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Expression
of Testis Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Is Mediated by a Cyclic AMP Responsive
Element |
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Charles R.
Esther, Jr., Daniel Semeniuk, Elaine M. Marino, Yudong Zhou, Paul A. Overbeek,
and Kenneth E. Bernstein |
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Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (CRE, DS, EMM, YZ, KEB), Emory University,
Atlanta, Georgia; and Department of Cell Biology (PAO), Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, Texas |
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Testis angiotensin-converting
enzyme (testis ACE), an ACE isozyme that plays an important role in male
fertility, is transcribed from a unique promoter active only in developing
spermatids. In vitro analysis suggests the importance of a cyclic AMP response
element (CRE)-like region within the testis ACE promoter, and similar DNA
motifs are important in the expression of a variety of testis-specific genes.
In the present study, we examined the effects of mutations in the CRE-like
element on testis ACE promoter activity in vivo using transgenic mice. Disruption
of this element reduced reporter gene expression to near background levels.
In contrast, conversion of the CRE-like element to a consensus CRE-binding
site resulted in high level expression of the reporter gene specifically
in the testis. These experiments prove that the CRE-like element is essential
for testis ACE promoter activity, although it does not appear to be responsible
for its tissue specificity. These data provide insight into how a phenotypically
differentiated tissue, ie, male gem cells, regulate tissue-specific gene
expression. |
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