Molecular cloning and brain localization of HZF-2 alpha, a new member of the Rev-erb subfamily of orphan nuclear receptors.
We have isolated a novel cDNA homologous to the family of nuclear hormone receptors which we have designated hippocampal zinc finger-2 alpha (HZF-2 alpha). HZF-2 alpha encodes a protein 494 amino acids in length and predicted molecular size of 56 kD. HZF-2 alpha shares sequence similarities with orphan nuclear receptors related to thyroid hormone and retinoic acid receptors. An additional HZF-2 cDNA clone, HZF-2 beta, was isolated. HZF-2 beta differs from HZF-2 alpha in a nine-amino-acid region carboxyl to the DNA-binding domain thought to participate in enhancing the interaction of nuclear receptors with DNA. Northern blot analysis with a probe homologous to both HZF-2 alpha and beta identified two transcripts, sizes 4.4 and 5.5 kb in several rat tissues. HZF-2 alpha/beta mRNA levels are low in embryonic rat brain, increase during neonatal brain development and remain elevated in the adult rat brain. In situ hybridization analyses localized HZF-2 alpha/beta mRNA expression to all hippocampal subfields. Within the hippocampus heaviest expression was observed within the dentate gyrus. High levels of HZF-2 alpha/beta mRNA were also detected in Purkinje cells and the granular cell layer of the cerebellum. In summary, HZF-2 alpha/beta are novel orphan nuclear receptors which may play an important role in hormone-dependent aspects of developmental processes modulating hippocampal and cerebellar plasticity.
Peña-de-Ortiz
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Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio 45267-0056, USA.
Jamieson
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GA
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
C106063:HZF-2alpha; C106064:HZF-2beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear