The human eukaryotic initiation factor 4AI gene (EIF4A1) contains multiple regulatory elements that direct high-level reporter gene expression in mammalian cell lines

The gene encoding human eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (EIF4A1) is located on chromosome 17p13, 667 bp upstream from the gene encoding the macrophage endosomal protein CD68. The EIF4AI gene contains 10 intervening sequences with the 1397-bp first intron containing a CpG-rich methylation-free island. Sequences capable of enhancing gene expression reside between positions -69 and -371 and positions -504 and -1100 of the EIF4AI 5' flanking sequence and within introns 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9. In macrophage cell lines, EIF4A1 expression vectors give sustained high-level reporter gene expression to levels 10 times higher than that obtained using the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene promoter/enhancer. Sequences of the human EIF4AI gene may find application in the development of new vectors for gene therapy and genetic vaccination.