact animals. We show that, in the absence of stimulation, strong, intrinsic luminescence is evident in lymph nodes in the neck region, thymus, and Peyer's patches.