Identification of a smooth muscle cell (SMC) specific smooth muscle heavy chain (SM-MHC) promoter/enhancer

摘要

The present invention generally relates to promoters, enhancers and other regulatory elements of smooth muscle cells (“SMC”). The invention also generally relates to the use of these promoters, enhancers and other regulatory elements of SMC to create animal models to study SMC physiology and pathophysiology. The invention further relates to a smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC) promoter/enhancer element which is capable of conferring SMC-specific gene expression in vivo. The invention also relates to methods for the targeted knockout, or over-expression, of genes of interest within smooth muscle cells. The invention further relates to methods of conferring smooth muscle cell specific gene expression in vivo.