Regulation of human hsp90α gene expression

Mammalian HSP90 alpha and HSP90 beta are encoded by two individual genes, On the basis of the upstream sequences of the human hsp90 alpha gene, GenBank accession number U25822,,ve have constructed CAT reporter plasmids driven by individual fragments of the hsp90 alpha gene. We found that (1) the proximal heat shock element complex located at -96/-60 enhances hsp90a promoter expression; (2) heat shock induction depends upon the coexistence of distal heat shock element at -1031/-1022 and the proximal heat shock element complex of the hsp90 alpha gene; (3) unlike hsp90 beta, downstream sequences of the transcription start site inhibit hsp90a expression, We conclude that the regulatory mechanisms for the expression of hsp90 alpha and hsp90 beta genes are different, (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.