Claims
- 1. An isolated DNA molecule encoding an FP1 enhancer having a SEQ ID No. 1.
- 2. A vector containing a DNA molecule encoding an enhancer having a sequence SEQ ID No. 1, a promoter, and a heterologous gene.
- 3. The vector of claim 2, wherein said heterologous gene is a reporter gene.
- 4. A method for determining an ability of a test compound to stimulate a host cell to produce a detectable signal, comprising the steps of:
- providing a vector containing an FP1 enhancer having a sequence SEQ ID No. 1, a promoter, and a reporter gene under the transcriptional control of both said FP1 enhancer and said promoter, wherein said reporter gene is capable of conferring a detectable signal to said host cell;
- transfecting said vector into said host cell;
- culturing said host cell in the presence of a sterol so as to suppress production of said signal by the host cell;
- contacting said sterol-suppressed cell with a test compound to determine an ability of said test substance to stimulate said host cell to produce said signal in the presence of said sterol; and
- assaying for the signal to determine said ability of a test compound to stimulate said host cell to produce said detectable signal.
- 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said reporter gene is an enzyme.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said enzyme is selected from the group of luciferase and .beta.-galactosidase.
- 7. The method of claim 4, wherein said promoter is an LDL receptor promoter.
- 8. The method of claim 4, wherein said sterol is a mixture of 25-hydroxycholesterol and cholesterol.
- 9. The method of claim 4, wherein said host cell is a liver cell.
- 10. A method for conferring sterol regulatory capability to known heterologous genes, comprising the step of constructing a vector containing an FP1 sequence having a sequence SEQ ID No. 1, an LDL receptor gene promoter, and a heterologous gene under the transcriptional control of both said FP1 sequence and said LDL receptor gene promoter.
FEDERAL FUNDING LEGEND
This invention was produced in part using funds obtained through a grant from the National Institutes of Health. Consequently, the Federal Government has certain rights in this invention.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5580722 |
Foulkes et al. |
Dec 1996 |
|
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
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