Open AccessA calcium ionophore-inducible cellular promoter is highly active and has enhancerlike properties.
Author(s) -
Andy Lin,
ShihChieh Chang,
Amy Lee
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.6.4.1235
Subject(s) - biology , enhancer , chloramphenicol acetyltransferase , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , regulatory sequence , reporter gene , promoter , ionophore , regulation of gene expression , gene expression , genetics , membrane
We examined the regulatory/promoter sequence of a calcium ionophore-inducible gene isolated from the rat genome. Whereas the promoter of this ubiquitously expressed gene is active under noninduced conditions, after induction by calcium ionophore A23187 this promoter is 10- to 25-fold more active than the simian virus 40 early promoter, as measured by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activities. Within this regulatory/promoter region, we have identified a DNA fragment with enhancer-like properties immediately 5' to the TATA sequence. This 291-nucleotide fragment acts in cis to enhance expression of the neomycin phosphotransferase (neo) gene driven by the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter in an orientation-independent manner. In addition, this fragment can confer A23187 inducibility to the neo gene and effectively compete for positive regulatory factors involved in A23187 induction. Sequence analysis of this promoter reveals homology with viral core enhancer sequences, and the apparent organization of direct repeat domains is similar to those observed in viral enhancers.