Genomic organization of the human ELF3 (ESE-1/ESX) gene, a member of the Ets transcription factor family, and identification of a functional promoter

We recently isolated a novel member of the Ets transcription factor/oncogen e family, ESE-1/ESX/ELF3, with features distinct from any other Ets-related factor. ELF3 is the prototype of a new subclass of Ets factors, contains t wo DNA-binding domains, and, in contrast to any known Ets factor, is expres sed exclusively in epithelial cells. ELF3 expression is induced during diff erentiation of the epidermis, indicating a role in the regulation of termin al differentiation genes in the epidermis. Due to the important role that o ther Ets factors play in cellular differentiation, ELF3 is expected to be a critical regulator of epithelial gene expression. We report here the cloni ng and the structural organization of the human ELF3 gene. The human ELF3 g ene contains nine exons, which span approximately 5.8 kb of genomic DNA. In tron/exon borders and number of exons are almost identical to those in the mouse ELF3 gene. Comparison of the immediate promoter regions of the human and mouse ELF3 genes demonstrates the presence of TATA and CCAAT boxes as w ell as potential binding sites for Ets factors and NF-kappa B. Transfection experiments demonstrate that a 1.5-kb fragment of the 5' upstream region a cts as a strong promoter in two epithelial cell Lines. (C) 1999 Academic Pr ess.