title: Co-expression of CYP27B1 enzyme with the 1.5kb CYP27B1 promoter-luciferase transgene in the mouse.
abstract: The renal enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), responsible for the synthesis of circulating. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), is also expressed in a number of non-renal tissues. The regulation of CYP27B1 expression by the short flanking promoter outside the kidney is, however, largely unknown. We have used a transgenic mice expressing the 1.5kb promoter of the human CYP27B1 gene fused to the firefly luciferase gene in order to investigate tissue-specific CYP27B1 expression. These transgenic animals demonstrated co-localised luciferase and endogenous CYP27B1 expression in kidney proximal convoluted tubular cells. Strong co-expression of luciferase and CYP27B1 also occurred in neurons and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and in Leydig and Sertoli cells of the testes. Other tissues to exhibit CYP27B1-promoter directed luciferase activity included lung, prostate, trabecular bone and jejunum as well as the choroid epithelium. The tissue specific changes in luciferase activity were age-related. These findings demonstrate that the proximal 1.5kb 5' flanking region of the CYP27B1 gene directs the expression of CYP27B1 in a number of known and novel tissues in a specific manner.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Laboratory, Hanson Institute, Frome Road, Adelaide 5000, SA, Australia. paul.anderson@imvs.sa.gov.au
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Ivanka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zarrinkalam
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manavis
authors.forename: Ghafar T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Sarvestani
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024506:5' Flanking Region; D000818:Animals; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase