Rational design of a super core promoter that enhances gene expression.
Transcription is a critical component in the expression of genes. Here we describe the design and analysis of a potent core promoter, termed super core promoter 1 (SCP1), which directs high amounts of transcription by RNA polymerase II in metazoans. SCP1 contains four core promoter motifs-the TATA box, initiator (Inr), motif ten element (MTE) and downstream promoter element (DPE)-in a single promoter, and is distinctly stronger than the cytomegalovirus (CMV) IE1 and adenovirus major late (AdML) core promoters both in vitro and in vivo. Each of the four core promoter motifs is needed for full SCP1 activity. SCP1 is bound efficiently by TFIID and exhibits a high propensity to form productive transcription complexes. SCP1 and related super core promoters (SCPs) with multiple core promoter motifs will be useful for the biophysical analysis of TFIID binding to DNA, the biochemical investigation of the transcription process and the enhancement of gene expression in cells.
Juven-Gershon
Tamar
T
Section of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Cheng
Susan
S
Kadonaga
James T
JT
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C051096:MLTF protein, adenovirus; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins