Transcriptional regulation of the human topoisomerase IIalpha gene

Abstract

In this paper, we review the current literature about the transcriptional regulation of the topoisomerase IIalpha gene. The interpretation of the results obtained from many different studies is complicated by clear species-specific differences in the spatial organisation of DNA regulatory elements in the topoisomerase IIalpha gene promoter. However, the present review aims to emphasise the critical role played by some DNA sequences in the promoter of the topoisomerase IIalpha gene with special attention to the role of CCAAT sequences that are positioned in the inverted orientation. Here, we also speculate on the role of a novelprotein (named ICBP90) that has been identified by the one-hybrid system assay as a protein able to bind to these CCAAT sequences.