title: Cutting edge: Identification of an alternative GATA-3 promoter directing tissue-specific gene expression in mouse and human.
abstract: The GATA family of transcription factors regulates development of multiple tissues. Several GATA factors have two promoters directing distinct tissue-specific expression. Although GATA-3 acts in both neuronal and thymocyte development, no alternative promoter usage has been reported. We examined various cell types and tissues for potential alternative GATA-3 transcripts and identified an alternative transcript directed by a promoter located 10 kb upstream of the recognized promoter. Sequences within this promoter and alternative first exon are highly conserved between mouse and human genomes. This new promoter is expressed selectively in the brain but is essentially undetectable in the thymus. In contrast, the recognized promoter is selectively expressed in the thymus but not in the brain. We also observed a gradual increase in expression from this new promoter during Th2 development. These results indicate that similar to other GATA factors, the GATA-3 gene can be controlled by two promoters that may direct lineage- and tissue-specific expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Immunology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asnagli
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afkarian
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; C494748:Gata3 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D015847:Interleukin-4