@article {1210,
	title = {Modeling transcriptional regulation using microinjection into Xenopus oocytes.},
	journal = {Methods},
	volume = {17},
	year = {1999},
	month = {1999 Feb},
	pages = {151-60},
	abstract = {<p>Transcriptional regulation is a complex process that requires cooperation between specific DNA sequence elements, the DNA-binding proteins that bind to these sequences, the general transcriptional machinery, and chromatin. Oocyte microinjection offers a technique to study the integrated transcription process while still providing the opportunity to experimentally perturb this process. We describe here techniques for manipulating DNA templates and the protein complement of the oocyte to study multiple facets of transcriptional regulation. We present sample results showing that the GAL4-VP16 fusion activator is sensitive to distance in constructs containing only a minimal promoter, but can activate transcription at greater distances when proximal promoter elements are present.</p>
},
	keywords = {Animals, Biological, DNA, DNA Primers, DNA-Binding Proteins, Fungal Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Genetic, Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65, Microinjections, Models, Oocytes, Recombinant Fusion Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins, Transcription, Transcription Factors, Transcriptional Activation, Xenopus},
	issn = {1046-2023},
	doi = {10.1006/meth.1998.0726},
	author = {Robinett, C C and Dunaway, M}
}
@article {1212,
	title = {The repeat organizer, a specialized insulator element within the intergenic spacer of the Xenopus rRNA genes.},
	journal = {Molecular and Cellular Biology},
	volume = {17},
	year = {1997},
	month = {1997 May},
	pages = {2866-75},
	abstract = {<p>We have identified a novel activity for the region of the intergenic spacer of the Xenopus laevis rRNA genes that contains the 35- and 100-bp repeats. We devised a new assay for this region by constructing DNA plasmids containing a tandem repeat of rRNA reporter genes that were separated by the 35- and 100-bp repeat region and a rRNA gene enhancer. When the 35- and 100-bp repeat region is present in its normal position and orientation at the 3{\textquoteright} end of the rRNA reporter genes, the enhancer activates the adjacent downstream promoter but not the upstream rRNA promoter on the same plasmid. Because this element can restrict the range of an enhancer{\textquoteright}s activity in the context of tandem genes, we have named it the repeat organizer (RO). The ability to restrict enhancer action is a feature of insulator elements, but unlike previously described insulator elements the RO does not block enhancer action in a simple enhancer-blocking assay. Instead, the activity of the RO requires that it be in its normal position and orientation with respect to the other sequence elements of the rRNA genes. The enhancer-binding transcription factor xUBF also binds to the repetitive sequences of the RO in vitro, but these sequences do not activate transcription in vivo. We propose that the RO is a specialized insulator element that organizes the tandem array of rRNA genes into single-gene expression units by promoting activation of a promoter by its proximal enhancers.</p>
},
	keywords = {Animals, Genes, Genetic, Models, Molecular, Nucleic Acid, Repetitive Sequences, Reporter, Ribosomal, RNA, Sequence Deletion, Transcription, Transcription Factors, Xenopus laevis, Xenopus Proteins},
	issn = {0270-7306},
	author = {Robinett, C C and O{\textquoteright}Connor, A and Dunaway, M}
}
