Abstract
The human HPRT promoter, like that of other “house keeping” genes, lacks the TATA box transcriptional signal which is commonly found 20-30 nucleotides 5′ to the RNA start sites of most other characterized genes. Since several viral genes contain regions upstream from the TATA box that can be inverted without impairing transcription, we decided to study the effect of orientation on HPRT promoter activity. Recombinant plasmids containing the human HPRT promoter in either orientation upstream from the firefly luciferase (lux) reporter gene were transfected into HeLa cells and luciferase activity was assayed after 48 hours. Efficient expression of luciferase was detected, independent of the orientation of the HPRT promoter. Studies with other plasmids containing the HPRT promoter flanked by both the luciferase and the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) genes demonstrated that the HPRT promoter could function bidirectionally, and drive expression of two reporter genes simultaneously. We are currently examining bidirectional activity of other promoters and determining the degree of bidirectional expression from the HPRT promoter in vivo.
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Johnson, P., Friedmann, T. 69 THE HPRT PROMOTER. Pediatr Res 24, 122 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198807000-00093
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198807000-00093