Molecular cloning and analysis of the 5′-flanking region of the human MYPT1 gene

We have cloned and sequenced a 5 kb genomic fragment in the 5'-flanking region of the human myosin phosphatase target subunit 1. The transcription initiation site (+1) was 268 bp upstream from the translation start site. In this promoter there are no canonical TATA or CAAT box elements but there is a high GC-rich sequence. Basal promoter activity was due to the GC-rich region that contained one Spl transcription factor binding site, thus demonstrating that the MYPT1 gene is a housekeeping gene. Luciferase reporter assays showed the presence of two regions for positive elements and one for a negative element. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.