a, Promoters of ACE2 (P1 and P2) and dACE2 (P3) were analyzed for binding motifs of transcription factors relevant for IFN signaling. Promoters were defined within the −800/+100 bp windows from the corresponding transcription start sites (TSS). b, Schematics of Luciferase (Luc) reporter constructs. c, Luciferase activity in HepG2 cells transiently co-transfected with indicated Luciferase reporter constructs and Renilla (normalization control) and treated with 1 ng/ml of IFNβ or 2 ng/ml of IFNγ for 6 hrs. d, Luciferase activity driven by the promoter of IFIT1 (an ISG and positive control). Luciferase/Renilla ratios were normalized by corresponding mock-treated samples and presented as fold change to the negative control (empty promoterless pGL4.21 vector). P-values are for unpaired, two-sided Student’s T-tests. The experiment was conducted in 6 biological replicates per construct, and the results of one of three independent experiments are shown.