MOLECULAR-CLONING OF THE RAT INDUCIBLE NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE GENE PROMOTER

The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is not constitutively expre ssed but is induced in many types of mammalian cells by cytokines and bacterial endotoxins. Previously, we have reported the most interestin g feature of rat iNOS gene that is up-regulated by cyclic AMP at trans criptional level as demonstrated by nuclear run-on assay. We now have isolated and sequenced the rat iNOS gene promoter and determined the t ranscription start site. Moreover, we have constructed a rat iNOS prom oter-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) fusion gene and analyzed its inducibility by interleukin 1 beta and cyclic AMP in transiently t ransfected Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.