Sequences upstream from the T-A-T-A box are required in vivo and in vitro for efficient transcription from the adenovirus serotype 2 major late promoter.

We show that sequences located upstream from the T-A-T-A box, between positions -97 and -34, are necessary for efficient in vivo transcription from the adenovirus serotype 2 major late promoter. The effect of these upstream sequences was also investigated in vitro using a whole cell or an S100 extract and circular or linear templates. With the whole cell extract, the in vivo effect of the upstream sequences was reproduced in vitro. With the S100 extract, some effect of the upstream sequences was observed with circular, but not with linear, templates.