title: Coordinate control of the alpha- and beta-subunit genes of human chorionic gonadotropin by trophoblast-specific element-binding protein.
abstract: The alpha- and beta-subunit genes of hCG are coordinately regulated in the trophectoderm of the early embryo and placenta. Placenta-specific expression of the alpha-subunit gene is determined by a composite enhancer made of three clustered components: cAMP-responsive elements, a GATA site, and the trophoblast-specific element (TSE). We have investigated the basis of placenta-specific expression of the major hCG beta-subunit gene, hCG beta 5. Enhancement of expression localizes to the region from -305 to -279, whereas full cAMP regulation requires the region from -305 to -249. Four DNAse-I footprints are present, three of which can be competed by the TSE element from the alpha-subunit gene. Methylation interference establishes that binding to the element located in the key region for expression, from -301 to -275, requires contacts with a CCNNNGGG core sequence that matches the alpha-subunit gene TSE. Sequence-specific DNA affinity chromatography using the alpha-subunit gene TSE allows purification of TSE-binding protein. This purified protein binds specifically to the key element, -301 to -275, and to at least two additional TSE elements clustered in the regulatory region of the hCG beta 5 gene. We conclude that both the alpha- and beta-subunit genes of hCG require the placenta-specific factor TSE-binding protein for expression, providing a mechanism for their coordinate regulation in placental cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Steger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Büscher
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mellon
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000242:Cyclic AMP