Aims: Hcn4, which encodes the hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-sensitive channel (I(h)), is a well-established marker of the cardiac sino-atrial node. We aimed to identify cis-elements in the genomic locus of the Hcn4 gene that regulate the transcription of Hcn4.
Methods and results: We screened evolutionarily conserved non-coding sequences (CNSs) that are often involved in the regulation of gene expression. The VISTA Enhancer Browser identified 16 regions, termed CNS 1-16, within the Hcn4 locus. Using the luciferase reporter assay in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, we found that CNS13 conferred a prominent enhancer activity (more than 30-fold) on the Hcn4 promoter. Subsequent mutation analysis revealed that the Hcn4 enhancer function was dependent on myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) and activator protein-1 (AP1) binding sequences located in CNS13. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that MEF2 and AP1 proteins bound CNS13. Furthermore, overexpression of a dominant negative MEF2 mutant inhibited the enhancer activity of CNS13, decreased Hcn4 mRNA expression and also decreased the amplitude of I(h) current in myocytes isolated from the inflow tract of embryonic heart.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the novel enhancer CNS13 and MEF2 may play a critical role in the transcription of Hcn4 in the heart.