Characterization of the 1B Promoter of Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 and Its Expression in the Adult and Developing Mouse Brain

The present study elucidates the molecular structure of a murine fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) promoter and describes its distribution in the adult and developing mouse brain. A cDNA clone coding for FGF-1 was isolated from a mouse brain cDNA library. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the clone contained, in addition to the protein coding region, an untranslated exon (FGF-1B) 34 base pairs upstream of the translation start codon ATG. The mouse cDNA clone corresponded to the sole FGF-1 transcript in the brain. An RNase protection assay was used to map the transcription start site of the 1B promoter. The sequences upstream from the major transcription initiation site lacked consensus TATA or CAAT boxes. In situ hybridization with cRNA probes specific for the 1B transcript showed the message to be restricted largely to sensory and motor nuclei in the brainstem, and to the ventral spinal cord and cerebellum. Although occasional brainstem nuclei were labeled at low levels by embryonic day 18, the majority of nuclei became detectable autoradiographically during postnatal weeks 1 and 2, and adult levels of grain density were reached during the 3rd and 4th postnatal weeks. FGF-1B mRNA was expressed in phylogenetically older brain regions, which are involved primarily in processing information from exteroceptive sensory mechanoreceptors and in motor control. The relatively late developmental expression suggests a role for FGF-1 in neuronal maturation, rather than in neurogenesis.