Transcriptional repression of heterologous constitutive and inducible promoters by the negative element of the rabbit angiotensin-converting enzyme gene.

We previously identified a transcriptional negative element (NE) present in the rabbit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene. Here, we report that the NE can also repress transcription driven by the strong constitutive promoters of the human beta-actin gene and SV40 in both ACE-expressing and nonexpressing cell lines. The extent of repression was influenced by the relative positions of the NE and the SV40 promoter and enhancer. The NE could also repress transcription driven by interleukin-1 and interferon-alpha-inducible promoters. Finally, transcription from a TATA-less promoter was equally repressed by the NE. Taken together, these results suggest that the NE of the rabbit ACE gene can function as a universal transcriptional silencer element.