Characterization of gene organization and promoter region of the rat dopamine D1 receptor gene.

Genomic and cDNA clones encoding the rat D1 receptor were isolated and sequenced. Comparison of the D1 receptor cDNA and genomic sequences revealed that the rat D1 receptor gene is organized into two exons separated by a small intron in the 5' untranslated region of its mRNA. The transcription start site is located 864 bp upstream from the translational initiation site. The 5'-flanking sequences of the D1 receptor gene do not contain TATA and CAAT canonical sequences, but have a high G+C content, potential cyclic AMP and glucocorticoid response element sequences, and binding sites for transcription factors such as Sp1, Ap1, and Ap2. Transfection studies using the D1 5'-flanking sequence and CAT gene fusion constructs have demonstrated that (1) the D1 promoter is active in D1-expressing neuroblastoma NS20Y cells, but inactive in D1-deficient glioma C6 and kidney 293 cells, (2) the information contained within 735 bp of 5'-flanking sequence of the D1 gene appears to be sufficient to confer its cell-specific expression, and (3) the D1 gene promoter responds to cyclic AMP induction, suggesting the existence of an auto-regulation mechanism by which the stimulation of D1 receptor exerts a positive feedback on its own gene expression.