title: Conserved cis-elements bind a protein complex that regulates Drosophila ras2/rop bidirectional expression.
abstract: The Drosophila ras2 promoter region exhibits bidirectional activity, as has been demonstrated for the human c-Ha-ras1 and the mouse c-Ki-ras. Here we address a unique case of ras regulation, as Drosophila ras2 provides the only example to date in which the flanking gene (rop) and its product have been isolated. A linking mechanism of control suggests a mutual interaction between the two gene products. Our studies indicate that the Drosophila ras2 promoter region shares with the human c-Ha-ras1 promoter a CACCC box and an AP-1-like sequence. A 14 bp promoter fragment which holds a CACCC element is demonstrated to interact with a specific transcription factor (factor B). This CACCC promoter element represents a stretch of imperfect palindrome. We present evidence that this factor can form a complex with another specific DNA-binding protein (factor A). The binding sites (A + B) for these protein factors are essential for 95% expression of both genes flanking the promoter (ras2 and rop). Region A consists of four overlapping consensus sequences: a TATA-like element, a DSE-like motif (the core sequence of the serum response element), a DRE octamer, which has been shown to play a role in cell proliferation, and a 5 bp direct repeat representing the GATA consensus sequence. Factor A has a very weak affinity to the full promoter region, but when complexed with factor B binding efficiency is enhanced. We also show that alterations of DNA-protein binding specificities can be achieved by supplementing the growth media with different sera.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lightfoot
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maltby
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Veale
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Segev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins