title: Different consequences of EGR2 mutants on the transactivation of human Cx32 promoter.
abstract: The early growth response 2 (EGR2) transcription factor plays a crucial role in peripheral nerve myelination. Mutations of this gene are associated with a wide variety of demyelinating neuropathies differing from each other in the severity of nerve injury. Although the expression of EGR2 mutants inhibits the transactivation of myelin gene promoters, the exact molecular mechanism by which these mutations cause the alteration of the myelination process is still unknown. Recently, it was reported that EGR2 is directly involved in the transcriptional regulation of Connexin 32, a myelin gene frequently mutated in peripheral neuropathies. Here we describe the differential effect of two EGR2 mutants; while mutant D355V partially induces Cx32 promoter, mutant R381H does not. Furthermore, we show that a sequence located at -216, recognized by the wild-type and the mutant D355V recombinant proteins, is relevant for promoter transactivation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, and Genetics, University of Genoa, c/o DIMI Viale Benedetto XV, 6-16132 Genova, Italy. genetica.medica@unige.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musso
authors.forename: Piercesare
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balestra
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taroni
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mandich
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D004247:DNA; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein; C497326:EGR2 protein, human