Functional analysis of elements affecting expression of the beta-actin gene of carp.

Regulatory regions of the beta-actin gene of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) have been examined by linking upstream, 5'-flanking sequences and regions of the first intron to a bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. By analysis of the mRNA products and encoded CAT activity, we have identified four putative regions that influence expression: (i) a negative regulatory region 2,300 to 1,100 base pairs (bp) ahead of the gene; (ii) a proximal promoter element, containing the highly conserved CCAAT, CC(A/T)6GG, and TATA boxes, that is within the first 204 bp upstream of the initiation site; (iii) a negative element of 426 bp in the 5' region of the first intron; and (iv) a positive 304-bp element near the end of the first intron that contains highly conserved sequences found in all characterized beta-actin genes. The positive intron element is not a classical enhancer; it is position and orientation dependent, as has been observed in other housekeeping genes in vertebrates. Depending on the elements joined together, CAT gene expression can be modulated more than 500-fold in transfected mouse cells.     

A var gene promoter implicated in severe malaria nucleates silencing and is regulated by 3′ untranslated region and intronic cis-elements

Questions surround the mechanism of mutually exclusive expression by which Plasmodium falciparum mediates activation and silencing of var genes. These encode PfEMP1 proteins, which function as cytoadherent and immunomodulatory molecules at the surface of parasitised erythrocytes. Current evidence suggests that promoter silencing by var introns might play a key role in var gene regulation. To evaluate the impact of cis-acting regulatory regions on var silencing, we generated P. falciparum lines in which luciferase was placed under the control of an UpsA var promoter. By utilising the Bxb1 integrase system, these reporter cassettes were targeted to a genomic region that was not in apposition to var subtelomeric domains. This eliminated possible effects from surrounding telomeric elements and removed the variability inherent in episomal systems. Studies with highly synchronised parasites revealed that the UpsA element possessed minimal activity in comparison with a heterologous (hrp3) promoter. This may result from the integrated UpsA promoter being largely silenced by the neighbouring cg6 promoter. Our analyses also revealed that the DownsA 3′ untranslated region further decreased the luciferase activity from both cassettes, whereas the var A intron repressed the UpsA promoter specifically. By applying multivariate analysis over the entire cell cycle, we confirmed the significance of these cis-elements and found the parasite stage to be the major factor regulating UpsA-promoter activity. Additionally, we observed that the UpsA promoter was capable of nucleating reversible silencing that spread to a downstream promoter. We believe these studies are the first to analyse promoter activity of Group A var genes, which have been implicated in severe malaria, and support the model that var introns can further suppress var expression. These data also suggest an important suppressive role for the DownsA terminator. Our findings imply the existence of multiple levels of var gene regulation in addition to intrinsic promoter-dependent silencing.     

水稻 ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶小亚基 I 基因的启动子分析

水稻（Oryce sativa L．）基因组中的ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶小亚基（ADP-Glucose pyrophosphorylase small subunit,OsAgpS）由两个基因编码,即OsAgpSl和OsAgpS2。其中OsAgpSl基因产生两个转录本OsAgpSla和OsAgpSlb,区别在第一个外显子的位置不同。通过RT—PCR方法分析了两个转录本在水稻组织和胚乳不同发育时期的表达特性;同时通过报告基因GUS检测了两个转录本上游转录调节区DNA片段的转录启动特性。结果表明,两个启动子与其下游转录本的表达模式完全一致,即OsAgpSla转录本和OsAgpSla上游启动子控制的GUS基因主要在胚乳中高水平表达,在叶片中有很低水平的表达;而OsAgpSlb转录本和OsAgpSlb上游启动子控制的GUS基因主要在叶片和胚乳发育早期低水平表达。这说明OsAgpSl基因产生的两个转录本是由不同的启动子控制转录的,OsAgpSla上游启动子可以作为胚乳表达用启动子。