Figure 1.

The human LMO1 gene locus contains two alternative promoters that recapitulate endogenous LMO1 expression in transgenic mouse assays. (a) Two alternative LMO1-validated transcripts are evident on review of the UCSC gene transcript database. Each coincides with a peak of non-coding sequence conservation suggesting possible roles as alternative promoters for LMO1. (b) Transgenic analysis of reporter constructs with the two respective promoter sequences upstream of a lacZ reporter gene. Representative embryos demonstrate that the promoter1/lacZ construct generated faint staining compatible with activity in neurological structures in the brainstem and first and second branchial arches. Transgenic embryos carrying the promoter2/lacZ construct showed expression in hindbrain, spinal cord, intersomitic mesoderm and olfactory epithelium thereby recapitulating much of the expression pattern found for endogenous LMO1. No LMO1 expression is seen in tissues of the developing haematopoietic system in embryos generated by either construct.