Identification of the Core Promoter Region of Human Foxg1 Gene

Forkhead box G1 (FOXG1) is a transcriptional repressor with high expression in the nervous system. Most research focused on the biological function of FOXG1, however, the transcriptional regulation of the Foxg1 gene was rarely studied. Herein, we analyzed and cloned 2.3 kb of the 5'-upstream sequences of the Foxg1 gene to better understand the regulation of the Foxg1 gene expression. The CpG islands and putative transcription factor binding sites were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Then we defined a small region in the upstream 350 bp area which was required for the promoter activity by constructing truncated mutants. FOXG1 is a transcriptional repressor that is highly expressed in the nervous system. While previous research has focused on the biological function of FOXG1, little attention has been paid to the transcriptional regulation of the Foxg1 gene. In this study, we analyzed and cloned 2.3 kb of the 5'-upstream sequences of the Foxg1 gene to gain a better understanding of the regulation of its expression. Using bioinformatics methods, we analyzed the CpG islands and putative transcription factor binding sites. Through constructing truncated mutants, we identified a small 350 bp region in the upstream area that was required for promoter activity. These findings shed new light on the transcriptional regulation of Foxg1 and provide a basis for further exploration of its biological function.