Abstract
We developed a sensitive vector system for the analysis of weak promoter activities. This promoter assay is based on the transcriptional activator protein, Tat, of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). High-level expression of HIV requires activation in trans by Tat of the promoter in the long terminal repeat (LTR). Here we describe the construction of a promoterless pTat vector. Foreign promoter elements can be inserted upstream from the tat gene, and expression of Tat protein is measured in trans on a co-transfected LTR-CAT reporter plasmid. We show that this binary system is more sensitive than standard pCAT reporter assays
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 243-247 |
Journal | Gene |
Volume | 144 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs |
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Publication status | Published - 1994 |