Transcriptional regulation of a Purkinje cell-specific gene through a functional interaction between ROR alpha and RAR.
BACKGROUND
The orphan nuclear receptor ROR alpha is highly expressed in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum during the postnatal development of brain. A recent observation has been made that the ROR alpha gene is disrupted in staggerer mice-which show a cell-autonomous defect in the development of the Purkinje cells.


RESULTS
In order to understand the functions of ROR alpha in cerebellar development, I attempted to identify its target genes. Transient expression study demonstrated that transcription of the Purkinje cell protein-2 (Pcp-2) gene is activated by ROR alpha, which binds as a monomer to a single half-site motif (RORE) within the promoter region. Its transcription was also activated by retinoic acid receptor (RAR) which binds as a heterodimer with RXR to a retinoic acid responsive element (RARE) in the downstream region. Interestingly, the ROR alpha-mediated transcription is further activated synergistically by RAR.


CONCLUSIONS
That the Pcp-2 gene is a target of ROR alpha, and is suggested that its transcription is also regulated by RAR.
Matsui
T
T
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. t-matsui@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D057094:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D057094:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1; C104971:Pcp2 protein, mouse; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D015534:Trans-Activators