The Samd9L gene: transcriptional regulation and tissue-specific expression in mouse development

J Invest Dermatol. 2011 Jul;131(7):1428-34. doi: 10.1038/jid.2011.61. Epub 2011 Mar 17.

Abstract

Normophosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (NFTC) is caused by mutations in the SAMD9 gene. This gene is absent in mouse, while there is a murine paralog, Samd9-like (Samd9L). To clarify the relationships between SAMD9 and SAMD9L, we investigated the transcriptional regulation and expression pattern of mouse Samd9L. An ∼1.5-kb mouse Samd9L promoter fragment was cloned, and a series of 5' deletion constructs were linked to a luciferase reporter gene. All constructs showed significant activity in transfected epithelial cells and mouse fibroblasts, and the presence of regulatory cis-elements as close as 87 bp upstream of the transcription start site was identified. Ras-responsive element binding protein 1 (Rreb-1) was identified in this region by protein-DNA binding array. The expression of Samd9L was upregulated by calcitonin, and this was preceded by a significant increase in the expression of Rreb-1 mRNA. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of Samd9L revealed near-ubiquitous expression, with the highest level in the kidney. Tissue-specific expression was also confirmed both by in situ β-gal staining and quantitative enzymatic activity assay in a transgenic Samd9L(+/-) mouse in which the LacZ gene replaced exon 2 in the Samd9L gene. These findings assist in understanding the regulation of Samd9L in the context of its paralogous gene, SAMD9, which harbors mutations in NFTC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcinosis / genetics
  • Calcitonin / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Embryonic Development / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasms / etiology
  • Organ Specificity
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / deficiency
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RREB1 protein, human
  • Samd9L protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Calcitonin