title: Xenopus rhodopsin promoter. Identification of immediate upstream sequences necessary for high level, rod-specific transcription.
abstract: To understand the mechanisms that control the cell-specific visual pigment gene transcription, the Xenopus rhodopsin 5' regulatory region has been characterized in vivo using transient transfection of Xenopus embryos and transgenesis. The principal control sequences were located within -233/+41, a region with significant conservation with mammalian rhodopsin genes. DNase footprinting indicated seven distinct regions that contain potential cis-acting elements. Sequences near the initiation site (-45/+41, basal region) were essential, but not sufficient, for rod-specific transcription. Two negative regulatory regions were found, one between -233 to -202, with no apparent similarity to known elements, and a second Ret-1-like CAAT (-136/-122) motif. Deletion of either sequence led to a 2-3-fold increase in expression levels, without a change in rod specificity. Sequences between -170 to -146, which contain an E-box motif, were necessary for high level expression in transgenic tadpoles but not in transient transfections. Sequences between -84 and -58, which contained an NRE-like consensus were found to be necessary for high level expression in both assays. Although expression levels were modulated by various proximal sequences in the rhodopsin promoter, none of the tested sequences were found to be necessary for rod specificity. Promoter constructs with a consensus BAT-1 sequence in conjunction with an NRE-like element upstream of the basal promoter directed low level green fluorescent protein expression in the central nervous system in transgenic tadpoles. These results suggest that rod cell-specific expression of rhodopsin is controlled by redundant elements in the proximal promoter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Engbretson
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Knox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012243:Rhodopsin; D008156:Luciferases; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases