Cloning and Characterization of a Functional Peroxisome Proliferator Activator Receptor-γ-responsive Element in the Promoter of the CAP Gene

c-Cbl-associating protein (CAP) is a multifunctional signaling protein that interacts with c-Cbl, facilitating the tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Cbl in response to insulin. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes and diabetic rodents, CAP gene expression is stimulated by activators of peroxisome proliferator activator receptor γ (PPARγ), such as thiazolidinediones (TZDs), resulting in increased insulin-stimulated c-Cbl phosphorylation. Sequence analysis of 2.5 kilobases of the 5′-flanking region of the CAP gene reveals a predicted peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE) from −1085 to −1097. The isolated promoter was functional in 3T3 fibroblasts and adipocytes. Co-transfection of the CAP promoter with PPARγ and retinoic acid X receptor α caused fold stimulation of promoter activity. The TZD rosiglitazone produced an additional 2–3-fold stimulation of the promoter. Deletion of the predicted PPRE from the CAP promoter abolished its ability to respond to rosiglitazone. Gel shift analysis of the putative PPARγ site demonstrates direct binding of PPAR/retinoid X receptor heterodimers to the PPRE in the CAP gene. These data demonstrate that TZDs directly stimulate transcription of the CAP gene through activation of PPARγ.