title: Dax-1 (dosage-sensitive sex reversal-adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome, gene 1) gene transcription is regulated by wnt4 in the female developing gonad.
abstract: Dax-1 [dosage-sensitive sex reversal-adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome, gene 1 (NR0B1)] is an orphan nuclear receptor acting as a suppressor of Ad4 binding protein/steroidogenic factor 1 [Ad4BP/SF-1 (NR5A1)] and as an anti-Sry factor in the process of gonadal sex differentiation. The roles of these nuclear receptors in the differentiation of the gonads and the adrenal cortex have been established through studies of the mutant phenotype in both mice and humans. However, the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation of these genes remain largely unknown. Here, we examined the relationship between Dax-1 gene transcription and the Wnt4 pathway. Reporter gene analysis revealed that Dax-1 gene transcription was activated by beta-catenin, a key signal-transducing protein in the Wnt pathway, acting in synergy with Ad4BP/SF-1. Interaction between beta-catenin and Ad4BP/SF-1 was observed using yeast two-hybrid and in vitro pull-down assays. The region of Ad4BP/SF-1 essential for this interaction consists of an acidic amino acid cluster, which resides in the first helix of the ligand-binding domain. Mutation of the amino acid cluster impaired transcriptional activation of Dax-1 as well as interaction of Ad4BP/SF-1 with beta-catenin. These results were supported by in vivo observations using Wnt4 gene-disrupted mice, in which Dax-1 gene expression was decreased significantly in sexually differentiating female gonads. We thus conclude that Wnt4 signaling mediates the increased expression of Dax-1 as the ovary becomes sexually differentiated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji-cho, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizusaki
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: Tokuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ariyoshi
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: Hidefumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swain
authors.forename: Ken-Ichirou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morohashi
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009154:Mutation; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; C539965:NR0B1 protein, human; C539966:Nr0b1 protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C555581:WNT4 protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; C555582:Wnt4 protein, mouse; D051176:beta Catenin