title: Structural characterization of the human DNA topoisomerase I gene promoter.
abstract: We have isolated a genomic DNA fragment from HeLa cells containing the promoter region and the first two exons of the human gene encoding DNA topoisomerase I (hTOP1). Transcription of hTOP1 mRNA initiates at multiple sites which are clustered 247 nucleotides and 210 nucleotides upstream of the translation-initiation site of the protein coding region. The nucleotide sequence of the region preceding the transcription-initiation sites is G/C rich and contains sequence motifs which are known binding sites of the transcription factors Oct1 (octameric transcription factor 1), Sp1 and AP2 (activator protein 2). Furthermore, one cAMP-responsive element is present 50 nucleotides upstream of the transcription-initiation site nearest the 5' end. Neither TATA nor CAAT boxes were found in the promoter region of the hTOP1 gene. A 918-bp fragment containing the sequence elements described above drives the transient expression of a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene sequence in transfected HeLa and 293 cells. In addition we analyzed a 10-kb fragment containing the promoter and exons 1 and 2 for regions of DNase I hypersensitivity. We detected one prominent DNase-I-hypersensitive region in the promoter close to the putative transcription-factor-binding sites and several weaker regions in intron 2.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology, University of Konstanz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kunze
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knippers
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I