Identifying the promoter region of the human brain sodium channel subtype II gene (SCN2A)

Sodium channel genes are highly regulated. To begin analyzing the human bra in sodium channel subtype II gene, SCN2A, at the transcriptional level, we mapped multiple transcriptional start sites within a 397 bp stretch of the 5'-UTR and -flanking region. When inserted into a basic luciferase reporter vector, this 397 bp region can promote luciferase expression in transientl y transfected neuroblastoma cells, but not in non-neuronal cells. Thus, thi s study provides the initial description of a functional promoter in a huma n voltage-gated sodium channel gene. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science BN. All righ ts reserved.