Fig. 1

Schematic diagram depicting the cell-specific, time- and level-controllable expression system. The Tet-inducible transactivator (rTetR/V16) is placed under the control of the myelin basic protein (MBP) gene promoter, restricting its expression to oligodendrocytes. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is controlled by the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) minimal promoter in tandem with seven tet-responsive elements (TRE), binding sites for the activated transactivator protein. In the presence of doxycycline (DOX), the tet transactivator bound to one or more TRE, leading to the activation of CMV promoter and expression of GFP by oligodendrocytes. There is a transcription termination block between the rtetR/VP16 gene and GFP gene.