5'-Untranslated region of the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 gene harbors an asymmetric bidirectional promoter but not internal ribosome entry site in vitro.

ABSTRACT: Tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) catalyzes the synthesis of neuronal serotonin, a major neurotransmitter involved in many brain functions and psychiatric disorders. We have previously revealed a critical role of the human TPH2 (hTPH2) 5'-UTR in gene expression regulation. This study aimed to further characterize mechanism(s) by which the hTPH2 5'-UTR regulates gene expression. An internal ribosome entry site (IRES) activity in hTPH2 5'-UTR was suggested by the conventional bicistronic reporter assay; however, further stringent experiments, including in vitro translation, quantitative real-time PCR, Northern blot, ribonuclease protection assay, and monocistronic reporter assay, demonstrated that the hTPH2 5'-UTR harbors a bidirectional promoter, but not IRES, within its downstream segment (6

SUBMITTER: Chen GL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2670360 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature