title: A universal approach for promoter strength evaluation supported by the web-based tool PromCal.
abstract: In genetic engineering, gene expression is often modulated by replacements in promoter regions. Any deliberate intervention into the regulatory elements requires a subsequent evaluation based on analysis of reporter proteins. We have developed a new and rapid approach for characterization of promoter activity in which promoter strengths are determined by antibiotic resistance level. Values are expressed in comparison with those obtained from the reference promoter using the kanamycin resistance (aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase) gene as a reporter. The new assay vector pSB1K0prom enables straightforward cloning of promoters or their subparts; therefore, mutations in different elements of the promoter region are easily introduced and analyzed. A series of promoters can be examined in parallel because no protein analysis is required other than determination of bacterial growth rates in the presence of increasing kanamycin concentrations. An internet application called PromCal for evaluation of experimental data has also been developed and is freely accessible at http://web.fkkt.uni-lj.si/biokemija/nskrlj/tools/PromCal.php.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Nives
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Skrlj
authors.forename: Zlatko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vidrih
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolinar
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001483:Base Sequence; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D020407:Internet; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012015:Reference Standards; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial