Promoter of the Drosophila melanogaster alpha-1-tubulin gene (alphaTub84B), one of two constitutively expressed alpha-tubulin genes, distinct from the male-specific alpha2-tubulin and maternal alpha4-tubulin genes (Theurkauf et al. 1986). The tubP fragment builds ubiquitous tub-GAL4 and tub-GAL80 driver/repressor constructs widely used for mosaic analysis in Drosophila genetics (Lee and Luo 1999).
Length: 2592 bp
Strength: moderate
Tissue: Constitutive. The alpha1 gene is one of two constitutively expressed alpha-tubulin genes, unlike the male-specific alpha2 and maternal alpha4 genes (Theurkauf et al. 1986).
Expression: constitutive
Origin: Drosophila melanogaster alphaTub84B gene
Characteristics
The alpha1-tubulin gene (cytological position 84B3-6) and the alpha3 gene are the two constitutively expressed Drosophila alpha-tubulin genes; their proteins differ by two amino acids and their noncoding leaders share blocks of homology. Alpha2 (male-specific in adults) and alpha4 (maternal) are expressed differently (Theurkauf et al. 1986). In stably transfected S2 cells, a -1300 to +120 alpha1-tubulin promoter fragment gives about three- to fivefold lower RNA and protein levels than the Act5C distal or copper-induced Mtn promoters; per gene copy it is two- to threefold below Act5C and comparable to induced Mtn (Angelichio et al. 1991). The tubP fragment builds tub-GAL4 drivers and the tub-GAL80 repressor of the MARCM mosaic-analysis system (Lee and Luo 1999).
Applications: Standard ubiquitous promoter fragment (tubP) for Drosophila transgenics; builds tub-GAL4 driver lines for broad transgene expression and the tub-GAL80 repressor used in MARCM mosaic clonal analysis of neuronal morphogenesis and gene function (Lee and Luo 1999). Also usable directly as a moderate-strength constitutive promoter in stably transfected Drosophila S2 cells (Angelichio et al. 1991).
Limitations: Generates about three- to fivefold lower RNA and protein output than the Act5C distal or induced Mtn promoters in stably transfected S2 cells; the gap is smaller per gene copy, as alpha1-tubulin lines kept about fourfold fewer copies than Mtn lines (Angelichio et al. 1991). Does not reproduce male-specific alpha2 or maternal alpha4 expression (Theurkauf et al. 1986).
Theurkauf et al. (1986).
Tissue-specific and constitutive alpha-tubulin genes of Drosophila melanogaster code for structurally distinct proteins..
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA - Theurkauf 1986 Alpha-Tubulin
Angelichio et al. (1991).
Comparison of several promoters and polyadenylation signals for use in heterologous gene expression in cultured Drosophila cells.
Nucleic Acids Res - Angelichio 1991 Drosophila Promoters
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