title: Structure and characterization of the mouse UT-A gene (Slc14a2).
abstract: The movement of urea across plasma membranes is modulated by facilitated urea transporter proteins. These proteins are the products of two closely related genes, termed UT-A (Slc14a2) and UT-B (Slc14a1). By genomic library screening and P1 artificial chromosome "shotgun" sequencing, we have determined the structure of the mouse UT-A gene. The gene is >300 kb in length, contains 24 exons, and has 2 distinct promoters. Flanking the 5'-region of the gene is the UT-Aalpha promoter that regulates transcription of UT-A1 and UT-A3. The second promoter, termed UT-Abeta, is present in intron 13 and regulates transcription of UT-A2. cAMP agonists (100 microM dibutryl cAMP, 25 microM forskolin, 0.5 mM IBMX) increased the activity of a 2.2-kb UT-Aalpha promoter construct 6.2-fold [from 0.026 +/- 0.003 to 0.160 +/- 0.004, relative light units (RLU)/microg protein] and a 2.4-kb UT-Abeta promoter construct 9.5-fold (from 0.020 +/- 0.002 to 0.190 +/- 0.043 RLU/microg protein) above that in untreated controls. Interestingly, only the UT-Abeta promoter contained consensus sequences for CREs and deletion of these elements abolished cAMP sensitivity. Increasing the tonicity of culture medium from 300 to 600 mosmol/kg H(2)O with NaCl caused a significant increase (from 0.060 +/- 0.004 to 0.095 +/- 0.010 RLU/microg protein) in UT-Aalpha promoter activity but had no effect on the UT-Abeta promoter. A tonicity-responsive enhancer was identified in UT-Aalpha and is suggested to be responsible for mediating this effect. Levels of UT-A2 and UT-A3 mRNA were increased in thirsted mice compared with control animals, indicating that the activities of both promoters are likely to be elevated during prolonged antidiuresis.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cottingham
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howorth
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014162:Transfection; D014868:Water Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D000096982:Urea Transporters
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000096982:Urea Transporters