Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein modulates its own gene expression.

We investigated whether activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) could autoregulate its own expression. Both the endogenous ADNP gene and reporter gene constructs were analysed in response to overexpression of ADNP, supplied either as wild-type ADNP or a mutant form lacking the NAP motif, a motif which has neuroprotective properties. Overexpression of these two forms of ADNP resulted in both decreased endogenous ADNP expression and repressed ADNP promoter-directed reporter gene activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated the ability of ADNP to bind to its own promoter which is consistent with its action as a repressor of both promoter-supported and endogenous ADNP expression.