Temporal and spatial control of the Sycp1 gene transcription in the mouse meiosis: regulatory elements active in the male are not sufficient for expression in the female gonad

Transcription controls active at the initial stages of meiosis are clearly key elements in the regulation of germinal differentiation. Transcription o f the Sycp1 gene (synaptonemal complex protein 1) starts as early as the le ptotene and zygotene stages. Constructs with Sycp1 5' upstream sequences di rected the expression of reporter genes to pachytene spermatocytes in trans genic mice. A short fragment encompassing the transcription start (n.t. -54 to +102) was sufficient for stage-specific expression in the adult male an d for temporal regulation during development. Upstream enhancer element(s) quantitatively regulating expression were localized in the region between - 54 and -260. The gene is normally expressed both in the male and female gon ads, but none of the promoter sequences active in the testis allowed the ex pression of reporter genes during meiosis in the ovary. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.