title: GATA-4 gene organization and analysis of its promoter.
abstract: The mouse GATA-4 gene is separated by six introns, and this gene organization is conserved in rodents and man. The transcriptional start site of the GATA-4 gene is essentially the same in rat heart, stomach and testis, and in cultured cells expressing GATA-4 such as TM3, TM4, I-10 and P19.CL6 cells. The 5'-upstream of the GATA-4 gene is also conserved in rodents and man. We examined its promoter activity by means of luciferase reporter gene assay using testis-derived TM3 and TM4 cells. The GC-boxes and E-box located in the several tens of base pairs upstream of the transcriptional start sites of the GATA-4 gene were found to be critical for its promoter activity in these cells, consistent with the mode of transcription characteristics of the TATA-less promoter. P19.CL6 cells differentiate into beating cardiomyocytes upon induction by DMSO, accompanied by stimulation of the transcription of heart-specific genes including GATA-4. Interestingly, they exhibit increased luciferase reporter gene activity upon induction by DMSO. Both proximal tandem GC-boxes and the E-box are also contributed to the reporter gene activity in P19.CL6 cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atarashi
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohashi-Kobayashi
authors.forename: Masatomo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007438:Introns; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000235:genetics; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide