Positive and negative effects of nuclear receptors on transcription activation by AP-1 of the human choline acetyltransferase proximal promoter.

We have examined the 5'-flanking region (944 bp) of the human choline acetyltransferase (hChAT) gene for sequences that modulate its transcriptional activity and identified a sequence 5'-TGACCCA-3' which confers c-Jun/c-Fos (AP-1) inducibility of homologous and heterologous promoters. Using transient transfections in neuroblastoma NE-1-115 and COS-1 cells, we show that ligand-activated estrogen receptor (HEGo) represses the transcriptional activation by c-Fos/c-Jun. Testing HEGo mutants in transfection assays reveals that the ligand-binding domain is crucial for this repression, whereas the N-terminal (A/B) region and the DNA-binding domain are not essential.

Identification and analysis of the human choline acetyltransferase gene promoter.

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is the key enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and is reduced in various central neurodegenerative diseases. From a previously selected 12.6 kb human choline acetyltransferase (hChAT) genomic clone, we have identified and characterized a promoter region of 895 bp.