title: Characterization of the human thrombopoietin gene promoter. A possible role of an Ets transcription factor, E4TF1/GABP.
abstract: Thrombopoietin (TPO), the ligand for c-Mpl, is a cytokine that regulates megakaryocyte growth and development. We have cloned the 5'-flanking region of the human TPO gene and analyzed its promoter activity. The human TPO gene promoter lacks a TATA box and directs transcription initiation at multiple sites over a 50-nucleotide region. Transient expression in a human liver cell line (PLC) of promoter fragment-luciferase reporter gene constructs containing a series of 5'-truncated sequences or site-directed mutations identified a sequence 5'-ACTTCCG-3' from -69 to -63 as a positive cis-acting element for high level expression of TPO gene. This sequence contains a core motif (C/A)GGA(A/T) for Ets family proteins in the noncoding strand. Gel mobility shift assays performed with nuclear protein from PLC cells identified a DNA binding protein(s) specific for the element. Anti-E4TF1-60(GABPalpha) or anti-E4TF1-53/47(GABPbeta) antibodies supershifted the complex in gel shift assay. Furthermore, co-expression of E4TF1-60 and E4TF1-53/47 squelched TPO gene expression in PLC and HepG2 cells. It is concluded that Ets family transcription factor E4TF1(GABPalpha/beta), an ubiquitously expressed protein, is required for high level expression of the TPO gene in liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka 812-82, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamasaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitajima
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D051268:GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C079860:E4TF1 transcription factor; D051268:GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013926:Thrombopoietin