Synthetic gene design to investigate the role of cis-acting DNA structural elements in regulation of gene expression in vivo
Brahmachari, S.K.; Sarkar, P.S.; Balagurumoorthy, P.; Burma, P.K.; Bagga, R.
Nucleic Acids Symposium Series 24: 163-166
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0261-3166 PMID: 1841274 Document Number: 386366
To delineate the DNA structural elements responsible for transcriptional control in vivo, we have developed a novel approach taking advantage of the degeneracy of the genetic code. Using synthetic oligonucleotides as structural cassettes we have been able to replace, within a gene, segments of DNA coding for the same amino acid sequence but capable of adopting unusual DNA structures and monitor the effect of such structural elements on gene expression in vivo. We find that the presence of an inverted repeat sequence, with a potential to adopt cruciform structure, within the beta-galactosidase gene down regulates its expression in vivo.