A developmental stage-specific promoter directs germline transcription of D beta J beta gene segments in precursor T lymphocytes.
The tissue- and stage-specific assembly of Ag receptor genes is regulated by transcriptional control elements positioned within Ig and TCR loci. To further understand the role of cis-acting elements in these regulatory mechanisms, we have characterized a transcriptional promoter that drives germline expression of TCR beta gene segments in vivo. The activity of this promoter, termed PD beta, is restricted to a highly conserved 400-bp region located directly upstream from D beta 1-coding sequences. Maximal PD beta activity requires a TATA element situated within the D beta 1 recombination signal sequences and consensus binding sites for the ubiquitous SP1 and the T cell-specific GATA-3 transcription factors. When linked to active enhancer elements, PD beta directs transcription in most cell types; however, the TCR beta enhancer (E beta) stimulates PD beta function specifically in precursor T lymphocytes. These findings suggest that PD beta/E beta interactions may contribute to differential regulation of regions within the TCR beta locus during thymocyte development.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
M L
ML
Sikes
R J
RJ
Gomez
J
J
Song
E M
EM
Oltz
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000276:immunology*; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D019674:Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010442:Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000276:immunology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494748:Gata3 protein, mouse; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators