The proximal promoter region of the human heme oxygenase gene contains elements involved in stimulation of transcriptional activity by a variety of agents including oxidants.

The rate of transcription of the heme oxygenase gene is enhanced by a variety of agents including oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide and UVA (320-380 nm) radiation and the sulfhydryl reagent, sodium arsenite. To further analyze the inducible response, we have isolated genomic clones of the human heme oxygenase gene. A 1.44 kb fragment corresponding to a region extending from 1416 bp upstream of the mRNA cap site to 24 bp into the 5'untranslated region of the mRNA has been further subcloned and sequenced and used as the basis for the construction of recombinant CAT transient expression vectors