US Patent 7968698 Optimized core promoters and uses thereof

The present invention provides core promoter motif ten elements (MTE) and core promoter constructs comprising the MTEs and an initiator element (Inr) in combination with one or both of a TATA box and a downstream promoter element (DPE) which increases gene expression over the strongest known core promoters. Particularly, an optimized or super core promoter is provided which comprises Inr, MTE, TATA box and DPE elements. The present invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising the core promoter constructs. Additionally, methods of increasing production of a protein using the core promoter constructs are provided.