Expression of testis angiotensin-converting enzyme is mediated by a cyclic AMP responsive element.
Testis angiotensin-converting enzyme (testis ACE), an ACE isozyme that plays an important role in male fertility, is transcribed from a unique promotor active only in developing spermatids. In vitro analysis suggests the importance of a cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-like region within the testis ACE promoter, and similar DNA motifs are important in the expression of a variety of testis-specific genes. In the present study, we examined the effects of mutations in the CRE-like element on testis ACE promoter activity in vivo using transgenic mice. Disruption of this element reduced reporter gene expression to near background levels. In contrast, conversion of the CRE-like element to a consensus CRE-binding site resulted in high level expression of the reporter gene specifically in the testis. These experiments prove that the CRE-like element is essential for testis ACE promoter activity, although it does not appear to be responsible for its tissue specificity. These data provide insight into how a phenotypically differentiated tissue, ie, male gem cells, regulate tissue-specific gene expression.
Esther
C R
CR
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Semeniuk
D
D
Marino
E M
EM
Zhou
Y
Y
Overbeek
P A
PA
Bernstein
K E
KE
D000818:Animals; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A