Two c-Myc binding sites are crucial in upregulating the expression of human phospholipid scramblase 1 gene

Human phospholipid scramblase 1 (hPLSCR1) is a type II endofacial membrane protein which mediates bi-directional transport of phospholipids across the plasma membrane. hPLSCR1, a multifunctional protein with variety of roles in apoptosis, tumor progression, cell signaling and anti-viral defense. The expression of such a multifunctional protein should be under tight regulation. Apart from a single report showing snail mediated down regulation of hPLSCR1, the molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of scramblases are not well elucidated. In this study we identified c-Myc as a transcriptional regulator of hPLSCR1. Transcription factor prediction tool ConSite predicted three binding sites for c-Myc. Reporter gene assays and western blot analysis revealed c-Myc mediated up regulation of hPLSCR1 expression. Deletion construct -790 lacking one c-Myc binding site showed a 27% decrease in promoter activity while deletion construct -469 lacking two c-Myc binding sites showed a 62% decrease in promoter activity. Site directed mutagenesis revealed the importance of c-Myc binding sites from -751 to -756 and -548 to -553 on the promoter of hPLSCR1in transcriptionally regulating the expression of hPLSCR1. The results were further confirmed by shRNA mediated knock down of endogenous c-Myc and in vivo interactions by ChIP assay.