Identification of nerve growth factor-responsive sequences within the 5' region of the bovine preprotachykinin gene.

The production of substance P and the mRNA encoding its precursor (preprotachykinin, PPT) is regulated by nerve growth factor (NGF) in dorsal root ganglion (drg) neurons. To explore the mechanism by which NGF regulates the production of PPT mRNA, we have transfected PC12 cells and F11 cells with plasmids containing the bovine PPT promoter linked to the reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). We have identified (i) functional elements within the PPT promoter which are necessary for expression in the absence of NGF and (ii) two separate regions, each of approximately 250 bp, which confer NGF responsiveness. Both regions contained a sequence element, similar to a known transcription factor binding site, which is present in several other NGF-regulated genes.