The mouse metallothionein-I gene is transcriptionally regulated by cadmium following transfection into human or mouse cells.
Recombinant vectors containing the mouse metallothionein-I gene (MT-I) and the Escherichia coli xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene (gpt) were used to transfect human hgprt- HeLa cells. Transfected MT-I genes are transcriptionally regulated by cadmium but not by glucocorticoids. S1 mapping indicates that the transcripts from transfected MT-I genes begin at the correct transcription initiation site. We also transfected mouse tk- L cells with a vector containing the mouse MT- I gene and the herpes simplex virus-I thymidine kinase gene. MT-I gene transcription is regulated by cadmium but not by glucocorticoids in this homologous system as well. Finally, we fused the MT-I gene promoter/regulatory region to the thymidine kinase structural gene. Thymidine kinase activity is regulated by cadmium when this fusion gene is transfected into mouse tk- L cells. Deletion mapping experiments indicate that the DNA sequences necessary for regulation of the MT-I gene by cadmium lie within 148 bp of its transcription start site.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009876:Operon; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014162:Transfection
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008667:Metalloproteins; D002104:Cadmium; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004247:DNA; D008668:Metallothionein; D013937:Thymidine Kinase