Abstract

The present invention features, inter alia, nucleic acid constructs that include nucleotide sequences for regulating the expression of a sequence of interest. The sequences in the construct are not naturally associated with one another (i.e., they are heterologous), and they include an enhancer comprising response elements (e.g. Tcf sites) and nucleosome positioning regions. The enhancer can be operably linked to a promoter (e.g., a human REGlA-571 promoter) that drives the expression of a sequence of interest. Also included are vectors comprising these constructs, host cells, kits, pharmaceutical formulations, and methods of treating patients with cancer.