Structural analysis of the proximal region of the microtubule-associated protein 1B promoter.

Microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) is a major cytoskeletal protein expressed early during development of the nervous system. Previous analysis of the MAP1B gene has identified two alternative promoters that can independently regulate neuron-specific expression of MAP1B. To further characterize the MAP1B promoters, we performed DNase I hypersensitivity assays in vivo over a range of 8.5 kb surrounding the transcription initiation sites. These studies identified a DNase I-hypersensitive site that was present in brain but not liver nuclei at the proximal region of the MAP1B promoter, located between the two transcription initiation sites. Fine mapping by S1 nuclease sensitivity localized two adjacent sites in the proximal promoter region that contained three symmetrical inverted repeats. Electrophoresis mobility shift assays showed that proteins present in nuclear extracts can bind two consensus regulatory elements present within the proximal promoter region, Sp1 and cyclic AMP response element. In addition, there was a specific nuclear protein binding activity with two common sequences, a "neuronal motif " and a TCC repeat motif. This binding activity was much more abundant in liver than in brain nuclear extracts, suggesting that it may represent a negative control element in the tissue-specific expression of the MAP1B gene.