Identification of conserved potential regulatory sequences of the protamine-encoding P1 genes from ten different...

In order to detect regulatory conserved DNA elements within the protamine 1-encoding gene (P1) promoter, we have sequenced this region from the rat, guinea pig, gorilla, orangutan, anubis baboon and red monkey P1 genes and compared it to the homologous human, bull, boar and mouse nucleotide (nt) sequences. We demonstrate the presence of a consensus sequence, HSMCYTCAYAAT (Prot1C: protamine 1 consensus), from nt position -64 to position -53 in all P1 genes whose promoter sequences are now known. We also show that sequences similar to Prot1C are found in the promoter region of other testis-specific genes, such as the transition protein 1-encoding gene promoter which is thought to have derived from the P1 genes. The relevance of this conserved element in the expression of P1 genes is strongly supported by the recent demonstration of a mouse testis trans-acting factor [Tet-1; Tamura et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267 (1992) 4327-4332] which binds and matches in the mouse the first 11 bp of the corresponding consensus Prot1C sequence reported here. Another highly conserved element (TGTGAGG) has been identified 20 +/- 3 nt upstream from Prot1C. This sequence forms a perfect palindrome with the central 7 nt of Prot1C and is absent in the homologous region of other genes. Further upstream, at positions -113 to -132, a third highly conserved region is present (MATGCCCATATWTGGRCAYG) which is similar to the c-fos SRE (serum-response element) and contains the central core common to all SREs. This element has not been found in the homologous region of other sperm-specific genes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)