Synergistic effects of nuclear factors - GATA, VBP and ER in potentiating vitellogenin gene transcription

Abstract

The Oreochromis aureus vitellogenin (OaVtg) gene contains three imperfect oestrogen response elements (EREs) and GATA and VBP (vitellogenin binding protein) binding sites. An analysis of the promoter indicates that the 5'-flanking region up to position -625 is sufficient to mediate E2 control. Furthermore, transfection of deletion and mutagenised promoters indicates that both GATA and VBP synergise with ER, and thus contribute to the regulation of the endogenous OaVtg gene. These findings support the notion that the interplay of promoter elements mediates proper hormone-dependent and tissue-specific expression of the OaVtg gene, regardless of non-consensus sequence context of EREs and VBP. Copyright (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.