Regulation of cell-type-specific transcription and differentiation of the pituitary.
The transcription of rat prolactin and growth hormone genes in vitro requires a pituitary transcription factor, specific to certain cell types in the pituitary, which currently appears to be the PUF-I/Pit-1/GHF-1 protein. This factor binds to cis-regulatory elements in the 5' region of both genes and exerts a positive influence on transcription initiation presumably by interacting with general transcription factors. The PUF-I/Pit-1/GHF-1 transcriptional regulatory protein probably has an important role in not only the differentiation of the pituitary lactotroph/somatotroph cell lineage; it is also expressed in the early development of the nervous system but its function there is less well documented. It appears to be one member of a family of trans-activator proteins involved in differential gene expression in several cell types.
Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7762.
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D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D006706:Homeostasis; D005810:Multigene Family; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone