Expression of testis angiotensin-converting enzyme is mediated by a cyclic AMP responsive element
Esther, C.R.; Semeniuk, D.; Marino, E.M.; Zhou, Y.; Overbeek, P.A.; Bernstein, K.E.
Laboratory Investigation; A Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology 77(5): 483-488
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6837 PMID: 9389791 Document Number: 476163
Testis angiotensin-converting enzyme (testis ACE), an ACE isozyme that plays an important role in male fertility, is transcribed from a unique promoter active only in developing spermatids. In vitro analysis suggests the importance of a cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-like region within the testis ACE promoter, and similar DNA motifs are important in the expression of a variety of testis-specific genes. In the present study, we examined the effects of mutations in the CRE-like element on testis ACE promoter activity in vivo using transgenic mice. Disruption of this element reduced reporter gene expression to near background levels. In contrast, conversion of the CRE-like element to a consensus CRE-binding site resulted in high level expression of the reporter gene specifically in the testis. These experiments prove that the CRE-like element is essential for testis ACE promoter activity, although it does not appear to be responsible for its tissue specificity. These data provide insight into how a phenotypically differentiated tissue, ie, male gem cells, regulate tissue-specific gene expression.