Regulation of the human PDZK1 expression by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha

Although PDZK1 is a well-known adaptor protein, the mechanisms for its role in transcriptional regulation are largely unknown. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays an important role in the regulation of lipid homeostasis. Previously, we established a tetracycline-regulated human cell line that can be induced to express PPARα and identified candidate target genes, one of which was PDZK1. In this study, we cloned and characterized the promoter region of the human pdzk1 gene and determined the PPAR response element. Finally, we demonstrate that endogenous PPARα regulates PDZK1 expression.