Human Golgi phosphoprotein 2 gene (also known as GOLPH2, GP73 or GOLM1) encodes an epithelial-specific Golgi membrane protein which can be induced by virus infection. It is also overexpressed in a number of tumors and is currently considered as an early diagnosis marker for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, little is known about how GOLPH2 is dysregulated in these disease conditions and the functional implications of its overexpression. The aim of this study is to investigate human GOLPH2 regulation mechanisms. We cloned a 2599 bp promoter fragment of GOLPH2 and found it maintained epithelial specificity. By deletion analysis, a repressive region (-864 to -734 bp), a positive regulatory region (-734 to -421 bp) and a core promoter region (-421 to -79 bp) were identified. Sequence analysis revealed that GOLPH2 core promoter was devoid of canonical TATA element and classified as a TATA-less promoter. Adenoviral early region 1A (El A) was able to activate GOLPH2 and the CtBP interaction domain of E1A was sufficient but not required for activation. A GC-box motif (-89 to -83 bp) in GOLPH2 core promoter region partly mediated El A transactivation. These results delineated regulatory regions and functional element in GOLPH2 promoter, elucidated adenoviral E1A stimulation mechanisms and provided insight into GOLPH2 functions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.