Expression of the rabbit cytochrome P450 aromatase encoding gene uses alternative tissue-specific promoters

Hélène Bouraïma (1) , Vincent Hanoux (1) , Hervé Mittre (2, 1) , Colette Féral (1) , Annie Benhaïm (1) , Pierre Leymarie

1 OeReCa - Œstrogènes, reproduction, cancer
2 Service de biochimie [CHU Caen]

The aim of the present study was to analyse the tissue-specific expression of various promoter-derived transcripts from the gene encoding rabbit aromatase cytochrome P450. A new promoter, named I.r, was identified, and promoters II and I.r were sequenced. Promoter I.r-derived transcripts were found in preovulatory granulosa cells, corpus luteum, placenta and adipose tissue. An alternative splice variant of this transcript was found with tissue-specific preference. Tissue-specific expression of promoter-derived variants was studied in the ovary before and after ovulation. While the level of promoter II-derived transcript decreased dramatically after ovulation, that of promoter I.r-derived transcript remained unchanged, indicating that promoter II and promoter I.r were not controlled by a single regulation system. The existence of this dual system of regulation suggests that the rabbit ovary could be a useful model to study the promoter-specific regulation of aromatase.

Domaines: Biologie moléculaire; Reproduction sexuée; Interactions cellulaires [q-bio.CB]

Hélène Bouraïma, Vincent Hanoux, Hervé Mittre, Colette Féral, Annie Benhaïm, et al.. Expression of the rabbit cytochrome P450 aromatase encoding gene uses alternative tissue-specific promoters. European Journal of Biochemistry, 2001, 268 (16), pp.4506-4512. ⟨10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.02375.x⟩. ⟨hal-01953213⟩