title: Genomic structure and isoform expression of the mouse, rat and human Cbfa1/Osf2 transcription factor.
abstract: Although the CBFA1 gene encodes an osteoblast-specific transcription factor that regulates osteoblast differentiation, uncertainty exists about the organization of its 5' end and the relevance of a novel N-terminal sequence identified in the mouse Cbfa1/Osf2 isoform. We found the novel 5' Cbfa1/Osf2 sequence is encoded by a previously unrecognized upstream exon, designated exon -1, which is highly conserved in mouse, rat and human. In addition, two splice donor sites may be utilized to generate Cbfa1/Osf2 cDNAs containing different N-terminal sequences. The first ATG and splice donor site in exon -1 is predicted to transcribe a cDNA containing the unique Osf2 5' sequence, whereas a second donor splice site gives rise to cDNAs that contain sequences encoding an 11 amino acid insert. In the human CBFA1 gene, an additional 2-bp nucleotide insert shifts the reading frame and results in stop codons in the cDNA sequence derived from exon -1. The 5'-most exon of the human CBFA1 gene, therefore, contains the 5' non-coding region rather than a human OSF2 homolog. The absence of a homologous OSF2 coding sequence in the human CBFA1 cDNA suggests that the novel mouse N-terminal Osf2 sequence is not essential for functioning of the CBFA1 gene product. In addition, multiple transcripts derived from a single CBFA1/Cbfa1 gene were detected in osteoblasts by Northern analysis and RT-PCR, including additional Cbfa1/Osf2 isoforms containing deletions of exons 1 and 4. Thus, the alternative use of transcription start sites and splicing leads to the genesis of CBFA1/Cbfa1 isoforms with possible differences in transactivation potentials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Z S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hinson
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Quarles
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors