title: Positive and negative effects of deletions and mutations within the 5' flanking sequences of Plasmodium falciparum DNA polymerase delta.
abstract: The DNA polymerase delta gene from Plasmodium falciparum is associated with a 1.76 kb 5' untranslated region and a promoter containing long homopolymeric (dA:dT) tracts and intrinsic DNA curvature. Here, a comprehensive deletion and mutational analysis of the DNA Pol(delta) upstream sequences has been undertaken to define functionally important regions. Removal of promoter-proximal DNA was shown to upregulate luciferase reporter gene expression and the ATG-proximal portion of the 5' untranslated region was required in conjunction with the promoter for reporter activity. In contrast to the ATG-proximal 5' untranslated region, deletion of the central part of the untranslated region had a positive effect on expression. Disruption of a homopolymeric (dA:dT) tract adjacent to the main transcription start site both derepressed gene expression and reduced the intrinsic curvature of DNA fragments containing this sequence.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, Darwin Building, The King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, UK. meporter32@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D024506:5' Flanking Region / Q000235:genetics*; D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004258:DNA Polymerase III / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017384:Sequence Deletion / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004258:DNA Polymerase III