Transcriptional Regulation of the Mouse Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Gene

Abstract The promoter region of the mouse angiotensin II type 2 receptor gene was cloned, and the nucleotide sequences were determined. A computer homology search for a 1.5-kb promoter region showed that there are several consensus cis DNA elements such as C/EBP , NF-IL6 , and AP-1 in this region. Primer extension experiments showed that there are two transcription initiation sites 16 bp apart in the mouse type 2 receptor gene. Deletion mutants of this 1.5-kb segment were prepared and fused to a luciferase reporter gene. These type 2 receptor promoter–luciferase constructs were introduced into PC12W cells, which are from a pheochromocytoma cell line expressing the type 2 receptor, and luciferase activity was measured. It showed that a DNA segment between nucleotides −1497 and −874 suppresses the promoter activity of the type 2 receptor gene and that a DNA segment between nucleotides −47 and +56 is important for the basal promoter activity of the type 2 receptor gene. This proximal segment showed very weak promoter activity when introduced into vascular smooth muscle cells. Gel mobility shift assay with nuclear extracts from PC12W cells showed the presence of three DNA binding proteins that bound to a DNA probe between nucleotides −47 and +8. One DNA binding protein was only very weakly expressed in nuclear extracts from vascular smooth muscle cells, which do not express the type 2 receptor. Two other DNA binding proteins were not observed in nuclear extracts from vascular smooth muscle cells. These data suggest that this DNA segment between nucleotides −47 and +56 is important not only for basal transcription but for differential expression of the type 2 receptor gene in PC12W cells and vascular smooth muscle cells.