Growth differentiation factor promoter and uses therefor

Abstract

GDF promoters (e.g., GDF-8 promoters) are described. Also described are methods of using the GDF promoters to regulate tissue-specific gene expression, and to identify compounds which regulate GDF expression.

1 . A method of identifying a compound which regulates GDF-8 expression comprising operably linking to a gene an isolated GDF-8 promoter comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, contacting the promoter with the compound in a cultured cell such that the gene is transcribed and expressed, and measuring expression of the gene compared to a control where the compound is absent  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of comparing expression of the gene after contacting the promoter with the compound to expression of the gene without contacting the promoter with the compound, to determine whether the compound has effected expression of the gene.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gene is a reporter gene.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound inhibits GDF-8 expression.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound upregulates GDF-8 expression.  
     
     
         6 . A method of identifying a compound which regulates GDF-8 expression comprising operably linking to a gene an isolated GDF-8 promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, contacting the promoter with the compound in a cultured cell such that the gene is transcribed and expressed, and measuring expression of the gene compared to a control where the compound is absent.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of comparing expression of the gene after contacting the promoter with the compound to expression of the gene without contacting the promoter with the compound, to determine whether the compound has effected expression of the gene.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gene is a reporter gene.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the compound inhibits GDF-8 expression.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the compound upregulates GDF-8 expression.  
     
     
         11 . A method of identifying a compound which regulates GDF-8 expression comprising operably linking to a gene an isolated GDF-8 promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 90% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, contacting the promoter with the compound in a cultured cell such that the gene is transcribed and expressed, and measuring expression of the gene compared to a control where the compound is absent.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of comparing expression of the gene after contacting the promoter with the compound to expression of the gene without contacting the promoter with the compound, to determine whether the compound has effected expression of the gene.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gene is a reporter gene.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the compound inhibits GDF-8 expression.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the compound upregulates GDF-8 expression.