ANDROGEN REGULATION OF THE RAT KERATINOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR (KGF FGF7) PROMOTER/

Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF/FGF7) is a candidate andromedin in nor mal embryonic development of male accessory sex glands, such as the pr ostate and seminal vesicles. The expression of KGF mRNA and protein is androgen-responsive. To elucidate the regulation of expression of the KGF gene, we isolated the first two exons of the KGF gene and approxi mately 15 kb upstream sequences. The major transcription start site wa s mapped. It is preceded by a CAAT-box and a TATA-box. Transient trans fections in LNCaP cells revealed that, upon treatment with the synthet ic androgen R1881, KGF promoter activity is upregulated 6 to 11 fold, indicating androgen regulation of the KGF promoter in the region from position -1900 to -1200. The longest construct (BH-pLuc: -4700 to +901 ) has a much higher basal activity than the shorter constructs, indica ting that in the region -4700 to -2700 additional activating sequences are present. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.