Analysis of a limb-specific regulatory element in the promoter of the link protein gene

Link protein is encoded by the Hapln1 gene and is a prototypical protein found in the cartilage matrix. It acts as an important component of the endochondral skeleton during early development. To study its transcriptional regulation, promoter fragments derived from the link protein gene were coupled to the β-galactosidase reporter and used to study in vivo transgene expression in mice. In day 15.5 mouse embryos, a link promoter fragment spanning −1020 to +40 nucleotides demonstrated highly specific β-galactosidase staining of skeletal structures, including the appendicular and axial cartilaginous tissues. Two shorter promoter fragments, spanning −690 to +40 and −315 to +40 nucleotides, demonstrated limb- and genitalia-specific expression resembling that of homeodomain-regulated tissues. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a highly conserved, Hox-like binding site (HLBS) at approximately −220 bp of the promoter, shared by both constructs, which contained the Hox-core consensus sequence TAATTA. Electromobility shift assays demonstrated binding of Hox-B4 recombinant protein to the HLBS, which was eliminated with nucleotide substitutions within the core-binding element. Co-transfection analysis of the HLBS demonstrated a 22-fold transcriptional activation by HoxA9 expression, which was ablated with a substitution within the core HLBS element. Together these findings establish promoter regions within the link protein gene that are important for in vivo expression and identify the potential role of homeodomain-containing proteins in controlling cartilage and limb gene expression. •A 1.2 kb link protein (LP) gene promoter fragment directed in vivo reporter expression to embryonic endochondral skeleton.•Short -690 and -315 nucleotide LP reporters showed expression in the limb and genitalia suggesting Hox transcription factor regulation.•A Hox-like binding sequence (HLBS) at -220 in LP was also found in the regulatory regions of aggrecan and type XI collagen.•In vitro binding experiments demonstrated that HLBS bound Hox protein and transfection analysis revealed activation of the HLBS element by Hoxa9.•These findings highlight an important role of Hox proteins in the transcriptional regulation of link protein and other cartilage genes.