Identification of an upstream pituitary-active promoter of human somatostatin receptor subtype 5

Somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (sst5) has been linked to inhibition of PRL and insulin secretion. We characterized the genomic structure of the human sst5. The transcription start site was located 94 nucleotides upstream of the initiator ATG codon. Sequence analysis of 5'-inverse PCR products revealed the presence of a 6.1-kb intron in the 5'-untranslated region. RT-PCR analysis indicated tissue-specific activation of the newly identified upstream promoter in pituitary, but not in small intestine, lung, or placenta. A -1741 promoter directed significant levels of luciferase expression in GH(4) rat pituitary cells, Skut-1B endometrium cells, and JEG3 chorion carcinoma cells, which was absent in COS-7 monkey kidney cells. A minimal -101 promoter was sufficient to allow tissue-specific expression. Its activity in COS-7 cells was not enhanced by cotransfection of the pituitary-specific transcription factor Pit-1. Analysis of deletion constructs revealed a GC-rich region immediately upstream of the transcription start site, which is necessary for promoter activity. Somatostatin led to a significant inhibition, and forskolin and thyroid hormone to a significant stimulation of pituitary-specific promoter activity. Further mapping suggested a cAMP-responsive element located between -101 and the transcription start site, and thyroid hormone-responsive elements between -1741 and -1269 and between -317 and -101. These studies identified an upstream promoter of the sst5 gene with tissue-specific activity.