SCAFFOLD-ATTACHED REGIONS (SAR ELEMENTS) MEDIATE TRANSCRIPTIONAL EFFECTS DUE TO BUTYRATE

The expression of certain genes has been reported to respond positivel y to sodium butyrate. This study demonstrates the same feature for two marker genes under the control of five different promoters. In all ex amples, the stimulatory effect is largest if one or especially two sca ffold/matrix-attached regions (SAR/MAR elements) are present adjacent to the gene, and in one case, the stimulation depends entirely upon th is situation. These results are observed with several SAR sequences in cluding those obtained by oligomerizing short stretches of DNA surroun ding a core motif. It is suggested that butyrate exerts important acti ons at the level of the chromatin structure.