title: Promoter elements and transcriptional regulation of the acetylcholinesterase gene.
abstract: The 5' region of the acetylcholinesterase gene from the electric ray Torpedo californica has been cloned and its cap site identified. The 5' untranslated region is divided into two exons where a small exon extending between bp -22 to -60 is alternatively spliced. Cap sites are defined at two positions, bp -138 and -143. Twenty-one base pairs 5' of the -143 cap site a repeating TATA sequence is found. Further upstream in the gene consensus sequences for Sp1, AP1, and AP2 factors are evident. The promoter region of the acetylcholinesterase gene enhances transcription of a luciferase reporter gene transfected into C2 myoblasts. However, increased transcription was not evident after C2 myoblasts were induced to form myotubes. Cotransfection of this construct with c-Jun (AP1) and AP2 expression vectors shows marked increases of transcription rates in HepG2 and C2 cells. Protein kinase A elicited regulation of expression is also evident in quail fibroblasts. In gel retardation experiments both recombinant c-Jun (AP1) and AP2 proteins bind to the appropriate Torpedo sequences. Cellular extracts from the Torpedo electric organ exhibit AP2 binding activity. Thus, although all facets of specific regulation expected upon differentiation of mammalian muscle cells were not evident, the 5'-flanking region from the Torpedo AChE gene contains consensus sequences and functional promoter elements typical of mammalian nerve and muscle systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0636.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ekström
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Klump
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Getman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014101:Torpedo; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase