Different combinations of regulatory elements may account for expression of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene in primate and horse placenta.
Abstract: Expression of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene occurs in the pituitaries of all mammals and in the placentas of primates and horses. In humans, tandem cAMP response elements (CREs), located in the proximal promoter-regulatory region of the alpha-subunit gene, act together with an adjacent upstream regulatory element to confer placenta-specific expression. Here, we report that the alpha-subunit genes of Old World Monkeys contain a single functional CRE. This suggests that tandem CREs are unique to higher primates and humans and are not absolutely required for placenta-specific expression. In contrast, the comparable promoter-regulatory region of the horse alpha-subunit gene lacks a functional CRE but appears to retain a functional upstream regulatory element. This suggests that acquisition of placenta-specific expression of the alpha-subunit gene occurred independently in these distantly related mammals. As a result, different combinations of cis-acting elements may explain why expression of the alpha-subunit gene only occurs in placenta of primates and horses.
Publication Date: 1990-10-01 PubMed ID: 1704482DOI: 10.1210/mend-4-10-1480Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research delves into the expression of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene in the placentas of primates and horses. Interestingly, it reveals different combination of regulatory elements are involved in the expression of this gene in these different mammals.
Significance of the Alpha-subunit Gene
- The alpha-subunit gene is expressed in the pituitaries of all mammals and specifically, in the placentas of primates and horses.
- This phenomena signals the possibility that different regulatory mechanisms might be involved in the gene’s expression in different species.
Promoter-Regulatory Region
- In humans, the proximal promoter-regulatory region of the alpha-subunit gene contains tandem cAMP response elements (CREs).
- The CREs work in conjunction with an upstream regulatory element to induce placenta-specific expression of the gene.
Old World Monkeys’ Expression
- Contrarily, in Old World Monkeys, which are considered a less complex form of primates compared to humans, the alpha-subunit gene contains only a single functional CRE.
- This suggests that the existence of tandem CREs might be peculiar to humans and higher primates, and are not necessarily a requisite for placenta-specific expression of the gene.
Expression in Horses
- The research further shows that the promoter-regulatory region of the horse alpha-subunit gene has no functional CRE, unlike in primates.
- Instead, it retains a functional upstream regulatory element, suggesting the independent acquisition of placenta-specific expression of the alpha-subunit gene in horses.
Different Combinations of Cis-acting Elements
- The study concludes by suggesting that the placenta-specific expression of the alpha-subunit gene in primates and horses could be due to different combinations of cis-acting elements.
- Cis-acting elements are regulatory DNA sequences, which, when bound by proteins can control the initiation of transcription.
- Thus, different elements could be in operation in these different organisms whereby different mechanisms regulate the gene’s expression.
Cite This Article
APA
Fenstermaker RA, Farmerie TA, Clay CM, Hamernik DL, Nilson JH.
(1990).
Different combinations of regulatory elements may account for expression of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene in primate and horse placenta.
Mol Endocrinol, 4(10), 1480-1487.
https://doi.org/10.1210/mend-4-10-1480 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pharmacology, Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Cyclic AMP / pharmacology
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / genetics
- Gorilla gorilla / genetics
- Horses / genetics
- Humans
- Macaca mulatta / genetics
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Pan troglodytes / genetics
- Papio / genetics
- Placenta / metabolism
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Pregnancy
- Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
- Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Transfection
Grant Funding
- AM-28559 / NIADDK NIH HHS
- DK-0731 / NIDDK NIH HHS
- HD-07138-03 / NICHD NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Roberson MS, Ban M, Zhang T, Mulvaney JM. Role of the cyclic AMP response element binding complex and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in synergistic activation of the glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit gene by epidermal growth factor and forskolin. Mol Cell Biol 2000 May;20(10):3331-44.
- Steger DJ, Hecht JH, Mellon PL. GATA-binding proteins regulate the human gonadotropin alpha-subunit gene in the placenta and pituitary gland. Mol Cell Biol 1994 Aug;14(8):5592-602.
- Horn F, Windle JJ, Barnhart KM, Mellon PL. Tissue-specific gene expression in the pituitary: the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene is regulated by a gonadotrope-specific protein. Mol Cell Biol 1992 May;12(5):2143-53.
- Kruyt FA, Folkers G, van den Brink CE, van der Saag PT. A cyclic AMP response element is involved in retinoic acid-dependent RAR beta 2 promoter activation. Nucleic Acids Res 1992 Dec 11;20(23):6393-9.
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