A single zinc finger motif in the silencing factor REST represses the neural-specific type II sodium channel promoter.
The type II voltage-dependent sodium channel is present in neuronal cells, where it mediates the propagation of nerve impulses. Restricted expression of the type II sodium channel gene to neurons is due, at least in part, to binding of the repressor protein REST (also termed NRSF or XBR) to the RE1 (also called NRSE) sequence in the type II sodium channel gene. Previous studies have shown that a domain in REST containing eight GL1-Krüppel zinc finger motifs mediates DNA binding. Deletional and GAL4-fusion gene analyses now reveal repressor domains that lie outside of the DNA-binding domain in both the amino and carboxyl termini of REST. Mutational analysis further identifies a single zinc finger motif in the carboxyl-terminal domain as being essential for repressing type II sodium channel reporter genes. These studies reveal two domains in REST that may mediate interactions with other proteins involved in restricting expression of a large set of genes to the vertebrate nervous system.
Tapia-Ramírez
J
J
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794-5230, USA.
Eggen
B J
BJ
Peral-Rubio
M J
MJ
Toledo-Aral
J J
JJ
Mandel
G
G
D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015222:Sodium Channels; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor