Transcription activator

Abstract

The invention provides a synthesis-inducible eucaryotic promoter having a transcriptional activity comprising, for example, a heavy metal-sensitive DNA sequence, derived from a natural promotor, of a base sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 4; an inducer of the transcriptional activation activity thereof; a recombinant expression vector comprising a site for the insertion of an extraneous gene ligated to the above promotor; a eucaryotic expression kit comprising eucaryotic cells transfected with the above vector and the above inducer; and a method for expression of an extraneous gene in a eucaryotic system by using the same

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A kit comprising: 
 (A) a eukaryotic cell harboring a recombinant vector having a site for insertion of exogenous DNA, wherein said site is operably linked to an inducible eukaryotic promoter, said eukaryotic promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NO: 4; and    (B) a transcriptional activation inducer comprising a metal compound selected from the group consisting of a silver compound, a mercury compound, a cadmium compound, and a gold compound as an active ingredient.    
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein said transcriptional activation inducer comprises a gold compound selected from the group consisting of (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranosato-S)(triethylphosphine)gold, (1-thio-D-glucopyranosato)gold, and sodium aurothiomalate.  
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein said eukaryotic cell is a mammalian cell.  
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein said eukaryotic cell is a mammalian cell.  
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein said eukaryotic cell is selected from the group consisting of a Vera cell, a CHO cell, a HeLa cell, a Rat II fibroblast cell, and a digestive tract epithelial cell.  
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein said eukaryotic cell is selected from the group consisting of a Vera cell, a CHO cell, a HeLa cell, a Rat II fibroblast cell, and a digestive tract epithelial cell.  
     
     
         19 . A method for inducing transcriptional activation of exogenous DNA comprising: 
 providing a eukaryotic cell harboring a recombinant vector containing exogenous DNA operably linked to an inducible eukaryotic promoter, said eukaryotic promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NO: 4; and    contacting said eukaryotic cell with a transcriptional activation inducer, said inducer comprising a metal compound selected from the group consisting of a silver compound, a mercury compound, a cadmium compound and a gold compound as an active ingredient.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said transcriptional activation inducer comprises a gold compound selected from the group consisting of (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranosato-S)(triethylphosphine)gold, (1-thio-D-glucopyranosato)gold, and sodium aurothiomalate.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said eukaryotic cell is a mammalian cell.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said eukaryotic cell is a mammalian cell.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said eukaryotic cell is selected from the group consisting of a Vera cell, a CHO cell, a HeLa cell, a Rat II fibroblast cell, and a digestive tract epithelial cell.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said eukaryotic cell is selected from the group consisting of a Vera cell, a CHO cell, a HeLa cell, a Rat II fibroblast cell, and a digestive tract epithelial cell.