title: The function of MITF and associated proteins in mast cells.
abstract: Mutation of microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) results in deafness, bone loss, small eyes, and poorly pigmented eyes and skin. The primary cell types affected in MITF-deficient mice are melanocytes, osteoclasts and mast cells. A search for MITF-associated proteins, using a mast cell library that was screened with a construct that encodes the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-Zip) domain of MITF, resulted in the isolation of the protein kinase C interacting (PKCI) protein 1 and protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3). We have accumulated clear evidence of a function for these two proteins as repressors of MITF-induced transcriptional activity. Here, we describe this evidence and ideas that give some insight into the cellular network of interactions between various transcription factors and MITF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, P.O. Box 12272, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Hovav
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nechushtan
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Razin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489275:Hint1 protein, mouse; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors