The Great EscAPe SEAP kits use a secreted alkaline phosphatase assay to analyze cis-acting DNA sequences and trans-acting factors. The kinetics of gene expression can easily be studied with this secreted alkaline phosphatase assay by repeatedly sampling the same culture. The kit has an extremely low background signal, with a wide dynamic range and high sensitivity. Furthermore, the robust signal is extremely stable over time. Cells can be studied further after the secreted alkaline phosphatase assay using northern blots, RNase protection assays, western blots, and other methods.