title: Upstream elements of the MHC class II E beta gene active in B cells.
abstract: The MHC class II (Ia) molecules are heterodimeric cell surface glycoproteins that have a limited tissue distribution and are essential for an Ir. These proteins are known to both display a limited tissue distribution and be responsive to up-regulation by cytokines such as IL-4. To begin to identify the molecular basis for both of these phenomena in B cells, we performed a deletional analysis of the upstream region of the murine E beta gene. We show that there are several cooperating positive as well as negative control elements in the E beta upstream region. The sequence between -2679 and -66 is a strong transcriptional element containing several sequences that act synergistically as positive elements. The negative elements are located more proximal to the transcription start site. Furthermore, two consensus motifs, termed X and Y, which are located in the proximal upstream region of all class II genes, are necessary for the transcriptional activity of more distal elements. Additionally, we identify an IL-4-responsive element located within 666 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Grusby
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Folsom
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Glimcher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase