title: The gonadotropin-regulated long-chain acyl CoA synthetase gene: a novel downstream Sp1/Sp3 binding element critical for transcriptional promoter activity.
abstract: The 79 kD gonadotropin-regulated testicular long chain acyl-CoA synthetase gene (GR-LACS) is a hormone-regulated member of the acyl-CoA synthetase family that is expressed abundantly in Leydig cells and to a lesser extent in germinal cells of the adult testis. GR-LACS possesses an ATP/AMP binding domain and the fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (FACS) signature motif. To gain insights into the transcriptional regulation of GR-LACS in gonadal cells, we determined the genomic organization of the gene, including the upstream flanking sequences. The mouse GR-LACS gene spans over at least 45 kb and the coding region is encoded by exons 1-14. All exon-intron junction sites correspond to the consensus splice sequence GT-AG. Exon 7 and 11 comprise the conserved ATP/AMP binding domain and the FACS signature motif, respectively. Primer extension and S1 nuclease analyses demonstrated four transcriptional start sites located at -266/-216 bp 5' to the ATG codon. The minimal promoter domain resides within -254/-217 bp 5' to ATG codon, and upstream sequences to -404 bp (-1035/-405 bp) contribute to the inhibition of transcription in the expressing mouse Leydig tumor cells. Removal of -217/-1 bp, containing a 23 nt GC rich sequence (-112/-90) with an Sp1/Sp3 binding element, within the 1st exon of this TATA-less promoter, significantly reduced GR-LACS gene transcription. Transcriptional activity was abolished by a 2 nt mutation of this element. Thus, functional analyses of this promoter domain indicate that transcription of GR-LACS gene requires an Sp1/Sp3 binding element downstream of the transcriptional start sites which is essential for basal promoter activity.
authors.affiliation: Section on Molecular Endocrinology, ERRB, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dufau
authors.forename: Chon-Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai-Morris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D005091:Exons; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007438:Introns; D007984:Leydig Cell Tumor / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051704:Sp2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000098859:Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D051704:Sp2 Transcription Factor; D004247:DNA; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases; D000098859:Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase