title: The extracellular matrix regulates MaeuCath1a gene expression.
abstract: We have previously shown that the gene for MaeuCath1, a cathelicidin secreted in wallaby milk is alternately spliced into two variants, MaeuCath1a and MaeuCath1b which are temporally regulated in order to provide antimicrobial protection to the newborn and stimulate mammary growth, respectively. The current study investigated the extracellular matrix (ECM) for its regulatory role in MaeuCath1 gene expression. Reverse transcription qPCR using RNA isolated from mammary epithelial cells (WallMEC) cultured on ECM showed that ECM regulates MaeuCath1a gene expression in a lactation phase-dependent manner. Luciferase reporter-based assays and in silico analysis of deletion fragments of the 2245bp sequence upstream of the translation start site identified ECM-dependent positive regulatory activity in the -709 to -15 region and repressor activity in the -919 to -710 region. Electrophoretic Gel Mobility Shift Assays (EMSA) using nuclear extract from ECM-treated WallMEC showed differential band shift in the -839 to -710 region.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Medical Research SRC, School of Medicine, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Rd., Waurn Ponds, 3217 VIC, Australia. stephenw@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wanyonyi
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lefevre
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Nicholas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008156:Luciferases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D008156:Luciferases; D054804:Cathelicidins