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Function of mammalian alternative promoter and its relationship with disease

NIE Yong-qiang, MA Qing-wen   

  1. The Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Medical Embryo Molecular Biology & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo and Reproduction Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Medical Genetics, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200040, China
  • Online:2017-04-28 Published:2017-05-04
  • Supported by:

    National Key Research and Development Program of China, 2016YFC1000503

Abstract:

An alternative promoter is a variable region corresponding to initiating transcription of a gene. The use of alternative promoters has led to the diversification of cell types and tissue types and the regulation of complex developmental genes. Aberrant use of alternative promoters plays an important role in the incidence and development of various diseases. As a common mechanism, alternative promoters are versatile and flexible during gene expression regulation. This paper reviewed functional effects of using mammalian alternative promoters, as well as the relationship between alternative promoters and the incidence of diseases based on the latest published studies.

Key words: alternative promoter, gene regulation, transcription, disease