title: The basic region and leucine zipper transcription factor MafK is a new nerve growth factor-responsive immediate early gene that regulates neurite outgrowth.
abstract: We used serial analysis of gene expression to identify new NGF-responsive immediate early genes (IEGs) with potential roles in neuronal differentiation. Among those identified was MafK, a small Maf family basic region and leucine zipper transcriptional repressor and coactivator expressed in immature neurons. NGF treatment elevates the levels of both MafK transcripts and protein. In contrast, there is no effect on expression of the closely related MafG. Unlike many other NGF-responsive IEGs, MafK regulation shows selectivity and is unresponsive to epidermal growth factor, depolarization, or cAMP derivatives. Inhibitor studies indicate that NGF-promoted MafK regulation is mediated by an atypical isoform of PKC but not by mitogen-activated kinase kinase, phospholipase Cgamma, or phosphoinositide 3'-kinase. Interference with MafK expression or activity by small interfering RNA and dominant negative strategies, respectively, suppresses NGF-promoted outgrowth and maintenance of neurites by PC12 cells and neurite outgrowth by immature telencephalic neurons. Our findings support a role for MafK as a novel regulator of neuronal differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Béata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Töröcsik
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Angelastro
authors.forename: Lloyd A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016350:Leucine Zippers / Q000502:physiology*; D050985:MafK Transcription Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D050985:MafK Transcription Factor; C494697:Mafk protein, rat; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; C115015:PKC-3 protein; D011493:Protein Kinase C