Telokin expression is mediated by a smooth muscle cell-specific promoter

The carboxy terminus of the smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) is expressed as an independent protein, telokin. Western and Northern blotting analyses demonstrated that telokin protein and mRNA are expressed at high levels only in adult and embryonic smooth muscle tissues and cells. In vitro transfection assays in A10 smooth muscle cells identified a functional promoter located in an intron in the 3' region of the smMLCK gene that directs the smooth muscle cell-specific transcription of telokin. To test the cell specificity of the telokin promoter in vivo, transgenic mice were generated in which the telokin promoter was used to drive expression of SV40 large T-antigen. Expression of T-antigen in the transgenic mice paralleled that of the endogenous telokin gene. High levels of T-antigen expression were observed in smooth muscle tissues of the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts, with lower levels of expression in airway and vascular smooth muscle. Expression was restricted to smooth muscle cells, with no expression detected in any other cell type.