DNA elements reducing transcriptional gene silencing revealed by a novel screening strategy.

ABSTRACT: Transcriptional gene silencing (TGS)--a phenomenon observed in endogenous genes/transgenes in eukaryotes--is a huge hindrance to transgenic technology and occurs mainly when the genes involved share sequence homology in their promoter regions. TGS depends on chromosomal position, suggesting the existence of genomic elements that suppress TGS. However, no systematic approach to identify such DNA elements has yet been reported. Here, we developed a successful novel screening strategy to identify such elements (anti-silencing regions-ASRs), based on their ability to protect a flanked transgene from TGS. A silenced transgenic tobacco plant in which a subsequently introduced transgene undergoes obligatory promoter-homology dependent TGS in trans allowed the ability of DNA elements to prevent TG

SUBMITTER: Kishimoto N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3559876 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature