title: Coordinate induction of the three neurofilament genes by the Brn-3a transcription factor.
abstract: The POU domain transcription factor Brn-3a is able to stimulate neurite outgrowth when overexpressed in the neuronal ND7 cell line, whereas the closely related Brn-3b factor does not have this effect. We show that Brn-3a overexpression also enhances the expression of the three neurofilament genes at both the mRNA and protein levels, whereas Brn-3b overexpression has no effect. In addition Brn-3a activates the three neurofilament gene promoters in co-transfection assays in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. As observed for enhanced neurite outgrowth, the stimulation of neurofilament gene expression and activation of the neurofilament gene promoters is observed with the isolated POU domain of Brn-3a. A single amino acid change in the POU homeodomain of Brn-3a to the equivalent amino acid in Brn-3b abolishes its ability to activate the neurofilament promoters, whereas the reciprocal change converts Brn-3b to an activator of these promoters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, University College London Medical School, London W1P 6DB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Schlaepfer
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D051379:Mice; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A; D050820:Transcription Factor Brn-3B; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; C494189:Pou4f1 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A; D050820:Transcription Factor Brn-3B; D014157:Transcription Factors