Home > Community > How does a TOPflash/FOPflash assay work to detect beta-catenin protein expression?
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Murray Cree

How does a TOPflash/FOPflash assay work to detect beta-catenin protein expression?

Dan Chadwick  Follow

From what I can understand, TOPflash is a luciferase reporter plasmid that contains two sets of 3 copies of the wild-type TCF binding regions. If the canonical Wnt signaling is activated, beta-catenin will translocate to the nucleus to associate with TCF/LEF transcription factors to activate transcription of Wnt target genes. Since this is a luciferase plasmid, you should see an increase in relative luciferase activity when substrate is added. If Wnt signaling is inhibited, you will see loss of luciferase expression. The FOPflash is used as a negative control because the TCF binding regions upstream of the luciferase gene is mutated so even if beta-catenin translocates to the nucleus to activate TCF-mediated transcription, you should not see any luciferase activity.

Hope this helps.

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John Smith  Follow
Would you please provide a reference or two that supports your otherwise good answer. Good references helps to improve the overall quality of Biology.SE. :)More
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