Targeting transcription to the neuromuscular synapse.
Concomitant with innervation, genes coding for components of the neuromuscular junction become exclusively expressed in subsynaptic nuclei. A six-base pair element, the N box, can confer synapse-specific transcription to the acetylcholine nicotinic receptor delta and epsilon subunit, utrophin, and acetylcholine esterase genes. N box-dependent synaptic expression is stimulated by the nerve-derived signal agrin and the trophic factor neuregulin, which triggers the MAPK and JNK signaling pathways, to ultimately allow activation by the N box binding Ets transcription factor GABP.
Schaeffer
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L
Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2182 "Récepteurs et Cognition", Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Cedex 15, Paris, France.
de Kerchove d'Exaerde
A
A
Changeux
J P
JP
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D049411:Utrophin
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049411:Utrophin; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase