title: The embryonic function of germ cell nuclear factor is dependent on the DNA binding domain.
abstract: Germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF), an orphan nuclear receptor, is essential for mouse embryogenesis. GCNF specifically binds to a DR0 response element via its DNA binding domain (DBD) in vitro and functions as a repressor of gene transcription. To further study the role of GCNF during embryogenesis, we have employed a Cre/loxP strategy and generated a line of GCNF mutant mice (GCNF(lox/lox)) in which the 243-base pair DBD-encoding exon has been deleted in the germline. However, the ligand binding domain (LBD) of GCNF is still expressed at the mRNA and protein levels in the GCNF(lox/lox) mice. GCNF(lox/lox) mice die at 9.5-10.5 days postcoitum. The tailbuds of these mutant embryos protrude outside the yolk sac. Expression of Oct-4 in the somatic cells of GCNF(lox/lox) embryos at 8.25 days postcoitum was not silenced as in the GCNF(+/+) embryos. Therefore, GCNF(lox/lox) mice phenocopy the GCNF(-/-) mice. Our results indicate that the DBD is essential for the function of GCNF during early mouse embryogenesis, and that the LBD does not mediate any function independent of the DBD at this stage of embryonic development. Our results also suggest that GCNF is indeed a transcriptional factor that represses gene transcription mediated via its DBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Zi-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Arthur C-K
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Xueping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Francesco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: DeMayo
authors.forename: Austin J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cooney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D005838:Genotype; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D057136:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 6, Group A, Member 1; D011247:Pregnancy; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C539954:Nr6a1 protein, mouse; D057136:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 6, Group A, Member 1; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins