K(v)1.5 potassium channel gene regulation by Sp1 transcription factor and oxidative stress.
K(V)1.5, a voltage-gated potassium channel, has functional importance in regulating blood vessel tone and cardiac action potentials and is a target for numerous therapeutic drug development programs. Despite the importance of K(V)1.5, there is little knowledge of the mechanisms controlling expression of its underlying gene, Kcna5. We identified a 5' flanking region of the murine Kcna5 gene that drives expression of a luciferase reporter gene in primary smooth muscle cells and a smooth muscle cell line. The promoter contained CACCC nucleotide motifs, which we have shown to bind the Sp1 transcription factor in the aorta under physiological conditions in vivo. Inhibition of Sp1-Kcna5 promoter interactions using mithramycin A, a dominant-negative Sp1 mutant, or disruption of the CACCC boxes by mutagenesis inhibited promoter activity. Conversely, expression of exogenous Sp1 augmented promoter activity. Sp1 has known sensitivity to oxidative stress and, consistent with this property, Kcna5 promoter activity was suppressed by hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Our results show that Kcna5 promoter activity in vascular smooth muscle is critically dependent on Sp1 regulation via CACCC box motifs and identify mechanisms that potentially influence the expression of K(V)1.5 channel expression in physiological or pathological conditions.
Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Samuel J
SJ
Fountain
Alex
A
Cheong
Jing
J
Li
Naciye Y
NY
Dondas
Fanning
F
Zeng
Ian C
IC
Wood
David J
DJ
Beech
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide