Identification and mapping of the promoter for the gene encoding the ferritin heavy-chain homologue of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Jan;33(1):51-62. doi: 10.1016/s0965-1748(02)00167-4.

Abstract

Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of numerous human diseases. The recent development of transgenic mosquitoes provides a new tool to examine molecular interactions between insect vectors and the pathogens they transmit. One focus in generating transgenic mosquito lies on expressing anti-pathogenic proteins at primary sites of pathogenic invasions, specifically the mosquito gut. Promoters that direct the expression of anti-pathogenic proteins in the mosquito gut are thus sought after because they may provide ways to hinder pathogenic development in the mosquito. Here, we report the identification and mapping of a strong promoter from the Aedes aegypti ferritin heavy-chain homologue (HCH) gene. All known insect ferritin HCH genes are expressed in the gut and inducible by an iron overload. Our transfection assays and DNase I footprinting analyses show that the mosquito ferritin HCH-gene contains regulatory elements both upstream and downstream of the transcriptional start site. The promoter of this gene contains a CF2 site, two GATA-binding sites, an E2F site, a TATA-box, an AP-1 site and a C/EBP binding site.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Northern
  • DNA
  • DNA Footprinting
  • Ferritins / genetics*
  • Insect Vectors
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Yellow Fever / transmission

Substances

  • DNA
  • Ferritins