title: Mammary cell-activating factor regulates the hormone-independent transcription of the early lactation protein (ELP) gene in a marsupial.
abstract: The regulation of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) early lactation protein (ELP) gene is complex. ELP is responsive to the lactogenic hormones; insulin (I), hydrocortisone (HC) and prolactin (PRL) in mammary gland explants but could not be induced with lactogenic hormones in tammar primary mammary gland cells, nor in KIM-2 conditionally immortalised murine mammary epithelial cells. Similarly, ELP promoter constructs transiently-transfected into human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells constitutively expressing the prolactin receptor (PRLR) and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)5A were unresponsive to prolactin, unlike the rat and mouse β-casein (CSN2) promoter constructs. Identification of the minimal promoter required for the hormone-independent transcription of tammar ELP in HEK293Ts and comparative analysis of the proximal promoters of marsupial ELP and the orthologous eutherian colostrum trypsin inhibitor (CTI) gene suggests that mammary cell-activating factor (MAF), an E26 transformation-specific (ETS) factor, may bind to an AGGAAG motif and activate tammar ELP.
authors.affiliation: School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Innovative Dairy Products, Australia. Electronic address: e.pharo@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Pharo
authors.affiliation: School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: m.renfree@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Marilyn B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Renfree
authors.affiliation: School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Innovative Dairy Products, Australia. Electronic address: kylie.cane@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kylie N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Cane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000235:genetics*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site / Q000187:drug effects; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D008894:Milk Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: C/EBP; Colostrum trypsin inhibitor; ETS; Kunitz; MAF; Mammary gland