Cloning of the human claudin-2 5'-flanking region revealed a TATA-less promoter with conserved binding sites in mouse and human for caudal-related homeodomain proteins and hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha

J Biol Chem. 2002 Jun 14;277(24):21361-70. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110261200. Epub 2002 Apr 4.

Abstract

Claudin-2 is a structural component of tight junctions in the kidneys, liver, and intestine, but the mechanisms regulating its expression have not been defined. The 5'-flanking region of the claudin-2 gene contains binding sites for intestine-specific Cdx homeodomain proteins and hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1, which are conserved in human and mouse. Both Cdx1 and Cdx2 activated the claudin-2 promoter in the human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2. HNF-1alpha augmented the Cdx2-induced but not Cdx1-induced transcriptional activation of the human claudin-2 promoter. In mice, HNF-1alpha was required for claudin-2 expression in the villus epithelium of the ileum and within the liver but not in the kidneys, indicating an organ-specific function of HNF-1alpha in the regulation of claudin-2 gene expression. Tight junction structural components, which determine epithelial polarization and intestinal barrier function, can be regulated by homeodomain proteins that control the differentiation of the intestinal epithelium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Western
  • CDX2 Transcription Factor
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Claudins
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ileum / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Transfection

Substances

  • CDX1 protein, human
  • CDX2 Transcription Factor
  • CDX2 protein, human
  • CLDN2 protein, human
  • Cdx1 protein, mouse
  • Claudins
  • Cldn2 protein, mouse
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • HNF1A protein, human
  • HNF1B protein, human
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Hnf1a protein, mouse
  • Hnf1b protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta
  • RNA
  • Luciferases