Down-regulation of vimentin gene expression during myogenesis is controlled by a 5'-flanking sequence.
During myogenesis, the intermediate filament proteins vimentin and desmin are differentially expressed. While desmin levels increase dramatically, vimentin mRNA levels decrease substantially. Here, we show that transfected whole- and mini-vimentin-coding genes (Vim) are expressed in fibroblasts (mouse L cells) and down-regulated during muscle cell differentiation in culture. Functional assays with 5'-end Vim::cat constructs demonstrate that this repression is controlled by a 5'-element (nt -321 to -160). This region is distinct from Vim promoter elements (nt -160 to +71) which do not contribute to vimentin's down-regulation during myogenesis.
Department of Human Genetics, Massey Cancer Center, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
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Sax
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Farrell
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Zehner
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005796:Genes; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014746:Vimentin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014746:Vimentin; D004247:DNA