Figure 3. Comparison of the T7 and Pol II luciferase minigenome systems.

293T cells were transfected with 50 ng (A), 250 ng (B), or 750 ng (C) of either the T7 or pol II promoter driven minigenome plasmids containing the firefly luciferase reporter gene along with the necessary support plasmids. As a negative control, cells were co-transfected with a plasmid encoding inactive L (L_synth−) in place of the functional L plasmid. Luciferase activity of cells transfected with the L_synth− mutant was set as background activity. As a transfection efficiency control, the cells were also transfected with pMIR β-gal. Luciferase activity was normalized to beta-galactosidase activity. Data from two independent experiments, each done in triplicate are represented as fold induction of minigenome activity (as indicated by luciferase activity) with standard error of the mean (SEM) compared to the negative control (L_synth−).