Comparative analysis of human, bovine, and murine Oct-4 upstream promoter sequences

• Published in: Mammalian genome Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 309 - 317
• Main Authors: Nordhoff, Verena, Hübner, Karin, Bauer, Andrea, Orlova, Irina, Malapetsa, Areti, Schöler, Hans R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer-Verlag 01.04.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Base Sequence; binding sites; Cattle; correlation; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; embryonic stem cells; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; genes; Genetics; germ cells; Humans; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Oct-4 gene; Octamer Transcription Factor-3; promoter regions; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteins; Sequence Homology; somatic cells; Stem Cells; TATA Box; transcription (genetics); transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transfection
• ISSN: 0938-8990; 1432-1777
• DOI: 10.1007/s003350010279

The Oct-4 gene encodes a transcription factor that is specifically expressed in embryonic stem cells and germ cells of the mouse embryo. Cells that differentiate into somatic tissues lose Oct-4 expression. Regulation of Oct-4 gene transcription involves a TATA-less minimal promoter and two upstream elements: the proximal (PE) and distal enhancers (DE). We report here the nucleotide sequence of the 5′ upstream regulatory regions of the human and murine Oct-4 genes. A comparative alignment analysis between these regions and those of the bovine Oct-4 ortholog reveals four conserved regions of homology (CR 1 to 4) between these species (66–94% conservation). The 1A sequence within the mouse PE is located approximately half-way between CR 2 and CR 3. A putative Sp1/Sp3 binding site and the overlapping hormone responsive element (HRE) in CR 1 are identical in all three species. A high number of CCC(A/T)CCC motifs exhibit various levels of homology in these upstream regions. We discuss the importance of these and other sequences and present candidate factors that may bind and regulate Oct-4 gene expression.