title: Genes encoding components of the olfactory signal transduction cascade contain a DNA binding site that may direct neuronal expression.
abstract: Genes which mediate odorant signal transduction are expressed at high levels in neurons of the olfactory epithelium. The molecular mechanism governing the restricted expression of these genes likely involves tissue-specific DNA binding proteins which coordinately activate transcription through sequence-specific interactions with olfactory promoter regions. We have identified binding sites for the olfactory neuron-specific transcription factor, Olf-1, in the sequences surrounding the transcriptional initiation site of five olfactory neuron-specific genes. The Olf-1 binding sites described define the consensus sequence YTCCCYRGGGAR. In addition, we have identified a second binding site, the U site, in the olfactory cyclic nucleotide gated channel and type III cyclase promoters, which binds factors present in all tissue examined. These experiments support a model in which expression of Olf-1 in the sensory neurons coordinately activates a set of olfactory neuron-specific genes. Furthermore, expression of a subset of these genes may be modulated by additional binding factors.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205-2185.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051842:Olfactory Marker Protein; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489920:Ebf1 protein, rat; D007473:Ion Channels; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051842:Olfactory Marker Protein; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; C497599:Omp protein, rat; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases