Isolation and characterization of a TATA-less promoter for the human RAG-1 gene

Human recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1) genomic DNA clones containing the first exon coding for the 5' untranslated region and the second exon coding for the remaining 5' untranslated region, coding region, and 3' untranslated region were cloned. Primer extension analysis and RNase protection analysis demonstrated the multiple RAG-1 transcription start sites, clustered in a 31 nucleotide (nt) region. Sequence analysis showed that the RAG-1 promoter lacked a TATA box as well as an initiator sequence. Transient expression assays using a luciferase reporter gene with truncated promoter fragments and substitution mutants, showed that the 5' promoter region containing the CCAAT box between -110 and -86, is indispensable for its basal promoter activity in RAG-1 expressing Nalm 6 cell line. Comparative transient expression assays in various cell lines revealed that the 854 nt upstream promoter region was active, not only in RAG-1 expressing cell lines but also in RAG-1 non-expressing cell lines. These data indicate that the 854 nt upstream region of RAG-1 gene confer basal promoter activity, and that the tissue- and stage-specific expression of RAG-1 is controlled by elements present outside of the promoter region and/or differential chromatin structure(s) of the individual cells.