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Tissue-specific transcription of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase gene requires synergy between an AP-1 motif and an overlapping E box-containing dyad

  • Sung Ok Yoon
  • , Dona M. Chikaraishi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Transcription of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the ratelimiting enzyme in catecholamine biosynthesis, is regulated in a tissue-specific manner. We have identified sequences from -205 to -182 as the minimal enhancer for TH in pheochromocytoma cells using site-directed mutagenesis. This segment (TGATTCAGAGGCAGGTG-CCTGTGA) is composed of an AP-1 motif (TGATTCA) and an overlapping 20 by dyad whose core resembles an E box site (CANNTG). Interaction between the two elements is necessary both in vivo and in vitro: mutation of either element caused a 65%-95% reduction in transcription, and the combination of the two elements conferred cell-specific activation on a heterologous promoter; separation of the two elements by an additional helical turn not only disrupted a DNA-protein complex unique to the two elements, but also abolished expression in vivo. Therefore, we conclude that the interaction between the AP-1 and the E box dyad motifs is responsible for cell-specific TH expression.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-67
Number of pages13
JournalNeuron
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1992

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