Motor neuron-specific expression vectors

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to nucleic acid promoter sequences that are able to specifically express genes operatively linked to the promoter in brainstem and spinal motor neuron cells, and to methods for using such promoters to selectively express genes in motor neurons in vitro and in vivo. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 functioned as a motor neuron-specific promoter and was successful in expressing transgenes in motor neuron cells in vivo. The present disclosure also relates to compositions that can increase the activity or expression level of miR-218 and to compositions that can decrease the expression of miR-218 target nucleic acids.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recombinant nucleic acid comprising a motor neuron-specific promoter nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1, operatively linked to a fluorescent protein. 
     
     
         2 . The recombinant nucleic acid of  claim 1 , wherein the recombinant nucleic acid is comprised in a viral vector. 
     
     
         3 . The recombinant nucleic acid of  claim 2 , wherein the viral vector is an adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, vaccinia, herpesviruses, baculoviruses, retroviruses, parvovirus, or lentivirus. 
     
     
         4 . The recombinant nucleic acid of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent protein is green fluorescent protein (GFP), blue fluorescent protein (BFP), cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), or yellow fluorescent protein (YFP).