We describe the design of a non-viral mammalian expression vector in which the primary transgene (a truncated dystrophin gene linked with Duchenne musculardystrophy (DMD)) named microdystrophin delR4-R23/delCT (MD1) is under the transcriptional control of elements of desmin locus control region (DES-LCR). The gene discussed is LY86; the disease is Duchenne muscular dystrophy.