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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Discrimintion and Mapping of the Primary and Processed Transcripts in Maize Mitochondrion Using a Circular RT-PCR-based Strategy
Published on: July 29, 2019
Characterization of the mitochondrial aconitase promoter and the identification of transcription factor binding
Ziqiang Yu1, Leslie C Costello, Pei Feng
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental School, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
Background:
Mitochondrial (m) aconitase plays an important role in the unique pathway of citrate accumulation in prostate epithelial cells through its limited activity. In the current study, we characterized the human m-aconitase gene promoter.
Methods:
A 1,411-bp 5'-flanking fragment of the human m-aconitase gene was cloned, followed by 5' serial deletion analysis of promoter activity. Transcriptional start sties and transcription factors bound to the promoter were identified by 5' RACE, DNA pull-down assay and transcription factor array analysis.
Results:
Two transcriptional start sites were identified. The promoter fragment pulled down 15 transcription factors, some without consensus sequences in the promoter. Deletion of one Sp1 site eliminated all promoter activity.
Conclusions:
The m-aconitase promoter is contained in a 153-bp 5' fragment lacking a TATA or CAAT sequence. Sp1 binding to a specific Sp1 site is required for promoter activity while other transcription factors are recruited through protein-protein interactions.
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