Myocyte enhancer factor 2C upregulates MASH-1 expression and induces neurogenesis in P19 cells.
MEF2C is a transcription factor expressed in neural lineages. After transient transfection, the MEF2 family of factors can act synergistically with the neural-specific transcription factor, MASH-1, and activate exogenous neural-specific promoters. To determine whether MEF2C is capable of modulating endogenous gene expression, P19 cell lines were analyzed that overexpressed MEF2C, termed P19[MEF2C] cells. Here we show that P19[MEF2C] cells differentiate into neurons when aggregated with ME(2)SO. MEF2C-induced neurons expressed neurofilament protein, the nuclear antigen NeuN, as well as MASH-1. Our results indicate that MEF2C can directly or indirectly activate the expression of MASH-1, leading to neurogenesis.
Skerjanc
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Department of Biochemistry, Medical Sciences Building, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada. skerjanc@julian.uwo.ca
Wilton
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D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D051379:Mice; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C499317:Ascl1 protein, mouse; C578041:Mef2c protein, mouse