title: Isolation and characterization of the rat corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-binding protein gene: transcriptional regulation by cyclic adenosine monophosphate and CRH.
abstract: The CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) antagonizes the ACTH-releasing activity of the neuropeptide CRH in vitro. However, the function of CRH-BP in vivo and the molecular mechanisms that regulate CRH-BP expression are not well understood. In this study, the rat CRH-BP gene was characterized, and CRH-BP promoter sequences were identified. The rat CRH-BP gene spans almost 12 kilobases and contains 7 exons. Ribonuclease protection experiments indicate that transcription of the CRH-BP gene initiates at multiple sites in rat cerebral cortex. Transfection experiments with CRH-BP-reporter constructs, containing 88-3500 bp 5' flanking and 66 bp 5' untranslated DNA from the rat CRH-BP gene, demonstrate basal promoter activity in multiple cell lines. CRH-BP-reporter constructs also demonstrate positive regulation of promoter activity by cAMP in a variety of cell lines and by CRH in cells expressing the CRH receptor. The DNA sequences between -341 and -88 bp, including the cAMP response element-like sequence at -127 bp, are required for maximal cAMP and CRH regulation of CRH-BP promoter activity. These studies suggest that CRH-BP transcription in vivo may be positively regulated by cAMP and CRH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0720, USA.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Cortright
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Goosens
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lesh
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Seasholtz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C067133:corticotropin releasing factor-binding protein; D004247:DNA; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP