title: MEF2 proteins, including MEF2A, are expressed in both muscle and non-muscle cells.
abstract: The MEF2 proteins are involved in regulation of many muscle specific genes. Although MEF2 RNAs encoding the MEF2A and MEF2D isoforms are ubiquitously expressed, the presence of MEF2 proteins in non-muscle cell types has been controversial. Here we use a well-characterised antibody in conjunction with DNA binding studies to provide evidence that members of the MEF2 family are widely expressed in the nuclei of cultured cells and are competent to bind DNA. The data show that non-muscle MEF2 complexes contain MEF2A, and that another MEF2 protein, probably MEF2D, is also present. These results suggest that MEF2 proteins fulfil functions in addition to muscle-specific gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Transcription Laboratory, ICRF Laboratories, London, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dodou
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Sparrow
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mohun
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Treisman
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; C578035:MEF2A protein, human; C578043:MEF2D protein, human; C578036:Mef2a protein, mouse; C578044:Mef2d protein, mouse; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA