Identification of novel first exons in Ad4BP/SF-1 (NR5A1) gene and their tissue- and species-specific usage.
It has been demonstrated that the mammalian Ad4BP/SF-1 (NR5A1) gene is regulated precisely in sex, tissue, and developmental stage specific manners. To clarify the complex transcriptional regulation, we investigated in the present study whether the gene transcription is regulated by multiple promoters accompanied by noncoding first exons. Novel first exons (Io and Ig) were identified downstream of the already identified exon Ia. Nucleotide sequences revealed that Ia and Ig exons were well conserved, whereas Io exon was less conserved among the mouse, rat, and human genes. Interestingly, the splice donor of the mouse and human Io and human Ig exons do not satisfy the consensus sequence. Transcripts containing Ia, Io, and Ig were detected in all rat tissues examined, while the transcript containing Io was undetectable in the corresponding tissues of mice. The lack of exon Io usage in the mouse was confirmed by transient transfection assays with cultured cells. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcript containing Ig exon was the main product in the pituitary but significantly less in the spleen, suggesting that the regulation of Ad4BP/SF-1 gene transcription in the pituitary and spleen is distinct from that of other tissues. The above findings, together with the structural abnormality at the splice donor site, suggest that acquisition of the multiple first exons enables the Ad4BP/SF-1 gene to be regulated differentially in different animal species and in different tissues in the same animal.
Kimura
R
R
Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University, Maidashi, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Yoshii
H
H
Nomura
M
M
Kotomura
N
N
Mukai
T
T
Ishihara
S
S
Ohba
K
K
Yanase
T
T
Gotoh
O
O
Nawata
H
H
Morohashi
K
K
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors