The mouse GATA-2 gene is expressed in the para-aortic splanchnopleura and aorta-gonads and mesonephros region.
We previously reported that the mouse GATA-2 gene is regulated by two alternative promoters (Minegishi et al, J Biol Chem, 273:3625, 1998). Although the more proximal IG (general) promoter is active in almost all GATA-2-expressing cells, the distal IS (specific) promoter activity was selectively detected in hematopoietic tissues but not in other mesodermal tissues. We report here in vivo analysis of the GATA-2 locus and its regulatory characteristics in hematopoietic tissues of transgenic mice. Transgenes containing 6 or 7 kbp of sequence flanking the 5' end of the IS first exon direct expression of beta-galactosidase or green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter genes specifically to the para-aortic splanchnopleura, aorta-gonads, and mesonephros (AGM) region, and in the neural tissues. In situ hybridization analysis showed that reporter gene expression specifically recapitulates the endogenous expression profile of GATA-2 in these tissues. The flk-1, CD34, c-kit, and CD45 antigens were identified in the GFP-positive cells from the AGM region and fetal liver, indicating that GATA-2 is expressed in immature hematopoietic cells. Deletion of 3.5 kbp from the 5' end of the 6.0 kbp IS promoter construct, including one of the DNase I hypersensitive sites, completely abolished hematopoietic expression. These experiments describe an early developmental GATA-2 hematopoietic enhancer located between 6.0 and 2.5 kbp 5' to the IS exon.
Minegishi
N
N
Center for Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Ohta
J
J
Yamagiwa
H
H
Suzuki
N
N
Kawauchi
S
S
Zhou
Y
Y
Takahashi
S
S
Hayashi
N
N
Engel
J D
JD
Yamamoto
M
M
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; D015870:Gene Expression; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008643:Mesentery / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D008650:Mesonephros / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D010220:Para-Aortic Bodies / Q000737:chemistry; D010994:Pleura / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; C494712:Gata2 protein, mouse; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D001616:beta-Galactosidase