Original Article

Baculovirus ETL promoter acts as a shuttle promoter between insect cells and mammalian cells

Yu-kou Liu, Chih-chieh Chu, Tzong-yuan Wu

Abstract

Aim: To identify a shuttle promoter that can mediate gene expression in both insect cells and mammalian cells to facilitate the development of a baculovirus vector-based mammalian cell gene delivery vehicle.
Methods: Recombinant baculoviruses carrying the -galactosidase reporter gene under the control of an early to late (ETL) promoter of the Autographa californica multiple nuclear poly-hedrosis virus (AcMNPV) or a cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (CMV promoter) were constructed. COS1, HeLa, CHO-K1, hFob1.19, andMCF-7 mammalian cells were tested for the expression of -galactosidase.
Results: ETL promoter activity was higher in bone-derived hFob1. 19 than in COS1, HeLa, CHO-K1, or MCF-7 mammalian cells. The transient plasmid transfection assay indicated that ETL promoter activity in mammalian cells was dependent on baculovirus gene expression.
Conclusion: ETL promoter activity in mammalian cells is baculovirus gene expression-dependent, and the shuttle promoter will facilitate the application of baculovirus expression vectors in mammalian cell expression systems and for gene therapy.
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