Isolation, Characterization, and Differential Expression of the Murine Sox-2 Promoter

Authors

Matthew S. Wiebe, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Phillip J. Wilder, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA
David Kelly, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Angie Rizzino, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2000

Citation

Published in Gene 246:1–2 (2000), pp. 383–393.

Comments

Copyright © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. Used by permission.

Abstract

Sox proteins are expressed at many stages of development and in numerous tissues. The transcription factor Sox-2 is first expressed throughout the inner cell mass and subsequently becomes localized to the primitive ectoderm, developing central nervous system, and the lens. Sox-2 is also highly expressed in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells but becomes undetectable following differentiation of these cells. In this study, we have isolated, sequenced, and performed the first characterization of the Sox-2 promoter of any species. Approximately 2 kb of the Sox-2 5′-flanking region has been sequenced and the primary transcription start site mapped by primer extension analysis. Additionally, two positive regulatory regions within the promoter region have been identified. We also show that expression of Sox-2 promoter/reporter gene constructs is reduced in differentiated EC cells as com-pared to their undifferentiated counterparts. Furthermore, we have identified a consensus inverted CCAAT box motif present in the Sox-2 promoter. Mutagenesis of this site significantly reduces the expression of Sox-2 promoter/reporter constructs. We also demonstrate that this CCAAT box motif can bind the trimeric transcription factor NF-Y.