Basal expression of the human MAPEG members microsomal glutathione transferase 1 and prostaglandin E synthase genes is mediated by Sp1 and Sp3.

Microsomal glutathione transferase (MGST1) and prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) are both members of the MAPEG (Membrane Associated Proteins involved in Eicosanoid and Glutathione metabolism) superfamily. In humans, their organ distribution is quite distinct with the former being widely and constitutively expressed whereas PGES is largely inducible. In order to study the basal expression of these genes, we characterized the promoter regions and identified the elements and the transcription factors required using in vitro assays, including reporter analysis of deletion and mutant clones and EMSA. The results indicate that Sp1 is the protein mediating the basal transcription of MGST1. It appears that both the Sp1 and Sp3 proteins are important for the basal expression of PGES. In addition, mutational analysis of two Barbie-box elements in the PGES promoter showed that these were not involved in the down-regulation of PGES by phenobarbital (PB). These results provide the first description of the basal regulation of these genes in humans.