Dax-1 as one of the target genes of Ad4BP/SF-1.
The DAX-1 (also known as AHC) gene encodes an unusual member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. DAX-1 plays a critical role during gonadal and adrenal differentiation since mutations of the human DAX-1 gene cause X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. In recent studies, DAX-1 was reported to function as a transcriptional suppressor of Ad4BP/SF-1, a critical transcription factor in gonadal and adrenal differentiation. With respect to implication of Ad4BP/SF-1 in the transcriptional regulation of the DAX-1 gene, inconsistent findings have been previously reported. We investigated the upstream region of the mouse Dax-1 (also known as Ahch) gene and identified a novel Ad4/SF-1 site by transient transfection and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. In addition, immunohistochemical analyses with a specific antibody to Dax-1 indicated the presence of immunoreactive cells in steroidogenic tissues, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus. Although the distributions of Dax-1 and Ad4BP/SF-1 were very similar, they were not completely identical. The expression of Dax-1 was significantly impaired in knock-out mice of the Ftz-f1 gene, which encodes Ad4BP/ SF-1. Taken together, our findings indicate that Ad4BP/SF-1 controls the transcription of the Dax-1 gene.
Kawabe
K
K
Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Okazaki, Japan.
Shikayama
T
T
Tsuboi
H
H
Oka
S
S
Oba
K
K
Yanase
T
T
Nawata
H
H
Morohashi
K
K
D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D000882:Haplorhini; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C539965:NR0B1 protein, human; C539966:Nr0b1 protein, mouse; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013256:Steroids; D014157:Transcription Factors