Rev-erb beta, a new member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is expressed in the nervous system during chicken development.
We have identified and characterized a new orphan member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily in the chicken. This new gene, called Rev-erb beta, exhibits strong homologies with the Rev-erb alpha/ear-1 orphan receptor gene, which partially overlaps the thyroid hormone receptor alpha gene in opposite orientation. We demonstrate that both Rev-erb alpha and Rev-erb beta genes are conserved in their C and E domains. Rev-erb beta binds to DNA as a monomer and recognizes the same binding motif as the alpha gene product. The Rev-erb beta gene product does not interact with retinoid X receptors, as revealed by gel shift experiments. In situ hybridization experiments show that Rev-erb beta is expressed in the central and peripheric nervous system, spleen, and mandibular and maxillar processes, as well as in blood islands. During embryonic development, we noticed a striking specific distribution of Rev-erb beta transcripts in the notochord at 24 h and later on, in the floor plate of the neural tube. We propose that Rev-erb beta may play an important role in the complex network of inductive signals, which control neuron differentiation.
Bonnelye
E
E
Centre National de la Recherche Scientique URA 1160, Institut Pasteur, Lille, France.
Vanacker
J M
JM
Desbiens
X
X
Begue
A
A
Stehelin
D
D
Laudet
V
V
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D004247:DNA