Tissue-specific in vitro transcription from the mouse myelin basic protein promoter

The mouse myelin basic protein promoter was transcribed in brain nuclear extracts. The distal promoter region from -253 to -54 directed preferential transcription in brain extracts, whereas the same region repressed transcription activity in liver extracts. Stimulation of transcription was observed when the distal region was located only in a native orientation. The proximal region downstream from -53 alone still directed preferential transcription. It is suggested that cooperative function by the two promoter regions may be required for higher specificity.