title: Cell type-specific activation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes by Sox10.
abstract: The regulatory factor Sox10 is expressed in neural crest derivatives during development as well as in the adult CNS and peripheral nervous system. Mutations of the human Sox10 gene have been identified in patients with Waardenburg-Hirschsprung syndrome that is characterized by defects in neural crest development. Previous studies suggested that Sox10 might function as an important transcriptional regulator of neural crest development. No natural target genes of Sox10 have yet been identified. Although human Sox10 activates a synthetic promoter consisting of a TATA box and multiple Sox consensus sequences, no transcriptional activity of the rat Sox10 homolog has been detected. Here we report that the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta4 and alpha3 subunit gene promoters are transactivated by rat Sox10 in a cell type-specific manner. The alpha3 and beta4 subunits, in combination with the alpha5 subunit, make up the predominant nicotinic receptor subtype expressed in the peripheral nervous system. Transfections using Sox10 mutants indicate that the C-terminal region is dispensable for its ability to activate the beta4 and alpha3 promoters. Rat Sox10 was originally identified as an accessory protein of the POU domain protein Tst-1/Oct6/SCIP in glial cells. Tst-1/Oct6/SCIP was shown previously to activate the alpha3 promoter. We now demonstrate that it can transactivate the beta4 promoter as well. However, we were unable to detect any synergistic effects of Sox10 and Tst-1/Oct6/SCIP on beta4 or alpha3 promoter activity. Finally, we present data suggesting that recombinant Sox10 protein can directly interact with a previously characterized regulatory region of the beta4 gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78245-3207, USA.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Melnikova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C527923:SOX10 protein, human; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; C527924:Sox10 protein, mouse; C527925:Sox10 protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors