Astrocyte-specific transcription of human genes

A recombinant DNA molecule comprising the following operatively linked elements:

• (a) a control region selected from the group consisting of
• (i) the SV40 enhancer ligated to nucleotides having the sequence of SEQ. I.D. NO. 3, and
• (ii) nucleotides -1757 to -1489 ligated to nucleotides -132 to -57, where the nucleotide ranges refer to the human gene for glial fibrillary acidic protein and where +1 is the RNA start site;
• (b) a basal promoter;
• and
• (c) a heterologous gene;
• wherein said elements are ordered 5'-(a)-(b)-(c)-3'.

An isolated human astrocyte-specific DNA expression vector comprising the following elements operably linked in 5' to 3' order:

• a control region, a basal promoter being a basal promoter of a human gfa gene, and a heterologous gene wherein the control region is selected from the group consisting of
• nucleotides -1757 to -1489 ligated to nucleotides -132 to -57,
• nucleotides -1757 to -1489,
• nucleotides -1612 to -1489, and
• nucleotides -1612 to -57;
• where the nucleotide ranges refer to a human gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein and where +1 is the RNA start site.

An isolated human astrocyte-specific DNA expression vector comprising the following elements operably linked in 5' to 3' order:

• a control region, a basal promoter being a basal promoter of a human gfa gene, and a heterologous gene wherein the control region is selected from the group consisting of
• a nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotides -1757 to -1489 and nucleotides -132 to -57, where said nucleotides -1757 to -1489 are positioned 5' to nucleotides -132 to -57,
• nucleotides -1757 to -1489,
• nucleotides -1612 to -1489, and
• nucleotides -1612 to -57;
• where the nucleotide ranges refer to a human gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein and where +1 is the RNA start site.

A recombinant DNA molecule comprising the following operatively linked elements:

• (a) a control region selected from the group consisting of
• (i) a nucleotide sequence comprising the SV40 enhancer and nucleotides having the sequence of SEQ. I.D. NO. 3, where said SV40 enhancer is positioned 5' to the nucleotides having the sequence of SEQ. I.D. NO. 3,
• (ii) a nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotides -1757 to -1489 and nucleotides -132 to -57, where the nucleotide ranges refer to the human gene for glial fibrillary acidic protein and where +1 is the RNA start site and where said nucleotides -1757 to -1489 are positioned 5' to said nucleotides -132 to -57;
• (b) a basal promoter;
• and
• (c) a heterologous gene;
• wherein said elements are ordered 5'-(a)-(b)-(c)-3'.

An isolated human astrocyte-specific DNA expression vector comprising the following elements operably linked in 5' to 3' order:

• at least one control region, a basal promoter being a basal promoter of a human gfa gene, and a heterologous gene wherein the control regions are selected from the group consisting of
• nucleotides -1757 to -1489 ligated to nucleotides -132 to -57,
• nucleotides -1757 to -1489,
• nucleotides -1612 to -1489, and
• nucleotides -1612 to -57;
• where the nucleotide ranges refer to a human gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein and where +1 is the RNA start site.

An isolated human astrocyte-specific DNA expression vector comprising the following elements operably linked in 5' to 3' order:

• at least one control region, a basal promoter, and a heterologous gene wherein the control regions are selected from the group consisting of
• a nucleotide sequence comprising of nucleotides -1757 to -1489 and nucleotides -132 to -57, wherein said nucleotides -1757 to -1489 are positioned 5' to nucleotides -132 to -57,
• nucleotides -1757 to -1489,
• nucleotides -1612 to -1489, and
• nucleotides -1612 to -57;
• where the nucleotide ranges refer to a human gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein and where +1 is the RNA start site.