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Functional conservation of Pax6 regulatory elements in humans and mice demonstrated with a novel transgenic reporter mouse.

BACKGROUND: The Pax6 transcription factor is expressed during development in the eyes and in specific CNS regions, where it is essential for normal cell proliferation and differentiation. Mice lacking one or both copies of the Pax6 gene model closely humans with loss-of-function mutations in the PAX6 locus. The sequence of the Pax6/PAX6 protein is identical in mice and humans and previous studies have shown structural conservation of the gene's regulatory regions. RESULTS: We generated a transgenic mouse expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and neomycin resistance under the control of the entire complement of human PAX6 regulatory elements using a modified yeast artificial chromosome (YAC). Expression of GFP was studied in embryos from 9.5 days on and was confined to cells known to express Pax6. GFP expression was sufficiently strong that expressing cells could be distinguished from non-expressing cells using flow cytometry. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates the functional conservation of the regulatory elements controlling Pax6/PAX6 expression in mice and humans. The transgene provides an excellent tool for studying the functions of different Pax6/PAX6 regulatory elements in controlling Pax6 expression in animals that are otherwise normal. It will allow the analysis and isolation of cells in which Pax6 is activated, irrespective of the status of the endogenous locus.

Animals↗

Identification of a negative regulatory element that inhibits c-mos transcription in somatic cells.

We have used transient expression assays to identify a cis-acting region in the 5' flanking sequence of murine c-mos which, when deleted, allows expression from the c-mos promoter in NIH 3T3 cells. This negative regulatory sequence, located 400 to 500 nucleotides upstream of the c-mos ATG, also inhibited expression from a heterologous promoter. In addition to NIH 3T3 cells, the c-mos negative regulatory sequence was active in BALB/3T3 cells, PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells, and A549 human lung carcinoma cells. Site-specific mutagenesis identified three possibly interacting regions that were involved in negative regulatory activity, located around -460, -425, and -405 with respect to the ATG. RNase protection analysis indicated that once the negative regulatory sequences were deleted, transcription in NIH 3T3 cells initiated from the same transcription initiation sites normally utilized in spermatocytes, approximately 280 nucleotides upstream of the ATG. Deletions beyond the spermatocyte promoter, however, allowed transcription initiation from progressively downstream c-mos sequences. Deletion or mutation of sequences surrounding the oocyte promoter at -53 also had little effect on expression of c-mos constructs in NIH 3T3 cells. Therefore, the major determinant of c-mos expression in NIH 3T3 cells was removal of the negative regulatory sequence rather than the utilization of a unique promoter. The c-mos negative regulatory sequences thus appear to play a significant role in tissue-specific c-mos expression by inhibiting transcription in somatic cells.

3T3 Cells↗

Relative roles of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta and cAMP regulatory element-binding protein in controlling transcription of the gene for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP).

The gene for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) (PEPCK) is expressed in a tissue-specific manner in the liver, kidney, and adipose tissue and is regulated by hormones including cAMP and insulin. Previous studies have shown that the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBP alpha) binds to several sites on the PEPCK promoter and activates transcription from the promoter in hepatoma cells. Here, we report that a second member of the C/EBP family, C/EBP beta, bound to the same sites on the PEPCK promoter. However, C/EBP beta stimulated transcription primarily through the cAMP-responsive element (CRE), which maps between positions -77 to -94, but not at the more 5'-binding sites. In addition, the nuclear factor-1 site, which is immediately adjacent to the CRE in the PEPCK promoter, was also required for the full response of the promoter to cotransfected C/EBP beta. In gel mobility assays, antibodies to both C/EBP beta and the cAMP regulatory element-binding protein (CREB), but not to C/EBP alpha, "supershifted" DNA-protein complexes formed between a synthetic CRE oligomer and proteins prepared from rat liver nuclei. C/EBP beta mRNA was expressed at low levels in both the periportal and pericentral regions of the liver lobule, whereas expression of the gene for C/EBP alpha was confined to the pericentral region of the liver lobule. PEPCK gene transcription is greatest in the periportal region of the liver. CREB also bound to the CRE and stimulated transcription of a PEPCK-CAT vector in the presence of an expression vector for the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A. C/EBP beta and CREB bound to the CRE with similar affinities, both of which were greater than the affinity of C/EBP alpha. Within 90 min after the administration of dibutyryl cAMP to rats, there was a marked increase in the hepatic concentration of C/EBP beta mRNA and a decrease in the level of mRNA for C/EBP alpha. These studies indicate that C/EBP beta can regulate PEPCK gene transcription by acting through the CRE and that C/EBP beta, together with CREB, may contribute to the cAMP responsiveness of the PEPCK promoter.

Adipose Tissue↗

Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors are required for trans-activation of the human SERCA2 promoter in cardiomyocytes.

OBJECTIVES: The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA) is essential to the removal of cytosolic calcium following cardiac contraction, and its abundance and activity are significantly altered during perinatal development and in failing myocardium. The objective of the current study was to identify cis regulatory elements and nuclear transcription factors responsible for transactivating SERCA2 gene expression in cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were transiently transfected with luciferase (LUX) reporter gene constructs containing deletions of the SERCA2 promoter or which harbored mutations in consensus Sp1 transcription factor binding sites. Cotransfection assays, electrophoretic mobility shift, and supershift assays were also performed to delineate the regulatory role of specific transcription factors. RESULTS: We identified a putative AP-1-like element and a consensus Egr-1 binding site, but neither Egr-1 nor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) significantly modified human SERCA2 promoter activity in vitro. Maximal activity of the SERCA2 promoter required the proximal 177 bp, and strong activation was observed with a 125-bp construct, within which an Sp1 site and a CAAT box were important. Mutation analysis also revealed the importance of two Sp1 sites between -125 and -200. Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors were subsequently identified to bind to oligonucleotide probes corresponding to only the two most proximal Sp1 sites. CONCLUSIONS: These studies provide direct evidence that regulation of human SERCA2 gene expression in cardiomyocytes depends on transactivation events elicited by Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors.

Animals↗

Evaluation of MafG interaction with Maf recognition element arrays by surface plasmon resonance imaging technique.

Specific interactions between transcription factors and cis-acting DNA sequence motifs are primary events for the transcriptional regulation. Many regulatory elements appear to diverge from the most optimal recognition sequences. To evaluate affinities of a transcription factor to various suboptimal sequences, we have developed a new detection method based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging technique. Transcription factor MafG and its recognition sequence MARE (Maf recognition elements) were adopted to evaluate the new method. We modified DNA immobilization procedure on to the gold chip, so that a double-stranded DNA array was successfully fabricated. We further found that a hydrophilic flexible spacer composed of the poly (ethylene glycol) moiety between DNA and alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers on the surface is effective for preventing nonspecific adsorption and facilitating specific binding of MafG. Multiple interaction profiles between MafG and six of MARE-related sequences were observed by the SPR imaging technique. The kinetic values obtained by SPR imaging showed very good correlation with those obtained from electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays, although absolute values were deviated from each other. These results demonstrate that the double-stranded DNA array fabricated with the modified multistep procedure can be applied for the comprehensive analysis of the transcription factor-DNA interaction.

Binding Sites↗

Organization of the regulatory elements and nuclear activities participating in the transcription of the human apolipoprotein B gene.

The human apolipoprotein B (apoB) promoter region (-150 to +124) is transcriptionally active in HepG2 and CaCo-2 but not in HeLa cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that transcription of the human apoB gene in hepatic cells is achieved through the interaction of proteins that bind to five regulatory elements, I (-118 to -98), II (-112 to -94), III (-86 to -62), IV (-72 to -53), and V (-53 to -33). Elements I, IV, and V can bind to bacterially expressed enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) although with different affinities. In addition, elements I, IV, and V interact with at least two other heat-stable nuclear factors, designated NF-BA2 and NF-BA3, that are distinct from C/EBP. These activities have been separated by ion exchange chromatography and shown to produce footprints in elements I, IV, and V that are similar to those obtained with C/EBP. Element II is recognized by three activities designated NF-BCB1, NF-BCB2, and NF-BCB3, which have been separated by heparin-Sepharose chromatography. Saturation mutagenesis of the region established that they belong to a family of proteins recognizing the same motif, 5'-AAAAGCAAACAG-3'. Substitution mutations in element II that abolish binding of all three activities in vitro also reduce hepatic transcription in vivo to 10% of control, indicating that the binding of NF-BCB1, NF-BCB2, and NF-BCB3 activities is required for efficient transcription of the apoB gene. Furthermore, element III is recognized by the previously characterized nuclear factor NF-BA1, the binding of which is essential for the transcriptional activation of the apoB gene in hepatic and intestinal cells.

Animals↗

Reduced expression of TGF beta1RII in agnogenic myeloid metaplasia is not due to mutation or methylation.

Agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM) is characterized by bone marrow fibrosis and enhanced proliferation of megakaryocytes and CD34+ cells. We have analyzed the factors that could lead to reduced expression of TGF beta1RII in CD34+ cells of AMM patients. Our results demonstrate absence of mutations in the coding region and the promoter of this gene and absence of CpG methylation of its promoter in AMM patients. Further studies on transcriptional regulation of TGF beta1RII involving its cis-regulatory elements, the interacting transcription factors and their association with HDAC will provide valuable information on the pathogenesis of AMM and are under current investigation.

Cell Proliferation↗

Sense and antisense transcripts in the histone H1 (HIS-1) locus of Leishmania major.

Histone H1 in the parasitic protozoan Leishmania is a developmentally regulated protein encoded by two genes, HIS-1.1 and HIS-1.2. These genes are separated by approximately 20 kb of sequence and are located on the same DNA strand of chromosome 27. When Northern blots of parasite RNA were probed with HIS-1 strand-specific riboprobes, we detected sense and antisense transcripts that were polyadenylated and developmentally regulated. When the HIS-1.2 coding region was replaced with the coding region of the neomycin phosphotransferase gene, antisense transcription of this gene was unaffected, indicating that the regulatory elements controlling antisense transcription were located outside of the HIS-1.2 gene, and that transcription in Leishmania can occur from both DNA strands even in the presence of transcription of a selectable marker in the complementary strand. A search for other antisense transcripts within the HIS-1 locus identified an additional transcript (SC-1) within the intervening HIS-1 sequence, downstream of adenine and thymine-rich sequences. These results show that gene expression in Leishmania is not only regulated polycistronically from the sense strand of genomic DNA, but that the complementary strand of DNA also contains sequences that could drive expression of open reading frames from the antisense strand of DNA. These findings suggest that the parasite has evolved in such a way as to maximise the transcription of its genome, a mechanism that might be important for it to maintain virulence.

Animals↗

Role of Dlx6 in regulation of an endothelin-1-dependent, dHAND branchial arch enhancer.

Neural crest cells play a key role in craniofacial development. The endothelin family of secreted polypeptides regulates development of several neural crest sublineages, including the branchial arch neural crest. The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor dHAND is also required for craniofacial development, and in endothelin-1 (ET-1) mutant embryos, dHAND expression in the branchial arches is down-regulated, implicating it as a transcriptional effector of ET-1 action. To determine the mechanism that links ET-1 signaling to dHAND transcription, we analyzed the dHAND gene for cis-regulatory elements that control transcription in the branchial arches. We describe an evolutionarily conserved dHAND enhancer that requires ET-1 signaling for activity. This enhancer contains four homeodomain binding sites that are required for branchial arch expression. By comparing protein binding to these sites in branchial arch extracts from endothelin receptor A (EdnrA) mutant and wild-type mouse embryos, we identified Dlx6, a member of the Distal-less family of homeodomain proteins, as an ET-1-dependent binding factor. Consistent with this conclusion, Dlx6 was down-regulated in branchial arches from EdnrA mutant mice. These results suggest that Dlx6 acts as an intermediary between ET-1 signaling and dHAND transcription during craniofacial morphogenesis.

Animals↗

Structure of the parsley caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase gene, harbouring a novel elicitor responsive cis-acting element.

The sequence of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine:trans-caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT, EC2.1.1.104) gene, including the 5'-flanking region of 5 kb, was determined from parsley (Petroselinum crispum) plants. The enzyme appears to be encoded by one or two genes, and the ORF is arranged in five exons spaced by introns from 107 to 263 bp in length. The genomic sequence matches the ORF of the cDNA previously reported from elicited parsley cell cultures, showing only three base changes that do not affect the enzyme polypeptide sequence. S1 nuclease protection assays and primer extension analyses with genomic and cDNA templates revealed the transcription start site 67 bp upstream of the translation start codon, indicating a shorter 5'-UTR than reported previously for the transcript. Promoter regulatory consensus elements such as two 'CAAT' boxes and one 'TATA' box were identified at -196, -127 and -31, respectively, relative to the transcription start site, and an SV 40-like enhancer element is located 347 bp upstream. Most notably, three putative cis-regulatory elements were recognized by sequence alignments, which represent motifs recurring in the promoters of several genes of the stress-inducible phenylpropanoid pathway (boxes P, A and L). Transient expression assays with a set of 5'-truncated promoter-GUS fusions show that significant promoter activity is retained in a 354 bp promoter fragment. In vitro DNase 1 footprint experiments and electrophoretic mobilty shift assays (EMSA) identified in this fragment a unique sequence motif with elicitor-inducible trans-factor binding activity, which was unrelated to boxes P, A, or L. This novel cis-regulatory element, designated box E, appears to be conserved in the TATA-proximal regions of other stress-inducible phenylpropanoid genes, and in vitro binding of nuclear protein was confirmed in EMSA assays for such an element from the PAL-1 promoter (-54 to -45). Moreover, the deletion of box E reduced the activity and erased the elicitor-responsiveness of the CCoAOMT promoter in transient expression assays. The results corroborate the proposed physiological function of CCoAOMT in elicited plant cells and may shed new light on the sequential action of trans-active factors in the regulation of phenylpropanoid genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regulatory elements in the first intron contribute to transcriptional regulation of the beta 3 tubulin gene by 20-hydroxyecdysone in Drosophila Kc cells.

We have studied the transcriptional regulation of the beta 3 tubulin gene by the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-OH-E) in Drosophila Kc cells. A series of hybrid genes with varying tubulin gene lengths driving the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene were constructed. The promoter activity was assayed after transient expression in Kc cells, in the presence or absence of 20-OH-E. We find that 0.91Kb upstream from the transcription start site contain one or several hormone independent positive cis-acting elements, responsible for the constitutive expression of the beta 3 tubulin gene. In the large (4.5 Kb) first intron of this gene, we identified additional hormone dependent negative and positive regulatory elements, which can act in both directions and in a position-independence manner. Then, the negative intron element(s), which repress the transcription in the absence of 20-OH-E has characteristics of silencer.

Animals↗

Asymmetric recognition of nonconsensus AP-1 sites by Fos-Jun and Jun-Jun influences transcriptional cooperativity with NFAT1.

Many regulatory elements in eukaryotic promoters do not correspond to optimal recognition sequences for the transcription factors that regulate promoter function by binding to the elements. The sequence of the binding site may influence the structural and functional properties of regulatory protein complexes. Fos-Jun heterodimers were found to bind nonconsensus AP-1 sites in a preferred orientation. Oriented Fos-Jun heterodimer binding was attributed to nonidentical recognition of the two half-sites by Fos and Jun. Jun bound preferentially to the consensus half-site, whereas Fos was able to bind nonconsensus half-sites. The orientation of heterodimer binding affected the transcriptional cooperativity of Fos-Jun-NFAT1 complexes at composite regulatory elements in mammalian cells. Jun dimerization with Fos versus ATF2 caused it to bind opposite half-sites at nonconsensus AP-1 elements. Similarly, ATF2 bound to opposite half-sites in Fos-ATF2-NFAT1 and ATF2-Jun-NFAT1 complexes. The orientations of nonconsensus AP-1 sites within composite regulatory elements affected the cooperativity of Fos-Jun as well as Jun-Jun binding with NFAT1. Since Jun homodimers cannot bind to AP-1 sites in a preferred orientation, the effects of the orientations of nonconsensus AP-1 sites on the stabilities of Jun-Jun-NFAT1 complexes are likely to be due to asymmetric conformational changes in the two subunits of the homodimer. Nonconsensus AP-1 site orientation also affected the synergy of transcription activation between Jun homodimers and NFAT1 at composite regulatory elements. The asymmetric recognition of nonconsensus AP-1 sites can therefore influence the transcriptional activities of Fos and Jun both through effects on the orientation of heterodimer binding and through differential conformational changes in the two subunits of the dimer.

Activating Transcription Factor 2↗

An artificial enhancer with multiple response elements stimulates prokaryotic transcriptional activation medicated by various regulatory proteins.

Regulation of transcription by the form of RNA polymerase that contains sigma(N) involves activation at a distance by activators bound to sites located far upstream of the transcription start site, which contact RNA polymerase bound to the promoter via formation of a DNA loop. At the g/nAp2 promoter, binding sites for the activator NtrC show features characteristic of eukaryotic enhancers. A multiple response element containing binding sites for five sigma(N)-dependent activators from different systems has been cloned in different positions relative to the glnAp2 promoter. These promoter regions indeed allowed activation in vivo by each regulator, thus showing that transcription from an eubacterial promoter may be controlled in a very versatile way by different signals. The activation capability of each activator has been assessed in relation to its concentration, and the presence and relative positions of the corresponding binding sites in the DNA. Results show that most activators can function from any position. However, activation mediated by DctD-L64 was very sensitive to changes in the position of its binding sites. Transcriptional activation by combinations of two regulators was also tested and no significant synergism or interference was detected. Mapping of the 5' ends of the transcripts showed that neither the activator nor the position from which they activate influences selection of the transcription start site.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Assigning functions to genes: identification of S-phase expressed genes in Leishmania major based on post-transcriptional control elements.

Assigning functions to genes is one of the major challenges of the post-genomic era. Usually, functions are assigned based on similarity of the coding sequences to sequences of known genes, or by identification of transcriptional cis-regulatory elements that are known to be associated with specific pathways or conditions. In trypanosomatids, where regulation of gene expression takes place mainly at the post-transcriptional level, new approaches for function assignment are needed. Here we demonstrate the identification of novel S-phase expressed genes in Leishmania major, based on a post-transcriptional control element that was recognized in Crithidia fasciculata as involved in the cell cycle-dependent expression of several nuclear and mitochondrial S-phase expressed genes. Hypothesizing that a similar regulatory mechanism is manifested in L.major, we have applied a computational search for similar control elements in the genome of L.major. Our computational scan yielded 132 genes, of which 33% are homologues of known DNA metabolism genes and 63% lack any annotation. Experimental testing of seven of these genes revealed that their mRNAs cycle throughout the cell cycle, reaching a maximum level during S-phase or just prior to it. It is suggested that screening for post-transcriptional control elements associated with a specific function provides an efficient method for assigning functions to trypanosomatid genes.

Animals↗

Transcriptional regulation of the rat fatty acid synthase gene: identification and functional analysis of positive and negative effectors of basal transcription.

The gene for fatty acid synthase (FAS), which contains both GC-rich sequences and a TATA box in its promoter region, is expressed in a tissue-specific manner in response to developmental, nutritional and hormonal signals. Here we report the identification of sequence elements in the 5'-flanking region responsible for modulation of basal promoter activity. Transient transfection of H4IIE hepatoma cells and 3T3-30A5 preadipocytes with plasmids containing the chloroamphenicol acetyltransferase gene driven by FAS promoter sequences of different lengths revealed that two regions between nucleotides -249 and -30 contain elements capable of enhancing transcription. One of these positive regulatory elements was localized to nucleotides -241/-236 using DNase I footprinting, electrophoretic mobility-shift assays and mutagenesis. The sequence element is a typical GC box and the nuclear protein binding to this region appears immunochemically indistinguishable from Sp1. The second positive regulatory element, an inverted CCAAT box, was localized to nucleotides -98/-92 by electrophoretic mobility-shift assays and mutagenesis. A putative negative regulatory element, initially identified by reporter gene transfection experiments, was localized between nucleotides -319 and -301 by DNase I footprinting, electrophoretic mobility-shift assays and deletion mutagenesis; this region consists of 78% G residues. In conclusion, initiation of FAS transcription from a single start site is enhanced by the presence of an adjacent TATA motif, an inverted CCAAT box and an upstream binding site for the transcription factor Sp1; further modulation of transcription is achieved through complex interactions between these promoter elements and an upstream negative regulatory element.

Animals↗

Carbohydrate responsive element binding protein (ChREBP) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c): two key regulators of glucose metabolism and lipid synthesis in liver.

In mammals, the regulation of hepatic metabolism plays a key role in whole body energy balance, since the liver is the major site of carbohydrate metabolism (glycolysis and glycogen synthesis) and triglyceride synthesis (lipogenesis). Lipogenesis is regulated through the acute control of key enzyme activities by means of allosteric and covalent modifications. Moreover, the synthesis of most glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes is regulated in response to dietary status, in which glucose, in particular, is a crucial energy nutrient. This latter response occurs in large part through transcriptional regulation of genes encoding glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes. In the past few years, recent advances have been made in understanding the transcriptional regulation of hepatic glycolytic and lipogenic genes by insulin and glucose. Although insulin is a major regulator of hepatic lipogenesis, there is increasing evidence that glucose also contributes to the coordinated regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in liver. Here, we review the respective roles of the transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) in mediating the effect of insulin on hepatic gene expression, and the role of carbohydrate responsive element binding protein (ChREBP) in regulating gene transcription by glucose.

Animals↗

Leptin, troglitazone, and the expression of sterol regulatory element binding proteins in liver and pancreatic islets.

Overaccumulation of lipids in nonadipose tissues of obese rodents may lead to lipotoxic complications such as diabetes. To assess the pathogenic role of the lipogenic transcription factor, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), we measured its mRNA in liver and islets of obese, leptin-unresponsive fa/fa Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Hepatic SREBP-1 mRNA was 2.4 times higher than in lean +/+ controls, primarily because of increased SREBP-1c expression. mRNA of lipogenic enzymes ranged from 2.4- to 4.6-fold higher than lean controls, and triacylglycerol (TG) content was 5.4 times higher. In pancreatic islets of fa/fa rats, SREBP-1c was 3.4 times higher than in lean +/+ Zucker diabetic fatty rats. The increase of SREBP-1 in liver and islets of untreated fa/fa rats was blocked by 6 weeks of troglitazone therapy, and the diabetic phenotype was prevented. Up-regulation of SREBP-1 also occurred in livers of Sprague-Dawley rats with diet-induced obesity. Hyperleptinemia, induced in lean +/+ rats by adenovirus gene transfer, lowered hepatic SREBP-1c by 74% and the lipogenic enzymes from 35 to 59%. In conclusion, overnutrition increases and adenovirus-induced hyperleptinemia decreases SREBP-1c expression in liver and islets. SREBP-1 overexpression, which is prevented by troglitazone, may play a role in the ectopic lipogenesis and lipotoxicity complicating obesity in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

Adenoviridae↗

Conservation of histone H2A/H2B intergene regions: a role for the H2B specific element in divergent transcription.

The organization and function of potential regulatory elements associated with the promoters of chicken H2A and H2B genes pairs have been examined. The intergene regions of six dispersed and divergently-transcribed H2A/H2B gene pairs contain several extremely well conserved and spaced blocks of sequence homology. Adjacent coding regions are on average 342 base-pairs apart. Respective TATA boxes are separated by 180 base-pairs and within this confined region there are four CCAAT boxes and a previously identified 13 base-pair H2B-specific element (H2B-box) which has homology to the octamer motif present in a number of gene promoter/enhancer elements. Transcription of H2A and H2B genes from wild-type and mutant constructs was measured in transient assays by transfection into HeLa cells, and in permanently transformed clonal cell lines. In vitro separation of the two genes at a unique intergenic site significantly decreased transcription of each gene. This suggested that the H2A/H2B gene pairs contained overlapping promoters. Deletion or point mutagenesis of the H2B-specific element decreased the levels of H2B and the H2A transcripts indicating that this sequence is a common regulatory element of both genes in the divergent-pair configeration.

Animals↗