PROMOTER ANALYSIS OF THE BLI-7/EAS GENE

Expression of the Neurospora crassa gene bli-7, (identical with eas, and ccg-2), is induced by blue light, as well as glucose- or nitrogen-starvation. A promoter analysis was performed by an assay that does not involve promoter-reporter constructs but rather the insertion of foreign DNA into the transcribed sequence. To detect regulatory elements a series of deletions in the upstream region was generated. The inducibility of the gene, in response to the three inducing conditions mentioned, is lost by eliminating the region between - 1498 bp and - 1017 bp upstream of the transcription start point. A segment with an apparently negative effect was found between - 595 bp and - 429 bp, as well as a stretch of DNA from - 429 bp to - 380 bp which may exert a positive influence after light induction.