Role of a distal promoter element in the S‐phase control of the human H1.2 histone gene transcription

Abstract

The expression of one of the human main type H1 histone genes (termed H1.2) appears to be regulated by several trans‐acting factors. Upstream of consensus regulatory regions, such as the TATA‐, CCAAT‐ and H1‐box (AAACACA) sequences, a crucial control site is located between nucleotide positions −536 and −412 (relative to the ATG initiation site). Removal of this promoter portion causes in chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter gene constructs a loss of the S‐phase control function of the H1.2 promoter in HeLa cells. Electrophoretic mobility‐shift assay and DNase I footprinting analysis suggest that the H1‐box variant AAACAGA is a potential control element within the distal promoter region. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved