Regulation of divergent transcription of the genes coding for basement membrane type IV collagen

Pollner, R, Fischer, G, Pöschl, E and Kühn, K (1990) Regulation of divergent transcription of the genes coding for basement membrane type IV collagen. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 580. pp. 44-54. ISSN 0077-8923

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

The genes coding for the two polypeptide chains, alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV), which form together the molecule of the basement membrane type IV collagen, were found to have a special and unusual genomic arrangement. The two genes are very closely linked, they are transcribed in opposite directions, and they apparently use a common and bidirectional promoter with a length of 127 bp. This region is characterized by a symmetrical arrangement of typical elements and by the palindromic structure of the sequence. In accordance with the symmetry of the promoter itself, a symmetrical organization of sequence motifs (SP1, CCAAT) was also observed in flanking regions. For the promoter and the flanking regions we could detect specific binding of nuclear factors that indicates their involvement in transcriptional activation. This suggests that the intrinsic symmetry of the type IV collagen promoter and its flanking regions may be a structural prerequisite for its bidirectional function. In transient gene expression systems no significant activity of the type IV collagen promoter was observed in either direction. This implies that additional enhancing elements are essential for the efficient and tissue-specific transcription of both type IV collagen genes. The screening for such controlling elements within the alpha 1(IV) and the alpha 2(IV) gene led to the observation that the transcription in direction of the alpha 2(IV) gene is activated by an element located in the first intron of the alpha 2 gene. Its enhancing effect is strictly dependent on the intact genomic structure of this region. Alternation of orientation and distance to the promoter destroys its activity completely. This element, located about 100-600 bp downstream from the start site of alpha 2(IV) transcription, seems to form a synergistically acting unit with the common promoter, essential for transcriptional activity in alpha 2 direction. We have not found additional enhancing elements in other regions of both genes. Explanations for the discrepancy with previous data, which define an enhancing element within the first intron of the alpha 1(IV) gene of mouse, are only speculative at present.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: base sequence,basement membrane,collagen,gene expression regulation,genes,genomic library,humans,molecular sequence data,nuclear proteins,organ specificity,promoter regions, genetic,transcription, genetic
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Cells and Tissues
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 12 Jan 2016 17:01
Last Modified: 19 Apr 2023 23:45
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/56274
DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1990.tb17916.x

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item