CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RAT NEUROTENSIN RECEPTOR GENE PROMOTER

The 5'-terminal region of the rat neurotensin receptor (NTR) gene was isolated and characterized. Genomic Southern analysis revealed that th e NTR gene occurs as a single copy in the rat haploid genome. The upst ream putative promoter region did not contain canonical TATA or CAAT b oxes but has a consensus sequence for the transcription factor Spl. Th is promoter is embedded in a large G + C-rich domain with characterist ics of an CpG island. Transfection experiments using neurotensin recep tor-luciferase fusion genes demonstrated that the 5'-flanking sequence functions as a strong promoter in the NG-108-15 cell. Deletion analys is suggested the presence of a core promoter (-470 to -662) that drive s the minimal expression of the NTR gene.