Specific expression and promoter analysis of the albumin gene promoter of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)

Abstract

1. Albumin (ALB) is a serum protein most highly expressed in liver and regarded as an effective indicator for liver pathologies. The objectives of this study were to determine the expression of duck ALB gene (duALB) in various non-hepatic tissues and identify the potential cis-regulatory elements in the promoter. 2. A model was established to assess duALB promoter activity in different cell lines by construction of a duALB promoter-driven GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein)-expressing vector, which exhibited high expression activity in liver-derived cells and lower expression in other cells. Through the firefly luciferase reporter gene driven by a series of constructs carrying progressive deletions, the core transcriptional regulatory region within the duALB promoter was identified. Mutations in candidate-binding sites were made by site-directed mutagenesis. 3. The core transcriptional regulatory region was located in the -190/-51 bp region. This region contains three potential transcription factor-binding sites, one each for hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF-3β) (-158/-149), CCAAT/Enhancer-binding protein element (C/EBPα) (-119/-107) and nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1) (-67/-57). Site-directed mutagenesis of HNF-1 and C/EBPα-binding sites resulted in a significant reduction in duALB promoter activity. Two potential cis-regulatory elements (C/EBPα and HNF-1) were responsible for its transcriptional activity in liver-derived cells. 4. These findings contribute to the further understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of ALB gene regulation and the use of tissue-specific gene promoters to regulate tissue-specific expression of exogenous genes in vivo.

A joint analysis strategy reveals genetic changes associated with artificial selection between egg‐type and meat‐type ducks

“…ALB is a serum protein most highly expressed in the liver and regarded as an effective indicator of liver pathologies (Chen et al . 2017). TRAF3 is involved in the immune response against viruses and is positively correlated with disease resistance in poultry (Zhou et al .…”

“…SALL1 is expressed in many tissues of the early embryo and is involved in digestive tract development and embryo morphogenesis (Izumi et al 2007). ALB is a serum protein most highly expressed in the liver and regarded as an effective indicator of liver pathologies (Chen et al 2017). TRAF3 is involved in the immune response against viruses and is positively correlated with disease resistance in poultry (Zhou et al 2019).…”