title: Regulation of expression of the neuronal POU protein Oct-2 by nerve growth factor.
abstract: POU proteins are a class of homeobox-containing transcription factors that regulate tissue-specific gene expression and influence cell differentiation and function. We have investigated the possible role of such factors in mediating the actions of nerve growth factor (NGF) on sensory neurons. NGF has been found to have differential effects on the levels of three POU protein transcription factors that are expressed in adult rat sensory neurons. A sensory neuron octamer-binding protein with the properties of the transcription factor Oct-2 is up-regulated 3-4-fold by NGF, as measured by mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts from adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons grown in the presence or absence of NGF. Quantitation of Oct-2 mRNA by polymerase chain reaction amplification of RNA from such cells shows a parallel increase in Oct-2 mRNA levels. In contrast, the levels of mRNA encoding the ubiquitous POU protein Oct-1 or the neuron-specific POU protein Brn-3, also present in sensory neurons, are unaffected by NGF. These observations suggest a role for Oct-2 in mediating transcriptional effects induced by NGF. In particular, as Oct-2 is known to inhibit herpes simplex virus immediate-early gene expression in neuronal cells, these findings provide a mechanism for the known action of NGF in the maintenance of latent herpes virus infections in sensory neurons.
authors.affiliation: Medical Molecular Biology Unit, University College, Middlesex Hospital School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lillycrop
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Ninkina
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Beech
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Willoughby
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015723:Gene Library; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D050813:Octamer Transcription Factor-2; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D050813:Octamer Transcription Factor-2; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; C489205:Pou2f2 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012313:RNA