The promoter structure of TGF-beta type II receptor revealed by "oligo-capping" method and deletion analysis

The promoter of TGF-beta type II receptor lacks TATA box or CAAT box. In order to define the exact transcriptional start site(s), we used "oligo-capping" method developed by ourselves. The major transcripts were started from GAA located between -35 and -33 relative to 5' end of cDNA. Other minor transcripts started from -4, +11 and +17. Deletion analysis of this promoter region revealed that it contained two adjacently located promoters (P1 and P2) capable of acting by itself. The P1 is located between -22 and +55 which covers the minor transcriptional start sites described above. The P2 is located just upstream of the P1 between -137 and -22. The results showed all of the transcripts were started either from P1 or P2.