MCM7 is a member of the MCM protein family which has been implicated in the regulatory machinery allowing DNA to replicate only once during S phase. In quiescent cells, human MCM7 (hMCM7) mRNA is almost undetectable. Stimulation of cells to enter the cell cycle results in induction of hMCM7 expression. Here, we report cloning and characterization of the hMCM7 promoter. We isolated and sequenced a 0.5 kb genomic fragment that contains putative transcription factor binding sites including three E2F sites, three GC boxes and an E box. Several transcription start sites, which were used upon growth stimulation, were identified. The minimal promoter region required for transcription of a luciferase reporter gene was delineated, and it contained an E box and one E2F site, which were important for promoter activity. Interestingly, the cloned sequence appears to act as a promoter for mu-adaptin-related protein 2 (mu-ARP2) gene in the opposite orientation.