The RARα Reporter Cellular Assay Pack provides all the key reagents required to monitor the activity of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα). The pack contains the RARα Reporter (Luc)-HEK293 Cell Line, a luciferase reporter cell line that contains a firefly luciferase gene under the control of retinoic acid response elements stably integrated into HEK293 cells along with full length human RARα (GenBank Accession No. NM_000964). This cell line is functionally validated for the response to the stimulation of all-trans retinoic acid, and the expression of RARα is confirmed by Western blotting.

Additionally, the pack includes cell culture medium (Thaw Medium 6) that has been optimized for use with HEK293 cells. Thaw Medium 6 includes 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% Pen/Strep. Finally, the pack provides the ONE-Step™ Luciferase Detection System. This reagent provides highly sensitive, stable detection of firefly (Photinus pyralis) luciferase activity. The ONE-Step luciferase reagent can be used directly in cells in growth medium, and can be detected with any luminometer; automated injectors are not required.

• All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) (Sigma-Aldrich, #R2625): stock solution in DMSO

• 96-well tissue culture treated white clear-bottom assay plate (Corning, # 3610)

• Luminometer

Thaw Medium 6 (BPS Cat. #60183): DMEM medium (Hyclone, #SH30243.01) supplemented with 10% FBS (Life technologies, #26140-079), 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin (Hyclone, SV30010.01).

Complete Growth Medium: Thaw Medium 6 and 400 µg/ml of Geneticin (G418; Invitrogen, #11811031), 1 µg/ml of Puromycin (Hyclone, #SV30075.01), and 100 µg/ml Hygromycin (Hyclone, #SV30070.01).

• Screen agonists or antagonists of RARα.

1. Petkovich, M, et al. Nature (1987) 330(6147): 444-450.

2. Allenby, G, et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1993) 90(1): 30-34.

License Disclosure

Purchase of this cell line grants you with a 10-year license to use this cell line in your immediate laboratory, for research use only. This license does not permit you to share, distribute, sell, sublicense, or otherwise make the cell line available for use to other laboratories, departments, research institutions, hospitals, universities, or biotech companies. The license does not permit use of this cell line in humans or for therapeutic or drug use. The license does not permit modification of the cell line in any way. Inappropriate use or distribution of this cell line will result in revocation of the license and result in an immediate cease of sales and distribution of BPS products to your laboratory. BPS does not warrant the suitability of the cell line for any particular use, and does not accept any liability in connection with the handling or use of the cell line. Modifications of this cell line, transfer to another facility, or commercial use of the cells may require a separate license and additional fees; contact sales@bpsbioscience.com for details. Publications using this cell line should reference BPS Bioscience, Inc., San Diego.