Sequence analysis of the promoter region of the rat vasopressin gene

The vasopressin gene is highly transcribed in magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the rat hypothalamus. In order to identify cis-acting elements involved in the expression of the vasopressin gene, approximately 1 kb upstream of the transcription start site has been sequenced. Several putative regulatory elements have been detected, including a glucocorticoid response element (CRE), a cAMP response element (CRE), and four AP2 binding sites. In gel shift assays performed with a labelled DNA fragment corresponding to nucleotide residues -214 to -36 and nuclear proteins extracted from SON-derived tissue enriched in magnocellular neurons, three specific protein-DNA complexes have been detected. Complex formation is effectively competed by addition of an excess of unlabelled fragment.