title: GATA-binding proteins regulate the human gonadotropin alpha-subunit gene in the placenta and pituitary gland.
abstract: The human glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene is expressed in two quite dissimilar tissues, the placenta and anterior pituitary. Tissue-specific expression is determined by combinations of elements, some of which are common and others of which are specific to each tissue. In the placenta, a composite enhancer confers specific expression. It contains four protein-binding sites: two cyclic AMP (cAMP) response elements that bind CREB, a trophoblast-specific element that binds TSEB, and a sequence motif, AGATAA, that matches the consensus binding site for a family of transcription factors termed the GATA-binding proteins. In pituitary gonadotropes, the cAMP response elements remain important for expression, TSEB is absent, and elements further upstream participate in tissue-specific expression. Here we establish a regulatory role for the GATA element in both the placenta and pituitary by demonstrating that a mutation of this element decreases alpha-subunit gene expression 15-fold in JEG-3 human placental cells and 2.5-fold in alpha T3-1 mouse pituitary gonadotropes. In JEG-3 cells, human GATA-2 (hGATA-2) and hGATA-3 are highly expressed and both proteins bind to the alpha-subunit gene GATA element. In alpha T3-1 cells, the GATA motif is bound by mouse GATA-2 (mGATA-2) and an mGATA-4-related protein. Cotransfection of hGATA-2 or hGATA-3 into alpha T3-1 cells activates the alpha-subunit gene threefold. These studies establish a role for the GATA-binding proteins in placental and pituitary alpha-subunit gene expression, significantly expanding the known target genes of GATA-2, GATA-3, and perhaps GATA-4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0674.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Steger
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mellon
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; C494711:GATA2 protein, human; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors