title: Pax5 (BSAP) regulates the murine immunoglobulin 3' alpha enhancer by suppressing binding of NF-alpha P, a protein that controls heavy chain transcription.
abstract: The Pax5 transcription factor BSAP (B-cell-specific activator protein) is known to bind to and repress the activity of the immunoglobulin heavy chain 3' alpha enhancer. We have detected an element--designated alpha P--that lies approximately 50 bp downstream of the BSAP binding site 1 and is required for maximal enhancer activity. In vitro binding experiments suggest that the 40-kDa protein that binds to this element (NF-alpha P) is a member of the Ets family present in both B-cell and plasma-cell nuclei. However, in vivo footprint analysis suggests that the alpha P site is occupied only in plasma cells, whereas the BSAP site is occupied in B cells but not in plasma cells. When Pax5 binding to the enhancer in B cells was blocked in vivo by transfection with a triple-helix-forming oligonucleotide an alpha P footprint appeared and endogenous immunoglobulin heavy chain transcripts increased. The triple-helix-forming oligonucleotide also increased enhancer activity of a transfected construct in B cells, but only when the alpha P site was intact. Pax5 thus regulates the 3' alpha enhancer and immunoglobulin gene transcription by blocking activation by NF-alpha P.
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunity Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1890, USA.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Neurath
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Max
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Strober
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051757:PAX5 Transcription Factor; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051757:PAX5 Transcription Factor; C497282:Pax5 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors