Amplification of gene expression using both 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions of GLUT1 glucose transporter mRNA

Abstract

Cis-regulatory elements located at either the 5′- or 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of the GLUT1 glucose transporter mRNA increase the expression of luciferase reporter genes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible cooperative effects of 5′- and 3′-UTRs of the GLUT1 mRNA on the expression of a luciferase reporter gene in cultured brain endothelial cells. Luciferase reporter genes containing control elements in nucleotides (nt) 1–171 of GLUT1 5′-UTR, or nt 2100–2300 of GLUT1 3′-UTR produced a 10- and 6-fold increase in the expression of the luciferase reporter gene compared to the control vector containing no GLUT1 regulatory sequences, respectively. The insertion of both GLUT1 mRNA cis-regulatory elements increased 59-fold the activity of luciferase compared to controls. Data presented here demonstrate that cis-regulatory elements located at both the 5′- and 3′-UTR of GLUT1 mRNA increase expression of a reporter gene in an independent manner.