Transcription initiation sites and promoter structure of the human TRAIL-R3 gene1<FN ID="FN1"><NO>1</NO>The nucleotide sequence of the human TRAIL-R3 promoter has been submitted to GenBank (accession number AF524869).</FN>

TRAIL-R3 is a decoy receptor for TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), a member of the tumor necrosis factor ligand family. In several cell types decoy receptors inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis by binding TRAIL and preventing its binding to TRAIL pro-apoptotic receptors. Here we report the cloning of the promoter region of human TRAIL-R3 and the mapping of the transcriptional start sites. This gene contains a consensus TATA box and the minimal promoter lies within the first 33 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site. Transient transfection assays of luciferase reporter plasmids demonstrate that human TRAIL-R3 promoter can be induced in doxorubicin-treated MCF-7 cells in a p53-independent manner. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]