AJP - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Vol 259, Issue 4 185-L197, Copyright © 1990 by American Physiological Society
Strategies for analysis of gene expression: pulmonary surfactant proteins
B. R. Stripp, J. A. Whitsett and D. L. Lattier
Division of Pulmonary Biology, Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267.
Gene transcription is regulated by the formation of protein-DNA complexes
that influence the rate of specific initiation of transcription by RNA
polymerase. Recent experimental advances allowing the identification of cis
regulatory sequences that specify the binding of trans acting protein
factors have made significant contributions to our understanding of the
mechanistic complexities of transcriptional regulation. These methodologies
have prompted the use of similar strategies to elucidate transcriptional
control mechanisms involved in the tissue specific and developmental
regulation of pulmonary surfactant protein gene expression. The purpose of
this review is to describe various methodologies by which molecular
biologists identify and subsequently assay regions of nucleic acids
presumed to be integral in gene regulation at the level of transcription.
It is well established that genes encoding surfactant proteins are subject
to regulation by hormones, cytokines, and a variety of biologically active
reagents. Perhaps future studies utilizing molecular tools outlined in this
review will be valuable in identification of DNA sequences and protein
factors required for the regulation of lung surfactant genes.
