title: A purine-rich sequence in the human BM-40 gene promoter region is a prerequisite for maximum transcription.
abstract: BM-40 (osteonectin, SPARC [secreted protein, acidic, rich in cysteine]) is a highly conserved, matrix-associated protein that is found in basement membranes, bones and remodeling tissues throughout vertebrate evolution. We are reporting the characterization of the 5' end of the human BM-40 gene. Sequence comparison of the 5' region revealed significant homologies with the bovine and murine genes, including a purine-rich stretch composed of two boxes, GGA-box 1 and 2, separated by a pyrimidine-rich spacer element. Transfection analyses of the human BM-40 promoter provide strong evidence that this region comprises several distinct regulatory domains, to which different functions can be assigned. GGA-box 1 is thereby absolutely required and sufficient by itself for maximal BM-40 transcriptional activity, whereas the spacer element has a down-regulatory effect. Comparative transfection analyses in human cell lines, positive or negative for BM-40 transcripts, indicate that the GGA-box sequences in the human promoter, in contrast to the bovine promoter, do not significantly contribute to cell-type specific expression in human cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pottgiesser
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nischt
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006147:Guanine; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015676:Osteonectin / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015676:Osteonectin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D006147:Guanine; D000241:Adenosine