Transcriptional activation of the gene for the large subunit of human m-calpain by 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate

AbstractThe effect of the treatment of HeLa cells with a tumor-promoting phorbol ester, 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acatate (TPA) on the expression of the genes for the calpain family has been examined. Among the mRNAs for the calpain family, only the mRNA for the large subunit of human m-calpain (calpain mL) was specifically induced by treatment of cells with TPA, suggesting its specific function in response to cellular stimuli. The effect of TPA on the expression of the calpain mL gene was further examined using fusion genes containing the promoter/enhancer region of the calpain mL gene fused upstream of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene, showing that the promoter/enhancer sequence of the calpain mL gene contains a cis-acting element which responds to TPA and activates transcription of the downstream sequence