title: Identification of a Vitamin D response element in the human insulin receptor gene promoter.
abstract: The present study was designed to explore the possible presence and location of Vitamin D response elements (VDREs) in the human insulin receptor (hIR) gene promoter. To this end, the -1819 to -271 bp fragment of the hIR promoter (wild type promoter) and progressive 5' deletions of this promoter (up to -1473 and -876 bp) were linked to the luciferase pGL2-basic vector to construct the reported plasmids: phIR (-1819)-GL2, phIR(-1473)-GL2 and phIR(-876)-GL2, respectively. U-937 cells were transiently transfected with these plasmids, and then the cells were either untreated or treated for 24h with 10(-8) M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D(3)). Luciferase determinations revealed that, while the activity of the wild promoter was increased 1.6-fold by the hormone, the activities of progressive 5' deletions of this promoter were enhanced 1.7-, and 1.6-fold, respectively. Thus, the region extending from -876 to -271bp of the hIR promoter, appears to contain VDREs, and to be sufficient for induction by 1,25D(3). In order to identify these potential VDREs, we performed a computer search of candidate sequences by homology with a consensus VDRE sequence. This search yielded a sequence located between -761 and -732 bp (5'CGTCGGGCCTGTGGGGCGCCTCCGGGGGTC3'), which includes an overlapping AP-2 like sequence, as a good candidate. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) specifically recognized this sequence, since a VDR-DNA complex was able to compete with the unlabeled probe and was cleared by the specific anti-VDR antibody 9A7. These data represent the first identification of a VDRE in the hIR gene promoter.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, 28040-Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maestro
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Carranza
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calle
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics*; D020218:Response Elements; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D020298:U937 Cells; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases; D011972:Receptor, Insulin