Objective: To explain regulatory mechanism of the human connexin 26(Cx26) gene.
Methods: A DNase-1 hypersensitive 1.6 kb fragment upstream of the 5'-terminus of the Cx26 gene was sequenced and assayed with CAT reporter system.
Results: The Cx26-1.6 kb sequence serves as a powerful promoter.
Conclusion: The Cx26-1.6 kb fragment contains two GT boxes (centering at-6158 and -6213 bp), and a TATA-less TTAAAA box (-6237/-6232 bp) which is another promoter region of the human Cx26.