Characterization of the human C6 promoter: requirement of the CCAAT enhancer binding protein binding site for C6 gene promoter activity.

Abstract

The sixth complement component (C6) is a late-acting complement protein that participates in the assembly of the membrane attack complex. C6 and most of the complement proteins are mainly synthesized in the liver. However, the human hepatoma-derived cell line Hep-G2, which produces the majority of complement proteins, synthesizes traces of C6. Here, we have isolated and characterized the human C6 promoter. Approximately 1 kb of C6 upstream sequence is shown to be sufficient to achieve tissue-specific expression of a luciferase reporter gene in two hepatic (Hep-G2 and Hep-3B) and two extrahepatic cell lines (fibroblast M1 and HeLa) in a manner similar to endogenous C6. There are wide differences in C6 mRNA expression among the four cell lines, whereas Hep-3B expresses high levels of C6, Hep-G2 and M1 poorly synthesize C6, and HeLa completely lacks C6 expression. Deletional and mutational analysis demonstrates that a C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein) site located at -67 is required for C6 expression in Hep-3B cells, but it has little effect in M1 and Hep-G2 cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays show that this sequence binds to a C/EBP alpha using Hep-3B nuclear extract, but a negligible activity is detected using a Hep-G2 extract. To further investigate whether C/EBP alpha is the limiting factor for C6 expression, we have transfected a C/EBP alpha expression vector into Hep-G2 and Ml cells. C/EBP alpha expression vector dramatically trans-activates the luciferase reporter gene controlled by the C6 promoter, and it partially restores C6 mRNA expression in Hep-G2 cells.