ANALYSIS OF THE PROMOTER OF THE HUMAN PROSTATIC ACID-PHOSPHATASE GENE

From the analysis of two overlapping cosmid clones prepared from human genomic DNA libraries, a contig of 44 kb containing a 5' portion of t he PAP gene and 17 kb of the upstream region was established. It was c haracterized by restriction mapping and sequence analysis of 2.5 kb up stream of the initiation codon. Two major transcription initiation sit es were found to be located around 56 and 91 bp upstream of the initia tion codon, as determined by nuclease S1 and primer extension mapping. Expression of the PAP gene was measured by Northern blots in the andr ogen responsive LNCaP cell line. It was found to be induced 2-3-fold b y the addition of the synthetic androgen mibolerone to the cells. The induced mRNA levels were approx. 10-times lower than those for the pro state-specific antigen (PSA) in LNCaP cells.