title: Activation of cell-specific expression of rat growth hormone and prolactin genes by a common transcription factor.
abstract: In the anterior pituitary gland, there are five phenotypically distinct cell types, including cells that produce either prolactin (lactotrophs) or growth hormone (somatotrophs). Multiple, related cis-active elements that exhibit synergistic interactions appear to be the critical determinants of the transcriptional activation of the rat prolactin and growth hormone genes. A common positive tissue-specific transcription factor, referred to as Pit-1, appears to bind to all the cell-specific elements in each gene and to be required for the activation of both the prolactin and growth hormone genes. The data suggest that, in the course of development, a single tissue-specific factor activates sets of genes that ultimately exhibit restricted cell-specific expression and define cellular phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Eukaryotic Regulatory Biology Program, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine 92093.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Elsholtz
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001358:Avian Sarcoma Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D010777:Photochemistry; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone