DNA-SEQUENCES ESSENTIAL FOR TRANSCRIPTION OF HUMAN PHOSPHOLIPID TRANSFER PROTEIN GENE IN HEPG2 CELLS

The present study was conducted to determine the essential DNA sequenc es required for the transcription of the human phospholipid transfer p rotein gene. Truncation studies revealed that DNA sequences between -2 30 and -159, particularly those at the upstream region, were responsib le for the full promoter activity, This region was able to compete wit h AP-2 and GRE oligonucleotides for the binding to HepG2 cell nuclear extract as shown by gel mobility shift assay. Further analysis, using site-directed mutagenesis, indicated that DNA sequences identical to S pl and highly homologous to GRE and Ap-2 consensus sequences were esse ntial for the transcription. These findings support the concept. that several elements, spread over the entire functional promoter, synergis tically drive the basal transcription. (C) 1997 Academic Press.