In the mouse and human, mRNA transcripts encoding the lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase p56lck are derived from two separate promoters resulting in heterogeneity in the 5' untranslated region sequence. The proximal promoter lies just 5' to the coding region for the gene and is active only in thymocytes. In contrast, the distal promoter lies 34 kilobases (kb) 5' in the human, and is active both in thymocytes and mature peripheral T cells. As previously reported, transgenic mice bearing functional proximal promoter sequence juxtaposed with the SV40 large T antigen gene invariably develop lymphoid tumors confined to the thymus. In the current work, transgenic mice bearing a 2.6-kb fragment of the human distal promoter fused to the SV40 large T antigen gene express large T antigen in thymocytes and in peripheral lymphoid cells, and develop tumors of both the thymus and the peripheral lymphoid organs. The ability of the human distal promoter to function appropriately in transgenic mice is consistent with the strong similarity observed between the mouse and human distal promoter sequences. With the exception of a single short interval that serves as a target for binding of nuclear factors, significant sequence similarity is not seen when the distal and proximal promoter sequences are compared. Hence, developmentally regulated, lineage-specific transcription of the lck gene is mediated by distinct promoter sequences that appear to be capable of functioning independently.
Article|
February 01 1991
Developmental regulation of lck gene expression in T lymphocytes.
R S Wildin,
R S Wildin
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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A M Garvin,
A M Garvin
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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S Pawar,
S Pawar
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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D B Lewis,
D B Lewis
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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K M Abraham,
K M Abraham
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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K A Forbush,
K A Forbush
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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S F Ziegler,
S F Ziegler
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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J M Allen,
J M Allen
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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R M Perlmutter
R M Perlmutter
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
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R S Wildin
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
A M Garvin
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
S Pawar
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
D B Lewis
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
K M Abraham
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
K A Forbush
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
S F Ziegler
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
J M Allen
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
R M Perlmutter
Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1991) 173 (2): 383–393.
Citation
R S Wildin, A M Garvin, S Pawar, D B Lewis, K M Abraham, K A Forbush, S F Ziegler, J M Allen, R M Perlmutter; Developmental regulation of lck gene expression in T lymphocytes.. J Exp Med 1 February 1991; 173 (2): 383–393. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.173.2.383
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