G. Cangiano et al., FUNCTIONAL-ORGANIZATION OF THE PROMOTER REGION OF THE MOUSE F3 AXONALGLYCOPROTEIN GENE, Molecular brain research, 48(2), 1997, pp. 279-290
F3 is a developmentally regulated adhesive glycoprotein expressed by s
ubpopulations of central and peripheral neurons which mediates neurite
growth and fasciculation via cis- and trans-interactions with cell-su
rface or matrix components. We previously reported on the characteriza
tion of the F3 gene 5' flanking region in which we identified promoter
and enhancer elements. Here, we report on the functional organization
of the F3 gene regulatory regions. We show that the F3 promoter is bu
ilt of linearly arranged positive and negative elements scattered thro
ugh the 5' flanking region of the F3 gene and the 1st exon (exon 0). N
eural-and cell type-specific expression of F3 appears to be governed b
y elements located in the most proximal promoter region which includes
a neural-specific enhancer. In retardation assays, all these cis-acti
ng elements bind nuclear proteins, three of which interact with the id
entified enhancer element while a single species interacts with sequen
ces located within exon 0. Some of these proteins are also specificall
y expressed within the brain, indicating that they could correspond to
neural-specific trans-acting factors. Elements located immediately up
stream of the cell type-specific enhancer and within exon 0 are respon
sible for regulation of F3 expression by cAMP and retinoic acid.