IDENTIFICATION OF A FUNCTIONAL CYCLIC ADENOSINE-3',5'-MONOPHOSPHATE RESPONSE ELEMENT IN THE 5'-FLANKING REGION OF THE GENE FOR TRANSITION PROTEIN-1 (TP1), A BASIC CHROMOSOMAL PROTEIN OF MAMMALIAN SPERMATIDS

Transition protein 1 (TP1) is a small basic chromosomal protein that a ppears in mammalian spermatids during the period of chromatin condensa tion. The gene for TP1 from several species contains an apparent cAMP response element (CRE) in the immediate 5'-flanking region. The recent identification of high expression of the novel CRE-activating protein (CREM tau) in advanced testicular germ cells provided a stimulus to a sk whether or not the TP1 CRE is functional. To this end we show both by gel retardation and by footprint assays that TP1 CRE forms specific bound complexes with proteins in whole testis nuclear extracts and th at these complexes involve CREM as evidenced by recognition by a speci fic antibody. In addition, the TP1 CRE forms specific bound complexes with bacterially expressed CREM tau. Finally, the TP1 CRE conveys prot ein kinase A-dependent induction to a linked chloramphenicol acetyl tr ansferase gene when transfected into JEG-3 cells. Accordingly, TP1 is a good candidate for a testis-specific gene subject to CREM tau regula tion.