Liver-specific expression of the mouse α-fetoprotein gene is mediated by cis-acting DNA elements

S. G. Widen, J. Papaconstantinou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have identified cis-acting regulatory elements in the 5' flanking region of the mouse α-fetoprotein (Afp) gene, using the expression of the bacterial gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) in a transient expression assay. Tissue-specific enhancer activity was determined by transfection of mouse hepatoma (BWTG3) and fibroblast cells (C127, NIH 3T3) with various DNA fragments linked to the CAT gene. A 5.4-kilobase restriction fragment was shown to have characteristics typical of enhancers, including the ability to function independent of orientation and position and the ability to enhance transcription from a heterologous promoter. The enhancer activity was greatest in the hepatoma cells, which express Afp. By deletion analysis, it was demonstrated that enhancer activity is present in several subfragments, indicating the presence of more than one element in this fragment. An additional regulatory element within 950 base pairs of the Afp transcription initiation site has been identified and shown to confer tissue-specific expression on the CAT gene. This fragment, which lacks enhancer activity, contains the Afp promoter region and mediates the tissue-specific expression of the CAT gene when driven by nonspecific viral enhancers. We conclude from our studies that there are several types of regulatory elements in the 5' flanking region of the Afp gene that help mediate tissue-specific expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8196-8200
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume83
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - 1986

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Liver-specific expression of the mouse α-fetoprotein gene is mediated by cis-acting DNA elements'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this