Identification of a functional CRE in the promoter of Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy gene fukutin.

We isolated a fragment of the fukutin gene promoter from differentiated human NT2 cells using chromatin immunoprecipitation technique with an anti-CREB antibody. This fragment contained a CRE-like sequence and here we describe its functional validation. The results showed that the element was functional in vitro and in vivo and that CREB in neurons was involved in the transcriptional regulation of the fukutin gene.

Transcriptional activation of the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene promoter III by dopamine signaling in NT2/N neurons.

We have identified a functional cAMP-response element (CRE) in the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene promoter III and established that it participated in the modulation of BDNF expression in NT2/N neurons via downstream signaling from the D1 class of dopamine (DA) receptors. The up-regulation of BDNF expression, in turn, produced neuroprotective signals through receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) and promoted cell survival under the conditions of oxygen and glucose deprivation. To our knowledge this is the first evidence showing the presence of a functional CRE in the human BDNF gene and the role of DA signaling in establishing transcriptional competence of CRE in post-mitotic NT2/N neurons.