Analysis of Transcription-Control Signals in Aspergillus

Genetic studies in Aspergillus have shown that expression of a number of genes is controlled by trans-acting elements [1,2,3]. These elements may interact with controlling regions located adjacent to structural genes [4, 5]. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of gene expression and gene regulation. The recent cloning of genes whose expression is regulated such as the amdS gene [6], trpC gene [7], yA. gene [8] and brlA gene [9] opens the possibility to study gene expression and gene regulation at the molecular level. A powerful and convenient method for such a study is fusion of the gene of interest to the lacZ gene of E. coli [10]. Studies in E. coli [10], Saccharomyces cerevisiae [10] and animal cells [11] have shown that the expression and regulation of genes fused to the lacZ gene can be assayed qualitatively and quantitatively.