Alpha 1-fetoprotein transcription factor is required for the expression of sterol 12alpha -hydroxylase, the specific enzyme for cholic acid synthesis. Potential role in the bile acid-mediated regulation of gene transcription.
Cholesterol conversion to bile acids occurs via the "classic" (neutral) or the "alternative" (acidic) bile acid biosynthesis pathways. Sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase/CYP8b1 is the specific enzyme required for cholic acid synthesis. The levels of this enzyme determine the ratio of cholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid and thus the hydrophobicity of the circulating bile acid pool. Expression of the 12alpha-hydroxylase gene is tightly down-regulated by hydrophobic bile acids. In this study, we report the characterization of two DNA elements that are required for both the 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity and bile acid-mediated regulation. Mutation of these elements suppresses 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity. Mutations of any other part of the promoter do not alter substantially the promoter activity or alter regulation by bile acids relative to the wild type promoter. These two DNA elements bind alpha(1)-fetoprotein transcription factor (FTF), a member of the nuclear receptor family. We also show that overexpression of FTF in a non-liver cell line activates the sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter. These studies demonstrate the crucial role of FTF for the expression and regulation of a critical gene in the bile acid biosynthetic pathways.
del Castillo-Olivares
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Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0614, USA.
Gil
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D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D019826:Cholic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D015698:Genomic Library; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013253:Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C099948:fetoprotein transcription factor; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D013253:Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase; D019826:Cholic Acid