Cutting Edge: Identification of an Alternative GATA-3 Promoter Directing Tissue-Specific Gene Expression in Mouse and Human

Abstract

The GATA family of transcription factors regulates development of multiple tissues. Several GATA factors have two promoters directing distinct tissue-specific expression. Although GATA-3 acts in both neuronal and thymocyte development, no alternative promoter usage has been reported. We examined various cell types and tissues for potential alternative GATA-3 transcripts and identified an alternative transcript directed by a promoter located 10 kb upstream of the recognized promoter. Sequences within this promoter and alternative first exon are highly conserved between mouse and human genomes. This new promoter is expressed selectively in the brain but is essentially undetectable in the thymus. In contrast, the recognized promoter is selectively expressed in the thymus but not in the brain. We also observed a gradual increase in expression from this new promoter during Th2 development. These results indicate that similar to other GATA factors, the GATA-3 gene can be controlled by two promoters that may direct lineage- and tissue-specific expression.

Essential Role of GATA3 for the Maintenance of Type 2 Helper T (Th2) Cytokine Production and Chromatin Remodeling at the Th2 Cytokine Gene Loci

“…Two distinct promoters control the expression of GATA3 (47). A newly identified promoter is suggested to be responsible for GATA3-dependent GATA3 transcription (GATA3 autoactivation).…”

Interleukin (IL)-4-independent Maintenance of Histone Modification of the IL-4 Gene Loci in Memory Th2 Cells

“…Murphy and co-workers (57) reported that the expression of GATA3 is controlled by autoactivation. Two distinct promoters (GATA3a and GATA3b) control the expression of GATA3 (49). A newly identified promoter GATA3a is suggested to be responsible for GATA3-dependent GATA3 transcription (GATA3 autoactivation).…”

“…5A). Two distinct promoters, GATA3a and original promoter GATA3b have been reported (49), and so we assessed the levels of mRNA of both sites in memory Th2 cells. GATA3a transcripts were detected only in the memory Th2 cells, although the levels were quite low when compared with GATA3b.…”

Efficient differentiation of hESCs into endothelial cells in vitro is secured by epigenetic changes

“…There are 2 promoters in the GATA-3 regulatory region, but expression from the distal alternative promoter was detected only in brain 25 thus for our studies the proximal promoter was chosen. CpGs located in the region from 228 up to -115 bp were heavily methylated in undifferentiated cells (up to 90%) but in expressed CD31 molecule and by the end of differentiation procedure (12 th day) all cells participating in tube formation expressed CD105 antigen ( Fig.…”