title: Transcriptional properties of Ptx1 and Ptx2 isoforms.
abstract: The Ptx (Pitx) family of homeobox transcription factors comprises Ptx1, Ptx2 and Ptx3. Ptx1 and Ptx2 are expressed in the stomodeum and its derivatives including the pituitary, as well as in mesodermal derivatives, whereas Ptx3 is expressed in one neuronal lineage of the brain and in the eyes. A large set of downstream target genes have been identified for Ptx1 in the pituitary gland where it acts as a pan-pituitary regulator of transcription. In particular, Ptx1 contributes to promoter- and lineage-specific transcription by interaction with cell-restricted factors such as SF-1, Egr-1, Pit1, and the basic helix-loop-helix heterodimer NeuroD1/Pan1. We describe the cloning from pituitary cells and the characterization of a Ptx1 isoform, named Ptx1b, generated by alternative promoter usage. The two Ptx1 and two Ptx2 isoforms have similar in vitro DNA binding specificities and they all activate transcription driven by a panel of pituitary promoters, including those for proopiomelanocortin, alphaGSU, LHbeta, FSHbeta, GnRH-R, TSHbeta, PRL, and GH. Also like Ptx1, the Ptx1b, Ptx2a, and Ptx2b transcription factors synergize with the structurally unrelated factors SF-1, Egr-1, Pit1, and NeuroD1/Pan1 to activate promoter-specific transcription. In conclusion, the pituitary transcriptional activities of the four Ptx isoforms do not appear to be dependent on the variant N-termini of these factors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Goodyer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drouin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000502:physiology; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2; C101485:homeobox protein PITX1