title: A comparative structural characterization of the human NSCL-1 and NSCL-2 genes. Two basic helix-loop-helix genes expressed in the developing nervous system.
abstract: Human cDNA clones for NSCL-1 and NSCL-2, two basic domain helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes expressed predominantly in the developing nervous system, were obtained from a fetal brain cDNA library. The full-length transcripts and the genomic structures were determined. The cDNAs for the two genes encode predicted proteins of similar size (133 and 135 amino acids for NSCL-1 and NSCL-2, respectively) and structure. The carboxyl-terminal 75 amino acids of the two proteins contain the bHLH motif and differ from each other by only three conservative amino acid changes, while the amino-terminal portions are markedly divergent from each other. In addition to the similar protein structure, the genes have a similar genomic organization, suggesting a close evolutionary relationship. The 5'-regulatory regions of the two genes share some features (i.e. potential TATA, CCAAT, and GATA binding sites) but also differ significantly in their G+C content. NSCL-1 is relatively G+C-rich (63%) in the sequences upstream of transcription initiation and has multiple potential binding sites for transcription factors that bind to G+C-rich sequences (e.g. AP-2). NSCL-2 is relatively A+T-rich (63%) in this region and has a potential binding site for AP1. Studies of expression in normal tissues demonstrated expression of NSCL-1 and NSCL-2 in the developing central and peripheral nervous system, most likely in developing neurons. Additional Northern analysis studies in cell lines revealed expression of these genes in some cell lines derived from tumors with neural or neuroendocrine features such as neuroblastoma, PNET, and small cell lung cancer. NSCL-1 is expressed in a larger number of these cell lines. The differences in expression may parallel differences in developmental regulation.
authors.affiliation: Navy Medical Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20889-5105.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lipkowitz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Göbel
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Varterasian
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tchorz
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Kirsch
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell; D003062:Codon; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005333:Fetus; D015870:Gene Expression; D015698:Genomic Library; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D003062:Codon; D004247:DNA; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C498272:Nhlh1 protein, mouse; C484104:Nhlh2 protein, mouse; C076746:NHLH1 protein, human; C076747:NHLH2 protein, human