Tissue Specific and Hormonal Regulation of Gene Expression
Abstract
Corticotropin Releasing Hormone, CRH, is a 41 amino acid peptide expressed primarily in the parvocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. CRH regulates the synthesis and secretion of glucocorticoids which are the end product of the hypothalamic- adrenal (HPA) is. The CRH gene and peptide are conserved across numerous animal species indicating the portance of CRH in regulating the HPA axis. In addition to expression in the hypothalamus CRH is expressed in various peripheral tissues including the placenta but expression in this tissue is uniquely species-specific. Only humans and high primates express the gene in their placentas, indicating that unique mechanisms, distinct from those controlling expression in the hypothalamus, have evolved to control expression in placenta. The goal of my studies has been to elucidate these mechanisms, using choriocarcinoma cell lines as a model for placental trophoblasts. The results from my studies indicate that differences in cellular trans-acting factors rather than in cis-acting sequences dictate the species-specific placental expression of CRH. Three species-specific candidate nuclear factors have been identified which may contribute to the placental expression of CRH. These factors include a 58- kDA human specific activator capable of binding to a cAMP responsive region located at -200 to -99 bp in CRH.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADB249636
Entities
People
- Caroline D. Scatena
Organizations
- Washington University in St. Louis