The absence of a functional nuclear receptor element A (NREA) in the promoter II of the aromatase P450 gene in rabbit granulosa cells

Aromatase protein is synthesized in response to gonadotropins that activate expression of their target genes via the cAMP second messenger system. The −882/+103 bp region of the rabbit ovarian promoter (PII) was ligated to a luciferase vector and transfected into granulosa cells to elucidated the mechanism by which cAMP stimulates transcription. Deletions and mutational experiments indicate that (i) a cAMP-response element-like sequence (CLS) present at −208 to −200 bp is the main element required for the activation of the rabbit PII by cAMP and that (ii) both nuclear receptor element sites; NREA (−133/−126 bp) and NREB (−188/−181 bp) do not participate to the cAMP-dependent activity of the PII. The replacement of the specific rabbit NREA site by the human NREA site increases two-fold the cAMP response and indicates that trans-activating factors are present in rabbit granulosa cells. This study shows for the first time an efficient aromatase transcription occurs in granulosa cells in absence of a consensus NREA site. In addition a comparative study has been performed on the sheep aromatase promoter where sites deviate from rabbit. Mutagenesis experiments suggest that some of them are involved in the cAMP-induced response of the rabbit PII.