S between 2365 and 2240 of hP2, 25-bp internal deletions of the 2365/2240 hP2 promoter were made. Five mutants harboring 25 bp internal deletions across the 2365 to 2240 regions (2365/ 2340, 2340/2315, 2315/2290, 2290/2265 and 2265/2240 hP2) were generated and transfected into both INS-1 832/13 and HEK293T cells. A schematic diagram of the 25 bp deletions of the 2365/2240 hP2 promoter region is shown in Figure 5A. As shown in Figure 5B, transient transfection of 2340/2315 hP2 mutant construct markedly reduced the reporter gene activity to 50 of the 2365 hP2 promoter in INS-1 832/13 cells, while no reduction 1531364 of reporter gene activity was observed in HEK293T cells. In contrast, deletion of other regions did not NT-157 custom synthesis affect the promoter activity when compared to the wild type 2365 hP2 promoter in either cell line. These data suggest the presence of a tissue specific cis-acting element(s) located between 2340 and 2315 in the hP2 promoter. To identify which transcription factors might bind to this element we performed gel shifts experiments in which double stranded oligonucleotides harboring 2340/2315 were incubated with a nuclear extract of INS-1 832/13 cells. As shown in Figure 5C, a strong DNA-protein complex was observed. Examination of nucleotide sequences between 2340 and 2315 identifies an E-box, a binding site for USF [32], located between ?341 and 2336 and a GC-box and a binding site for Sp1/Sp3, located between ?26 and 2320, respectively. Incubation of an anti-Sp1 antibody in the binding reaction produced a weak supershift band, while incubation in the presence of anti-Sp3, antiUSF1 or anti-USF2 antibodies had no effect on the DNA-protein complex formation, indicating that these three factors may not SPDP Crosslinker attribute to the binding to this sequence. To confirm the gel shift experiment, we performed a transactivation assay in which the wild type (2365 hP2) construct was co-transfected with plasmid overexpressing Sp1, Sp3, USF1 or USF2, and the luciferase activities were measured. As shown in Figure 6, co-transfection of Sp1 or Sp3 resulted in only 1.5-fold or 2-fold increase in the reporter gene activity, consistent with a poor or lack of evidence of their binding to the 2340/2315 sequence shown in Figure 5C. Mutation of this sequence also had no effect on the expression ofthe reporter gene. The poor remaining Sp1 and Sp3-mediated transcriptional activation of the human PC promoter may be attributed to the GC box located at 254/239 (Figure 4A). Despite the lack of evidence of binding of USF1 or USF2 to the Ebox located between 2340/2315, overexpression of USF1 or USF2 resulted in approximately 5-fold or 10-fold increase in the promoter activity. However, deletion of the sequences located between 2340 and 2315 did not significantly affect USF1- or USF2- mediated transcriptional activation of the human PC promoter, suggesting that the transactivation by these two factors may be mediated through the downstream E-boxes. In summary we have shown that: (i) the human PC gene possesses only two promoters, P1 and P2, which mediate transcription of the human PC gene similar to the rat and mouse genes; (ii) the P1 and P2 promoters are active in hepatocytes while only the P2 promoter is active in pancreatic b-cells; (iii) both CCAAT box and GC-boxes serve as activator sequences in b-cells; (iv) a cis-acting element located between 2340/2315 serves as binding site for b-cell specific transcription factor.Materials and Methods Reverse Transcriptase-polymera.S between 2365 and 2240 of hP2, 25-bp internal deletions of the 2365/2240 hP2 promoter were made. Five mutants harboring 25 bp internal deletions across the 2365 to 2240 regions (2365/ 2340, 2340/2315, 2315/2290, 2290/2265 and 2265/2240 hP2) were generated and transfected into both INS-1 832/13 and HEK293T cells. A schematic diagram of the 25 bp deletions of the 2365/2240 hP2 promoter region is shown in Figure 5A. As shown in Figure 5B, transient transfection of 2340/2315 hP2 mutant construct markedly reduced the reporter gene activity to 50 of the 2365 hP2 promoter in INS-1 832/13 cells, while no reduction 1531364 of reporter gene activity was observed in HEK293T cells. In contrast, deletion of other regions did not affect the promoter activity when compared to the wild type 2365 hP2 promoter in either cell line. These data suggest the presence of a tissue specific cis-acting element(s) located between 2340 and 2315 in the hP2 promoter. To identify which transcription factors might bind to this element we performed gel shifts experiments in which double stranded oligonucleotides harboring 2340/2315 were incubated with a nuclear extract of INS-1 832/13 cells. As shown in Figure 5C, a strong DNA-protein complex was observed. Examination of nucleotide sequences between 2340 and 2315 identifies an E-box, a binding site for USF [32], located between ?341 and 2336 and a GC-box and a binding site for Sp1/Sp3, located between ?26 and 2320, respectively. Incubation of an anti-Sp1 antibody in the binding reaction produced a weak supershift band, while incubation in the presence of anti-Sp3, antiUSF1 or anti-USF2 antibodies had no effect on the DNA-protein complex formation, indicating that these three factors may not attribute to the binding to this sequence. To confirm the gel shift experiment, we performed a transactivation assay in which the wild type (2365 hP2) construct was co-transfected with plasmid overexpressing Sp1, Sp3, USF1 or USF2, and the luciferase activities were measured. As shown in Figure 6, co-transfection of Sp1 or Sp3 resulted in only 1.5-fold or 2-fold increase in the reporter gene activity, consistent with a poor or lack of evidence of their binding to the 2340/2315 sequence shown in Figure 5C. Mutation of this sequence also had no effect on the expression ofthe reporter gene. The poor remaining Sp1 and Sp3-mediated transcriptional activation of the human PC promoter may be attributed to the GC box located at 254/239 (Figure 4A). Despite the lack of evidence of binding of USF1 or USF2 to the Ebox located between 2340/2315, overexpression of USF1 or USF2 resulted in approximately 5-fold or 10-fold increase in the promoter activity. However, deletion of the sequences located between 2340 and 2315 did not significantly affect USF1- or USF2- mediated transcriptional activation of the human PC promoter, suggesting that the transactivation by these two factors may be mediated through the downstream E-boxes. In summary we have shown that: (i) the human PC gene possesses only two promoters, P1 and P2, which mediate transcription of the human PC gene similar to the rat and mouse genes; (ii) the P1 and P2 promoters are active in hepatocytes while only the P2 promoter is active in pancreatic b-cells; (iii) both CCAAT box and GC-boxes serve as activator sequences in b-cells; (iv) a cis-acting element located between 2340/2315 serves as binding site for b-cell specific transcription factor.Materials and Methods Reverse Transcriptase-polymera.