Transcriptional Regulation of the Human Calcitonin Gene: A Progress Report

Authors

Sara Peleg
Gilbert J. Cote
Ronald V. Abruzzese
Robert F. Gagel

Abstract

We have applied DNA transfer techniques lo study the transcriptional regulation of the calcitonin (CT) gene in a C-cell line (TT) derived from a human medullary thyroid carcinoma. TT cells were transfected with a fusion gene containing the CT gene promoter and 5' -flanking DNA attached to the promoter-less growth hormone gene (reporter). We quantitated the reporter gene product to monitor transcriptional activation by the CT promoter and deletion mutants of the 5' -flanking DNA. We found that the proximal CT promoter which includes the DNA sequence from +1 to -129 bp upstream from the CT transcription start site did not induce transcription in C-cells or in NIH 3T3 cells. The attachment of additional 5'-flanking DNA, extending up to -1460 bp enhanced transcription up to twelvefold in TT cells but had no effect on transcription in 3T3 cells. Deletion of a sequence located at -1290 to -820 bp on the CT 5' -flanking DNA abolished the transcription of the reporter gene. Attachment of the DNA sequence located between -1333 to -731 to the fusion gene, containing the CT promoter (+1 to -129) and the reporter gene, restored transcription of the reporter gene in TT cells. We conclude that an enhancer of CT transcription, which is active in C-cells but not in 3T3 cells, is located between -1290 and -820 of the CT 5'-flanking DNA.

Recommended Citation

Peleg, Sara; Cote, Gilbert J.; Abruzzese, Ronald V.; and Gagel, Robert F. (1989) "Transcriptional Regulation of the Human Calcitonin Gene: A Progress Report," Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal : Vol. 37 : No. 3 , 194-197.
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/hfhmedjournal/vol37/iss3/32