pTA-Luc is a member of the MercuryTM product line of signal transduction reporter vectors. This
vector is designed for analyzing enhancer sequences by assaying for expression of the firefly
luciferase (luc) gene from Photinus pyralis (1). In addition, pTA-Luc contains the minimal TA
promoter, the TATA box from the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter (PTA). Located
downstream of PTA is the luciferase reporter gene. pTA-Luc vector maintains constitutive levels of
luciferase in transformed cells.
The vector backbone also contains a pUC origin of replication, and an ampicillin resistance gene for
propagation and selection in E. coli.