Characterisation of potential regulatory elements within the rat preprotachykinin-A promoter

The rat preprotachykinin-A (rPPT-A) gene encodes the precursor of several tachykinin neuropeptides including substance P. Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of multiple DNA sequences important for directing expression of the rPPT-A gene in dorsal root ganglion neurons within a region of the promoter spanning nucleotides -865 and -47. In order to identify potential cis acting elements, we have carried out DNase 1 footprinting analysis using a series of constructs containing fragments from this region of the promoter. This study has defined three potential AP-1 complex interactions, two E box binding protein interactions and two dG rich elements, which are potentially bound by complexes related to AP-2 or Sp1 in this region of the promoter.