The mouse GATA-2 gene is expressed in the para-aortic splanchnopleura and aorta-gonads and mesonephros region

We previously reported that the mouse GATA-2 gene is regulated by two alter native promoters (Minegishi et al, J Biol Chem, 273:3625, 1998). Although t he more proximal IG (general) promoter is active in almost all GATA-2-expre ssing cells, the distal IS (specific) promoter activity was selectively det ected in hematopoietic tissues but not in other mesodermal tissues. We repo rt here in vivo analysis of the GATA-2 locus and its regulatory characteris tics in hematopoietic tissues of transgenic mice. Transgenes containing 6 o r 7 kbp of sequence flanking the 5' end of the IS first exon direct express ion of beta-galactosidase or green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter genes specifically to the para-aortic splanchnopleura, aorta-gonads, and mesonep hros (AGM) region, and in the neural tissues. In situ hybridization analysi s showed that reporter gene expression specifically recapitulates the endog enous expression profile of GATA-2 in these tissues. The flk-1, CD34, c-kit , and CD45 antigens were identified in the GFP-positive cells from the AGM region and fetal liver, indicating that GATA-2 is expressed in immature hem atopoietic cells. Deletion of 3.5 kbp from the 5' end of the 6.0 kbp IS pro moter construct, including one of the DNase I hypersensitive sites, complet ely abolished hematopoietic expression. These experiments describe an early developmental GATA-2 hematopoietic enhancer located between 6.0 and 2.5 kb p 5' to the IS exon. (C) 1999 by The American Society of Hematology.