The B-cell and neuronal forms of the octamer-binding protein Oct-2 differ in DNA-binding specificity and functional activity.
B lymphocytes contain an octamer-binding transcription factor, Oct-2, that is absent in most other cell types and plays a critical role in the B-cell-specific transcription of the immunoglobulin genes. A neuronal form of this protein has also been detected in brain and neuronal cell lines by using a DNA mobility shift assay, and an Oct-2 mRNA is observed in these cells by Northern (RNA) blotting and in situ hybridization. We show that the neuronal form of Oct-2 differs from that found in B cells with respect to both DNA-binding specificity and functional activity. In particular, whereas the B-cell protein activates octamer-containing promoters, the neuronal protein inhibits octamer-mediated gene expression. The possible role of the neuronal form of Oct-2 in the regulation of neuronal gene expression and its relationship to B-cell Oct-2 are discussed.
Dent
C L
CL
Department of Biochemistry, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Lillycrop
K A
KA
Estridge
J K
JK
Thomas
N S
NS
Latchman
D S
DS
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D050813:Octamer Transcription Factor-2; D010957:Plasmids; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050813:Octamer Transcription Factor-2; C058435:POU2F2 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase