Act-1 core promoter region introduces high-performance transcription of EGFP gene expressed in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract:

To construct the recombinant vector Pact-EGFP, the Act-1 core promoter region was amplified from the pUCm-T/Act-1 and subcloned into pEGFP-4.1 vector (derived from pEGFP-N1 with the removal of human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter), by restriction enzymes Bgl II and Hind III. Transfection of Pact-EGFP vector into Vero cell by liposome indicated that Act-1 core promoter regulated the expression of EGFP gene in lower level in Vero cells. After Pact-EGFP microinjection into the gonad of Caenorhabditis elegans with pRF4 as a gene marker, green fluorescence was detected in the cortex, vice cortex and the pharyngeal of C. elegans. According to the locations, two different transgene lines were separated. The expression level of EGFP expressed in C. elegans was more than that in Vero cell. Some unique motifs might exist in Act-1 core promoter region of C. elegans, which was closely related to the expression level of EGFP. These results lay the foundation for the further research on gene function of parasitic nematodes using C. elegans.