title: Activation of utrophin promoter by heregulin via the ets-related transcription factor complex GA-binding protein alpha/beta.
abstract: Utrophin/dystrophin-related protein is the autosomal homologue of the chromosome X-encoded dystrophin protein. In adult skeletal muscle, utrophin is highly enriched at the neuromuscular junction. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of utrophin gene expression are yet to be defined. Here we demonstrate that the growth factor heregulin increases de novo utrophin transcription in muscle cell cultures. Using mutant reporter constructs of the utrophin promoter, we define the N-box region of the promoter as critical for heregulin-mediated activation. Using this region of the utrophin promoter for DNA affinity purification, immunoblots, in vitro kinase assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and in vitro expression in cultured muscle cells, we demonstrate that ets-related GA-binding protein alpha/beta transcription factors are activators of the utrophin promoter. Taken together, these results suggest that the GA-binding protein alpha/beta complex of transcription factors binds and activates the utrophin promoter in response to heregulin-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase in muscle cell cultures. These findings suggest methods for achieving utrophin up-regulation in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy as well as mechanisms by which neurite-derived growth factors such as heregulin may influence the regulation of utrophin gene expression and subsequent enrichment at the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Copenhagen Medical School, The Glostrup Hospital, Glostrup DK 2600, Denmark. tsk@dcb-glostrup.dk
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Rosmarin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Krag
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gammeltoft
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D051268:GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D049411:Utrophin
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051268:GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor; C495656:Gabpa protein, mouse; C495649:Gabpa protein, rat; C495658:Gabpb1 protein, mouse; C495653:Gabpb2 protein, rat; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C483600:Utrn protein, mouse; D049411:Utrophin