Ns. Shachter et al., LOCALIZATION OF A LIVER-SPECIFIC ENHANCER IN THE APOLIPOPROTEIN E C-I/C-II GENE LOCUS/, Journal of lipid research, 34(10), 1993, pp. 1699-1707
The sequences necessary for liver-specific expression of the apolipopr
otein (apo) E gene have been shown to reside 3' to the gene, within th
e apoE/C-I/C-II gene cluster, but have not been precisely characterize
d. Utilizing a transient transfection reporter gene assay based on the
apoC-II promoter, we have localized a liver-specific enhancer to its
approximate limit dimension of 154 base pairs. This enhancer directed
liver-specific expression of an apoE gene construction in transgenic m
ice. A DNaseI protection assay revealed two footprints over an inverte
d repeat of a known transcriptionally active motif, TGACCT DNaseI-sens
itive sites were present in three of six repeats of a motif (consensus
GCAAACA) which has been postulated to represent the recognition seque
nce of a hepatic transcriptional activity, HNF-5. This region of DNA m
ay function as a liver-specific enhancer for the entire apoE/C-I/C-II
gene cluster.