The alpha-fetoprotein promoter is the target of Afr1-mediated postnatal repression

David K. Peyton, Mei Chuan Huang, Meredith A. Giglia, Nedda K. Hughes, Brett T. Spear

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

The α-fetoprotein (AFP) gene is transcribed at high levels in the fetal liver and is repressed at birth, leading to low but detectable levels of AFP mRNA in the adult liver. This repression is regulated, in part, by a locus that is unlinked to AFP called Alpha-fetoprotein regulator 1 (Afr1). Previous studies showed that Afr1 regulation is independent of the AFP enhancers but requires the 1-kb AFP promoter/repressor region. Here, we demonstrate that a transgene with the 250-bp AFP promoter region linked to AFP enhancer element EII is expressed in the fetal liver and is postnatally repressed. In addition, this transgene is regulated by Afr1. These data indicate that the promoter is involved in postnatal AFP repression. Furthermore, we provide a high-resolution map of the Afr1 locus on mouse chromosome 15. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-180
Number of pages8
JournalGenomics
Volume63
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2000

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Marisa Bartolemei for generously providing the H19 probe, Michelle Glenn, Leila Ghabrial, and Carrie Blaydes for technical assistance, and Martha Peterson for critically reading the manuscript. This research is supported by Public Health Service Grants GM45253 and DK51600.

Funding

We thank Marisa Bartolemei for generously providing the H19 probe, Michelle Glenn, Leila Ghabrial, and Carrie Blaydes for technical assistance, and Martha Peterson for critically reading the manuscript. This research is supported by Public Health Service Grants GM45253 and DK51600.

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesR01DK051600
U.S. Public Health ServiceGM45253

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Genetics

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