pDRIVE-TRP1

Tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1) promoter in pDRIVE expression plasmid

The TRP1 gene encodes the tyrosinase-related protein 1, an enzyme involved in the process that converts tyrosinase to melanin pigments.

Expression of TRP1 is restricted to melanocytes and melanoma cells partly as a consequence of transcriptional regulation of its mRNA.

The TRP1 promoter shares with the tyrosinase promoter an 11-bp motif termed the M box located upstream of the TATA box. This M box plays a key role in the regulation of the TRP1 expression by cyclic AMP (cAMP) [1].

Tissue-specific expression of transgenes, such as the IL-2 and HSV1-tk genes, driven by the TRP1 promoter has been demonstrated in murine model systems, achieving marked antitumor effects [2].

References:

1. Bertolotto C. et al. 1996. Different cis-acting elements are involved in the regulation of TRP1 and TRP2 promoter activities by cyclic AMP: pivotal role of M boxes (GTCATGTGCT) and of microphthalmia Mol Cell Biol. 18(2):694-702.
2. Hart IR. 1996. Tissue-specific promoters in targeting systemically delivered gene therapy. Semin Oncol. 23(1):154-8.