Transcription factor cCP2 controls gene expression in chicken embryonic stem cells.
cENS-1/cERNI genes have been shown to be expressed very early during chicken embryonic development and as well as in pluripotent chicken embryonic stem (CES) cells. We have previously identified a promoter region, which is specifically active in CES cells compared to differentiated cells. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms which regulate the cENS-1/cERNI promoter, we analyzed the cis-acting elements of this promoter in CES and differentiated cells. We identified a short sequence, named the B region, 5'-CAAG TCCAGG CAAG-3', that exhibits a strong enhancer activity in CES and differentiated cells. Mutation of the B region in the whole cENS-1 promoter strongly decreases the promoter activity in CES cells, suggesting that this region is essential for activating the promoter. The B region is similar to the previously described response element for the transcription factor CP2 and we show by supershift experiments that a protein complex containing CP2 is bound to this B response element. All these results identify a nuclear factor belonging to the CP2 transcription factor family that is crucial for the activation of the cENS-1/cERNI promoter. The pattern of expression of cCP2 in early chicken embryo before gastrulation is very similar to that of cENS-1/cERNI which strongly suggests that cCP2 also plays an essential role in gene expression early in embryonic development.
Acloque
Hervé
H
Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire de la Cellule, CNRS-INRA UMR5161, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, IFR128 BioSciences Lyon-Gerland, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
Mey
Anne
A
Birot
Anne Marie
AM
Gruffat
Henri
H
Pain
Bertrand
B
Samarut
Jacques
J
D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D030161:Avian Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C432147:ENS-1 protein, chicken; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors