Comparative analysis of human, bovine, and murine Oct-4 upstream promoter sequences.
The Oct-4 gene encodes a transcription factor that is specifically expressed in embryonic stem cells and germ cells of the mouse embryo. Cells that differentiate into somatic tissues lose Oct-4 expression. Regulation of Oct-4 gene transcription involves a TATA-less minimal promoter and two upstream elements: the proximal (PE) and distal enhancers (DE). We report here the nucleotide sequence of the 5' upstream regulatory regions of the human and murine Oct-4 genes. A comparative alignment analysis between these regions and those of the bovine Oct-4 ortholog reveals four conserved regions of homology (CR 1 to 4) between these species (66-94% conservation). The 1A sequence within the mouse PE is located approximately half-way between CR 2 and CR 3. A putative Sp1/Sp3 binding site and the overlapping hormone responsive element (HRE) in CR1 are identical in all three species. A high number of CCC(A/T)CCC motifs exhibit various levels of homology in these upstream regions. We discuss the importance of these and other sequences and present candidate factors that may bind and regulate Oct-4 gene expression.
Nordhoff
V
V
The Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania 19348, USA.
Hübner
K
K
Bauer
A
A
Orlova
I
I
Malapetsa
A
A
Schöler
H R
HR
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013234:Stem Cells; D016385:TATA Box; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; C494174:Pou5f1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors