Characterization of a novel liver-specific protein DNA binding site in the human HMG CoA reductase promoter

These studies define a novel binding element (site C) within the human HMG; CoA reductase promoter using a combination of in vitro DNase I footprinting and gel mobility shift assays. The factor interacting with site C appears to be restricted to the liver, indicating a possible role for this protein in regulating hepatic expression of the gene. Studies based on competitive gel mobility shift assays and transient co-transfection experiments performed using a reporter construct harbouring the promoter of HMG CoA reductase suggest that the protein binding to site C may belong to the C/EBP family of transcription factors. A factor interacting with this binding element was also identified in human liver nuclear protein extracts. (C) 1998 Academic Press.