[Regulation of human oct-1 gene transcription involves two promotors]

Transcription initiation of human Oct-1 transcription factor-encoding gene involves two promoters, 1U and 1L, located at a substantial distance (about 100 kb) apart. The structure of these promoters and the adjacent sequences is different. Specifically, the 1U sequence is GC-rich, while the 1L sequence is AT-rich. Correspondingly, more than 25 GC-rich Sp1 cis-elements were localized within the 1U region, while in the 1L sequence nearly equal amount of homeo-specific NTAATNN sites along with two ATGCAAAT octamers were found. Analysis of transfection of recombinant plasmids, carrying the promoter fragments with or without enhancer indicated that expression from the 1L promoter was tissue-specific. In nonlymphoid HEK293 cells efficiency of transcription from the 1U promoter was several times higher than that from the 1L promoter. Another expression pattern was observed at transfection of the same constructs into Raji lymphoid cells. In this case the level of transcription from the L promoter (fragment L2) at the presence of external enhancer was higher than that from the fragments containing the 1U promoter. It was shown that the distal regions of 1U and 1L were capable of silencing activity. In Raji cells enhancer completely overcomes the activity of U silencer, but only partly overcomes the activity of L silencer. Our data on the interaction of two promoters with the enhancer and silencer in different cell types point to fine tissue-specific regulation of the oct-1 gene expression, especially in lymphatic cells.