title: Molecular cloning of two C/EBP-related proteins that bind to the promoter and the enhancer of the alpha 1-fetoprotein gene. Further analysis of C/EBP beta and C/EBP gamma.
abstract: In an attempt to identify proteins that may regulate alpha 1-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression, we screened a cDNA expression library from neonatal rat liver with two essential cis-elements of the AFP promoter and enhancer. We isolated two cDNAs which were found to correspond to leucine zipper proteins of the CC-AAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) family: C/EBP beta and C/EBP gamma. The three related proteins C/EBP alpha, beta and gamma bind with indistinguishable specificity to multiple DNA sites in the promoter and the enhancer of the AFP gene. In addition, C/EBP beta and C/EBP gamma readily heterodimerize with each other as well as with C/EBP alpha. The mRNAs coding for C/EBP beta and C/EBP gamma are expressed in a wider variety of rat tissues than C/EBP alpha mRNA, including yolk sac and fetal liver. The steady-state levels of C/EBP alpha, beta and gamma mRNAs increase during liver development, in parallel with their respective gene transcriptional rates. The high levels of C/EBP beta and gamma mRNAs in rat yolk sac and fetal liver, where C/EBP alpha is poorly expressed, suggest that C/EBP beta and/or gamma could be preponderant or early regulators of the AFP gene in these tissues.
authors.affiliation: Le Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, l'Université Laval, L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thomassin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guertin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belanger
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins