Screening assays for identifying agents that regulate the expression of genes involved in cell death

摘要

The present invention provides regulatory elements that are linked to genes involved in cell death. For example, the present invention provides a p53-RE.sup.D, which is involved in p53-mediated down- regulation of the bcl-2 gene, and the bax promotor, which contains a p53- RE.sup.U that is involved in p53-mediated up-regulation of the bax gene. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying agents such as drugs that effectively modulate expression of a gene that is involved in cell death. In addition, the invention provides methods for modulating the level of apoptosis in a cell.