The genomic structure of a human vesicle monoamine transporter, type-? (bVMAT2) was determined from two overlapping cosmids.
phVMATZ-cosl and phVMTZ-cos2. spanning more than 35 kb. The hVMAT?. open readin p frame is encoded by 16 exons, with
translation initiation and termination in exon 2 and exon 16. respectively. Several potential bindin g sites for transcriptional regulatory
factors, including a CAMP response element (CRE) were identified ln the S’-upstream region of the gene. A promoter construct using the
jellyfish green fluorescent prcbtein (GFP) as reporter has been made and transfected into the human neuroblastoma cell line, SHSY-SY.
The cellular expression of the GFP was readily detected by fluorescence microscopy and cells expressing GFP could be sorted using a
fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). allowing the level of GFP expression in transfected SHSY-SY cells to be quickly and reliabl)
determined.