Cis-Acting Elements for Proper Ontogenic Expression of Arylsulfatase Gene of Sea Urchin Embryo

To define the cis-acting regulatory elements required for proper ontogenic expression of the Arylsulfatase gene in the sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) embryo, we have constructed the fusion genes composed of bacterial CAT gene and various regions from the 5' flanking sequence of the Ars gene, injected them into unfertilized sea urchin eggs and monitored their expression during development. A wild type construct containing the 5' flanking region of the Ars gene spanning from -2 to -3160 was expressed under proper temporal regulation following injection into unfertilized eggs. By deletion analysis the transcriptional enhancers were localized between -1280 and -2680 of the Ars gene. In addition, sequences acting as a negative regulator as well as a minimal promoter for expression of the Ars gene were detected by internal deletion analysis.