Identification of a thyroid hormone response element in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) gene. Evidence for synergistic interaction between thyroid hormone and cAMP cis-regulatory elements.

Transcription of the gene for the cytosolic form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) (PEPCK) in the liver is regulated by many hormones including thyroid hormone (T3). In order to identify the elements in the promoter which are required for transcriptional induction by T3, we cotransfected a T3 receptor expression vector with a PEPCK-CAT reporter gene into HepG2 cells. Using vectors with deletions in the PEPCK promoter, we identified a single T3 response element (TRE) between positions -332 and -308. This element binds [125I]T3-labeled T3 receptor contained in nuclear extracts prepared from rat liver. Furthermore, the P3(I) element (-250 to -234), a previously described cis-sequence involved in mediating the induction of PEPCK gene transcription by cAMP, is also required for the T3 responsiveness of the promoter. In the absence of either the TRE or the P3(I) binding sites, no stimulation of transcription from the PEPCK promoter by T3 was observed, indicating that both elements are required for the T3 transcriptional regulation. Finally, a synergistic induction of PEPCK gene transcription by T3 and cAMP is described. This interaction requires both T3- and cAMP-responsive cis-acting elements.