Structure, chromosomal locus, and promoter analysis of the gene encoding the mouse helix-loop-helix factor HES-1. Negative autoregulation through the multiple N box elements.

HES-1 is a mammalian helix-loop-helix factor structurally related to the Drosophila hairy and Enhancer of split proteins. It binds more preferentially to the N box (CACNAG) than to the E box (CANNTG) and acts as a negative regulator. In this study, we have isolated and characterized the mouse HES-1 gene. This gene consists of four exons, and the positions of introns are well conserved when compared with those of the Drosophila hairy gene, except for the third intron. Southern blot and interspecies backcross analyses suggest that the mouse HES-1 gene is a single-copy gene and is located around position 26 on chromosome 16. The transcription initiation site, determined by the S1 nuclease and primer extension experiments, is located 31 nucleotides downstream of a TATA box. In the 5'-regulatory region, there are four N box sequences, and the DNase I foot-printing and gel mobility shift analyses show that HES-1 binds to these sequences. Transient transfection assays using C3H10T1/2 cells suggest that there are several positive regulatory regions in the HES-1 gene. However, cotransfection of the HES-1 expression vector leads to approximately 40-fold repression in promoter activity. Furthermore, when the N box sequences are disrupted, this negative regulation is severely impaired. These results raise the possibility that HES-1 gene expression may be negatively autoregulated through the N box sequences.