title: Cloning and characterization of human and mouse telomerase RNA gene promoter sequences.
abstract: Variation in telomerase activity is correlated with cellular senescence and tumour progression. However, although the enzymatic activity of telomerase has been well studied, very little is known about how expression of telomerase genes is regulated in mammalian cells. We have therefore cloned the promoter regions of the human (hTR), and mouse, (terc), telomerase RNA genes in order to identify the regulatory elements controlling telomerase RNA gene transcription. 1.76 kb encompassing the hTR gene promoter region was sequenced, as was 4 kb encompassing the terc promoter. No significant sequence similarity could be detected in comparisons between human and mouse 5'-regions, flanking the transcribed sequences. However, both the human and mouse telomerase RNA genes are within CpG islands and may therefore be under the regulation of DNA methylation. Transient expression of hTR-reporter gene constructs in HeLa and GM847 cells identified the elements responsible for promoter activity are contained in a 231 bp region upstream of the transcriptional start site. Transient expression of terc-reporter gene constructs in Swiss3T3 and A9 cells identified the elements responsible for promoter activity are contained in a 73 bp region upstream of the transcriptional start site. These studies have implications for novel transcription targeted cancer therapies.
authors.affiliation: CRC Department of Medical Oncology, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hoare
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Keith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C422952:telomerase RNA; D012313:RNA; D008156:Luciferases; D019098:Telomerase