Identification of the mouse neurochondrin promoter region and the responsible region for cell type specific gene regulation.

Neurochondrin is a cytoplasmic protein possibly involved in neurite outgrowth and chondrocyte differentiation. In the present study, we have identified 202 bp of the mouse neurochondrin minimal promoter sequences encompassing the transcriptional initiation site, and both of the activating and repressing regions in the first exon. These two regulatory regions in the first exon had a cell type dependent effect on the identified minimal promoter. In the regulatory region, the duplication of potential binding sites for GATA family transcriptional factors was observed. Prospective binding sites for sex determining region Y and c-Ets1 were also found in the minimal promoter region. These factors could be potential regulators for the mouse neurochondrin gene.