Re: How can we verify that computationally obtained sequences are promoters?

One of the generally accepted ways to verify whether any DNA sequence is a bona fide 
promoter sequence that can "drive" transcrition of a gene is to use a functional assay for 
promoter activity. In such an approach 
one fuses the the suspected DNA sequence to a reporter gene that produces an observable 
phenotype and/or measureable product. Frequently used reporter genes are genes that 
encode green flourescent protein,  GFP (and its relatives), luciferase, beta-galactosidase, 
and a variety of drug resistances. A major question (that I don't know the answer to) with 
this approach is whether these promoter/reporter gene constructs can be introduced and 
taken up by your organsim of interest and tested directly. If not you would have to test such 
constructs in some other eukaryotic cell culture system.

Good luck!