title: Characterization of an upstream open reading frame in the 5' untranslated region of PR-39, a cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide.
abstract: Cathelicidins are antimicrobial peptides present in humans, and laboratory and domestic animals. These peptides are essential components of innate and acquired immune responses; however, little is known about cathelicidin gene regulation. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of cathelicidin gene expression, we characterized the promoter of the PR-39 gene, a multifunctional cathelicidin. Deletion analysis identified a negative regulatory element in the 5'-flanking region of the gene located in the sequence from nt (nucleotide(s)) -69 to -63. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated that ATG and its vicinity nucleotides are critical for the repressive activity of this region. A primer extension assay identified a transcription start site upstream from the negative repressor ATG and 76 nt upstream from the major open reading frame (ORF). RT-PCR and 3'-RACE further demonstrated that cDNA of PR-39 and the cathelicidin porcine myeloid antimicrobal peptide (PMAP)-23, which share prepro sequence identity, start from nt -79. Sequencing of this region showed that the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the gene contains an upstream translation start site and an upstream ORF that functions as a repressor of the PR-39 gene. These findings indicate extensive regulation of the PR-39 gene and suggest a mechanism for the tissue-specific and age-dependent repression of this cathelicidin gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, 228 Coles Hall, 1600 Denison Avenue, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5802, USA.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blecha
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000737:chemistry*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003062:Codon; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D003062:Codon; C072212:PR 39