Cell- and sequence-specific binding of nuclear proteins to 5'-flanking DNA of the rat growth hormone gene.

Stimulation of growth hormone gene transcription in several rat pituitary cell lines (e.g. GC and GH1) is mediated by a thyroid hormone nuclear receptor which is a DNA binding protein. We report that these cell lines contain nuclear proteins which selectively interact with sequences found within the first 236 base pairs of 5'-flanking DNA of the rat growth hormone gene. Sequences found between -104 and -49 base pairs, relative to the transcription initiation (cap) site, bind to nuclear protein(s) which appears to be cell type specific and generate a DNase I-resistant footprint on both strands between -95 and -68. A distinct protein component(s) selectively binds to DNA between -236 and -146 but is not cell type specific. These regions correspond to those found in gene transfer studies to be important in mediating basal expression (-104/+7) and thyroid hormone-regulated expression (-236/-146) of the gene.