Upstream stimulatory factors are mediators of Ca2+-responsive transcription in neurons.
To identify molecular mechanisms that control activity-dependent gene expression in the CNS, we have characterized the factors that mediate activity-dependent transcription of BDNF promoter III. We report the identification of a Ca(2+)-responsive E-box element, CaRE2, within BDNF promoter III that binds upstream stimulatory factors 1 and 2 (USF1/2) and show that USFs are required for the activation of CaRE2-dependent transcription from BDNF promoter III. We find that the transcriptional activity of the USFs is regulated by Ca(2+)-activated signaling pathways in neurons and that the USFs bind to the promoters of a number of neuronal activity-regulated genes in vivo. These results suggest a new function for the USFs in the regulation of activity-dependent transcription in neurons.
Chen
Wen G
WG
Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
West
Anne E
AE
Tao
Xu
X
Corfas
Gabriel
G
Szentirmay
Marilyn N
MN
Sawadogo
Michele
M
Vinson
Charles
C
Greenberg
Michael E
ME
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D020218:Response Elements; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors; C497183:Usf1 protein, mouse; C497182:Usf1 protein, rat