Pseudopregnancy induces the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 beta and its target gene aminopeptidase N in rabbit endometrium via the epithelial promoter.
The rabbit endometrium is an excellent model system allowing experimental manipulation of aminopeptidase N (APN) mRNA expression in vivo. By RNase mapping and sequencing of cloned PCR-amplified primer-extended RNA, it was demonstrated that endometrial APN expression is directed by the epithelial APN promoter and is increased in human-choriogonadotropin-induced pseudopregnancy. Cloning and sequencing of the rabbit APN epithelial promoter revealed conservation of the upstream footprint (UF), hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF1) and Sp1 elements known to be present in the pig and human promoters as well. The pseudopregnancy-induced APN expression was found to be accompanied by a parallel increase in the level of the transcription factor HNF1 beta, whereas a much smaller increase in Sp1 and UF-binding proteins was observed. This indicates that HNF1 beta acts as a switch triggering the pregnancy-induced APN expression. The sequence of the UF element suggests members of the nuclear hormone-receptor superfamily as possible UF-binding proteins, and competition experiments suggest that the chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor functions as such in the rabbit endometrium.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018826:CD13 Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D051537:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D016385:TATA Box / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051537:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta; D012260:Ribonucleases; D018826:CD13 Antigens