MOUSE LACTOFERRIN GENE - A MARKER FOR ESTROGEN AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR

Lactoferrin mRNA in the 21-day-old mouse uterus can be increased sever al hundredfold by estrogen. The physiological role of lactoferrin in m ouse uterus is unclear; however, it can be a useful marker for the est rogen action in the uterus. The structural organization and the chromo some location of the lactoferrin gene are similar to members of the tr ansferrin gene family. At the 5' flanking region of the lactoferrin ge ne, we have characterized two modules that respond to estrogen and gro wth factor stimulation. Each module is composed of either overlapping or multiple transcription factor-binding elements. The well-characteri zed estrogen and growth factor response modules in the mouse lactoferr in gene could serve as the foundation to understand the intricate mole cular mechanisms of estrogen action and its relationship to growth fac tors.