Multiple enhancers associated with ACAN suggest highly redundant transcriptional regulation in cartilage.

ABSTRACT: The chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein aggrecan is the major protein constituent of cartilage aside from collagen, and is largely responsible for its distinctive mechanical properties. Aggrecan is required both for proper cartilage formation in development and maintenance of mature cartilage. Prominent ACAN transcription is a conserved feature of vertebrate cartilage, although little is known about its specific transcriptional regulation. We examined the genomic interval containing human ACAN for transcriptional enhancers directing expression to cartilage, using a functional assay in transgenic zebrafish. We tested 24 conserved non-coding sequences, representing ~6% of the total sequence in the interval, and identified eleven independently capable of regulating reporter gene exp

SUBMITTER: Hu G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3508301 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature