title: Molecular cloning of a human MafF homologue, which specifically binds to the oxytocin receptor gene in term myometrium.
abstract: The US-2 DNA-binding element (ggaatgattactcagctaga) in the promoter of the human oxytocin receptor (OTR) gene has been shown to bind specifically nuclear proteins from human myometrium at parturition. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in OTR gene upregulation at term, the US-2 element was used in a yeast one-hybrid system to screen a cDNA library derived from term human myometrium. Positive clones were further screened by electrophoretic mobility shift assay for their ability to bind the human OTR gene promoter, containing the US-2 motif. A 2.3-kb full-length cDNA encoding a human homologue of chicken MafF (hMafF) was isolated. hMafF represents an 18-kDa protein and contains an extended leucine zipper structure, but lacks a transactivation domain. Furthermore, Northern hybridization showed strong hMafF mRNA expression in the kidney and in term myometrium only, but not in nonpregnant myometrium. The hMafF protein is also preferentially expressed in term myometrium, as shown by specific binding to the OTR promoter. The highly specific binding of hMafF to the US-2 motif in the human OTR gene, together with its pattern of expression, supports a role for hMafF in OTR gene upregulation at term.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan. tadashi@gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ivell
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rust
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizumoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogita
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kusui
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D030161:Avian Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051260:MafF Transcription Factor; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C082866:MAFF protein, Gallus gallus; C484147:MAFF protein, human; D051260:MafF Transcription Factor; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin