title: Zebrafish ftz-f1 gene has two promoters, is alternatively spliced, and is expressed in digestive organs.
abstract: Fushi-tarazu Factor-1 (FTZ-F1) is a family of nuclear receptors involved in various developmental processes. We have cloned a zebrafish FTZ-F1 gene, termed ff1, which belongs to the fetoprotein transcription factor/liver receptor homologue-1 (FTF/LRH-1) subgroup of the FTZ-F1 family. Four transcripts arise as a result of differential promoter usage and alternative splicing at the 3'-most exons. The longer transcript, form A, encodes a transcriptional activator. The shorter transcript, form B, lacks the activation domain, and hence could not activate transcription. The difference in promoter usage generates FF1 proteins with different N-terminal sequences. All four transcripts appear to be expressed in most of the adult tissues, whereas, during embryo development, the IIA form is the predominant transcript. Reverse transcriptase-PCR and in situ hybridization experiments showed that the ff1 transcript is expressed in the hypothalamus, spinal cord, mandibular arch and digestive organs, including pancreas, liver, and intestine. The expression of ff1 in the digestive organs implies its function in gut development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sum
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hew
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism*; D005091:Exons; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007438:Introns; D007814:Larva; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors