Eukaryotic promoters drive gene expression in Escherichia coli.

Abstract

Eight eukaryotic promoters have been tested for their activity in vivo in Escherichia coli. The rat beta-actin, rat amylase, rat chymotrypsin B, mouse metallothionein I, rat insulin I, human insulin, Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat (RSV LTR) and hepatitis B viral precore promoter activities were measured by using the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase coding sequences as the reporter function and by primer extension RNA analysis. All eight promoter-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs produce chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity with the following relative strengths: RSV LTR greater than rat beta-actin greater than rat insulin I greater than rat amylase greater than hepatitis B virus precore greater than human insulin greater than rat chymotrypsin B greater than mouse metallothionein I. A primer extension analysis indicates that transcription from the RSV LTR, rat insulin I, and rat beta-actin promoters initiates at the sites expected for eukaryotic rather than prokaryotic promoters. Thus the site of initiation is determined by the DNA sequence rather than by the RNA polymerase.

• Authors: T K Antonucci, P Wen, W J Rutter
• Journal: The Journal of biological chemistry (J Biol Chem) Vol. 264 Issue 30 Pg. 17656-9 (Oct 25 1989) ISSN: 0021-9258 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2681182 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase

Topics

• Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase (genetics)
• Escherichia coli (enzymology, genetics)
• Gene Expression
• Genes, Bacterial
• Plasmids
• Promoter Regions, Genetic