| First Author | Zhang DE | Year | 1992 |
| Journal | J Biol Chem | Volume | 267 |
| Issue | 15 | Pages | 10676-82 |
| PubMed ID | 1375227 | Mgi Jnum | J:891 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:49423 | Doi | 10.1016/s0021-9258(19)50071-0 |
| Citation | Zhang DE, et al. (1992) Functional analysis of the mouse alpha-fetoprotein enhancers and their subfragments in primary mouse hepatocyte cultures. J Biol Chem 267(15):10676-82 |
| abstractText | We have compared the activities of mouse alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancers I, II, and III with their minimal enhancer fragments (Mers) I, II, and III and with the entire 7-kilobase pair enhancer domain by transient expression assay in primary fetal mouse liver cells. The level of expression directed by the AFP promoter [p(-1009)AFPcat] alone is stimulated at least 10-fold by the entire AFP enhancer domain (-1009 to -6983). Enhancer I can drive the level of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity equivalent to that of the entire enhancer domain, whereas the increase in activity by enhancers II and III is significantly lower (1.5-fold). MersI, II, and III all mediate a greater increase in activity than their corresponding enhancer regions. The increase with MerI is 16-fold. Using DNase I protection analyses we identified 3 protein-binding regions in MerI; site Ia binds liver and brain nuclear proteins; site Ib binds liver, kidney, and brain nuclear proteins as well as purified C/EBP; site Ic binds liver and kidney nuclear proteins. Site-specific mutation of Ia, Ib, or Ic showed a 10-25% reduction in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression; deletion of the C/EBP-binding site in Ib showed a 45% reduction in activity and mutation of all 3 sites (Ia, Ib, and Ic) resulted in a 75% reduction in activity. Our studies indicate no single trans-acting factor is absolutely essential for enhancer activity, and that the enhancer activity of MerI is mediated via a combinatorial and additive mechanism. |
