title: The human GATA-6 gene: structure, chromosomal location, and regulation of expression by tissue-specific and mitogen-responsive signals.
abstract: GATA factors constitute a family of transcriptional regulatory proteins expressed with distinct developmental and tissue-specific profiles and thought to regulate cell-restricted programs of gene expression. Here we describe the molecular cloning, chromosomal location, and transcription of the human GATA-6 gene. The GATA-6 cDNA encodes a predicted 449-amino-acid protein, which is highly conserved among vertebrates, and includes the two adjacent zinc-finger/basic domains characteristic of the GATA factor family. GATA-6 maps to human chromosome 18q11.1-q11.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The gene is transcribed in a pattern overlapping that of GATA-4. Transcripts for both of these genes are prominent in heart, pancreas, and ovary, but only GATA-6 mRNA is found in lung and liver. GATA-6 transcripts are also detected in cultures of human and rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In VSMCs, GATA-6 transcripts are down- regulated when quiescent cultures are stimulated to proliferate in response to mitogen activation. These data demonstrate that GATA-6 is subject to both tissue-specific and mitogen-responsive regulatory signals. GATA-6 is a prime candidate for a gene that might regulate the differentiative state of VSMCs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Research, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02135, USA. kwalsh@opal.tufts.edu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000737:chemistry; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; C494759:GATA6 protein, human; D008934:Mitogens; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors