Activation of cell-specific expression of rat growth hormone and prolactin genes by a common transcription factor.
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.
Nelson
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C
Eukaryotic Regulatory Biology Program, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine 92093.
Albert
V R
VR
Elsholtz
H P
HP
Lu
L I
LI
Rosenfeld
M G
MG
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
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone