Sequencing of the human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 3' untranslated region (UTR): conservation of five hypoxia-inducible RNA-protein binding sites.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor whose mRNA expression is induced by hypoxia. This induction is due in large part to an increase in the stability of its mRNA. The RNA sequences and cognate proteins responsible for this increased stability with hypoxia are not well understood. In order to identify regions of functional importance in the 3'UTR of VEGF mRNA, we have sequenced the human VEGF 3'UTR and compared it to the rat sequence. Overall sequence homology was 82% with complete conservation of all four potential polyadenylation signals and both nonameric instability elements. Five hypoxia-inducible RNA protein-binding (HI-RPB) sites were identified by RNA electromobility shift assay (EMSA) in the human and rat genes. EMSA and competition studies suggest that these sites bind a similar or related protein complex. On average, the five sites were 95% conserved at the nucleotide level between the rat and corresponding human sequence. This conservation taken together with several previously described, independent correlations between the presence of these RNA-protein complexes and an increase in VEGF mRNA stability suggest an important functional role for these sites in mediating hypoxia-inducible VEGF mRNA stability.