Demonstration of a testis-specific trans-acting factor Tet-1 in vitro that binds to the promoter of the mouse protamine 1 gene.

We have established testis-specific in vitro transcription of the mouse protamine 1 (MP1) gene using rat testis nuclear extracts. Addition of testis nuclear extracts to brain extracts enhanced transcription from the MP1 upstream sequence-carrying adenovirus major late promoter. Moreover, the MP1 upstream region from positions -92 to -41 alone exhibited transcriptional activation in a tissue-specific manner. DNase I footprinting demonstrated the presence of a DNA-binding factor around position -60 (Tet-1) in testis nuclear extracts, but not in other tissues. Gel shift analysis also revealed the presence of testis-specific Tet-1. Since mutational analysis in transcriptional and binding assays demonstrates that the Tet-1 site is responsible for transcriptional activation, we suggest that Tet-1 is a novel tissue-specific trans-acting factor. The Tet-1-recognizing sequence was delineated to the 11-mer TGACTTCATAA at position -64. Although the first 8-mer in the Tet-1 11-mer shares homology with the cyclic AMP-responsive element, Tet-1 is demonstrated to be distinct from known cAMP-responsive element-binding factors.