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Transcriptional activation of the testis‐specific histone H1t gene by RFX2 may require both proximal promoter X‐box elements

The rat testis‐specific linker histone H1t gene is transcribed in pachytene primary spermatocytes during spermatogenesis. Our previous work using transgenic mice demonstrated that spermatocyte‐specific transcription of the H1t gene is dependent upon a proximal promoter element designated the TE element. TE is composed of two adjacent and inverted imperfect repeat sequences designated TE1 and TE2 and both of these palindromic elements are similar in sequence to the X‐box, a DNA consensus sequence that binds regulatory factor X (RFX). RFX2 is the major enriched protein derived from rat testis nuclear extracts when using the TE1 element as an affinity chromatography probe. Co‐expression of RFX2 together with an H1t promoted reporter vector in transient expression assays activates the H1t promoter in the GC‐2spd germinal cell line, and mutation of either X‐box significantly represses activity. However, RFX2 partially reactivates the promoter when either of the X‐box elements is independently mutated. In order to totally block reactivation by RFX2, it is necessary to mutate both X‐boxes simultaneously. Therefore, RFX2 appears to be able to bind to either X‐box independently to partially activate the promoter of the testis‐specific histone H1t gene, but simultaneous binding of RFX2 to both X‐box elements may be required for maximal promoter activation. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.