title: Analysis of syndecan-1 gene promoter during mouse tooth development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Syndecan-1 plays an important role in cell proliferation in dental papilla during tooth development. This study aimed to clarify the transcription mechanisms that regulate syndecan-1 gene expression in dental papilla.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed genomic conservation and putative transcriptional factor binding sites of syndecan-1 gene loci using the bioinformatics tool VISTA. To identify the region responsible for syndecan-1 gene expression in mouse dental papilla cells (MDPCs) in vitro, the 1.5-kb upstream region of the mouse syndecan-1 coding region was inserted upstream of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or luciferase gene, and promoter activity was examined by transient reporter gene expression assay in cultured MDPCs. To examine the binding of the upstream binding factor, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VISTA analysis showed that the 1.5-kb upstream region was highly conserved amongst species, and three GC-rich motifs, as well as a TATA-box-like motif, were identified in this region. Reporter gene assay showed that the 1.5-kb upstream region of mouse syndecan-1 induced reporter gene expression in MDPCs. Deletion of the promoter from the 5'-end to 339 bp upstream reduced luciferase activity by nearly half vs. the 1.5-kb sequence. Further deletion up to 68 bp resulted in further loss of luciferase activity. On ChIP assay, we found direct recruitment of Sp3 transcription factor to the GC-rich motif region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 1.5-kb upstream region of the syndecan-1 gene was sufficient to induce its expression in dental papilla, and binding of Sp3 transcription factor may play a pivotal role in this syndecan-1 induction.
authors: Department of Periodontology, Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, 1-9-20 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8159, Japan. hitomi-i@tky.ndu.ac.jp
authors: Hitomi
authors: H
authors: Iguchi-Ishiguro
authors: Yasuo
authors: Y
authors: Ouchi
authors: Sumiko
authors: S
authors: Watanabe
authors: Yukihiro
authors: Y
authors: Numabe
mesh_terms: D024506:5' Flanking Region; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D003771:Dental Papilla / Q000196:embryology*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D015870:Gene Expression; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008156:Luciferases; D051379:Mice; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D053668:Syndecan-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D053668:Syndecan-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008156:Luciferases