title: Distinct regions of the mouse cyclin A1 gene, Ccna1, confer male germ-cell specific expression and enhancer function.
abstract: The gene encoding mouse cyclin A1, Ccna1, is expressed at highest levels in late pachytene-diplotene spermatocytes, where it is required for meiotic cell division. To begin to understand the mechanisms responsible for its highly restricted pattern of expression, transgenic mouse lines carrying constructs consisting of the cyclin A1 regulatory region fused with the reporter gene lacZ were generated. Analysis of tissue-specific and testicular cell-type-specific transgene expression indicated that sequences within -1.3 kilobases (kb) of the cyclin A1 putative transcriptional start site were sufficient to direct transgene expression uniquely to late spermatocytes while maintaining repression in other tissues. However, sequences located between -4.8 kb and -1.3 kb of the putative transcriptional start site were apparently required to transcribe the reporter at levels needed for consistent X-gal staining. Comparison of the mouse, rat, and human proximal promoters revealed regions of high sequence conservation and consensus sequences both for known transcription factors, some of which are coexpressed with Ccna1, such as A-myb and Hsf2, and for elements that control expression of genes in somatic cell cycles, such as CDE, CHR, and CCAAT elements. Thus, the promoter region within 1.3 kb upstream of the putative Ccna1 transcriptional start can direct expression of lacZ to spermatocytes, while sequences located between -4.8 kb and -1.3 kb of the putative transcriptional start site may enhance expression of lacZ.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lele
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wolgemuth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000235:genetics*; D056750:Cyclin A1; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C503745:CCNA1 protein, human; C503747:Ccna1 protein, mouse; C503748:Ccna1 protein, rat; D019925:Cyclin A; D056750:Cyclin A1; D001616:beta-Galactosidase